GeoProc2008 collects the proceedings of the International Conference on Coupled T-H-M-C (thermal, hydraulic, mechanical, chemical) Processes in Geosystems.

Aim of this book is to present to researchers and engineers a description of the present knowledge on the viscoplasticity of geomaterials, considering the experimental and theoretical aspects and the applications to relevant problems. First, the laboratory tests performed in order to quantitatively assess the theological properties of rocks are illustrated, describing the equipments used in modern rock mechanics laboratories and the proper testing procedures. Part of the presentation is devoted to the description of constitutive creep laws having different degrees of accuracy and complexity. The book covers also problems related to the application of numerical solution procedures to rock/soil mechanics situations in which the slow deformation of geomaterials is to be taken into account.

(4). The next three papers extend these views by taking a closer look on parameters that govern hydraulic diffusivity in sandstones and other types of rocks. Specific targets addressed are the influence of differential stress on permeability (5), imaging of the fracture geometry (6), and pressure induced variations in the pore geometry (7). Contributions no. 8 to 10 cover investigations of permeability-porosity relationships during rock evolution (8), of the formation, propagation, and roughness of fractures in a plexi-glass block (9), and pressure oscillation effects of two-phase flow under controlled conditions (10). The subsequent four articles focus on diverse modeling approaches. Issues considered are how the geometry and the mechanical behavior of fractures can be characterized by mathematical expressions (11), how the evolution of permeability in a microcracking rock can be expressed by an analytical model (12), deviations from the cubic law for a fracture of varying aperture (13), and the numerical simulation of scale effects in flow through fractures (14). Three further papers refer to in situ observations, being related to topics as the assessment of in situ permeability from the spatio temporal distribution of an aftershock sequence (15), to the scale dependence of hydraulic pathways in crystalline rock (16), and to the significance of pore pressure - stress coupling in deep tunnels and galleries (17).

In November 2015, Buenos Aires, Argentina became the location of several important events for geo-professionals, with the simultaneous holding of the 6th International Symposium on Deformation Characteristics of Geomaterials, the 15th Pan-American Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (XV PCSMGE), the 8th South American Congress on Rock Mechanics (SCRM), as well as the 22nd Argentinean Congress of Geotechnical Engineering (CAMSIGXXII). This synergy provided a unique opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss current and future practices in the areas of soil mechanics and rock mechanics, and their applications in civil, energy, environmental, and mining engineering. This book presents the proceedings of the 6th International Symposium on Deformation Characteristics of Geomaterials. As well as 118 articles selected for publication after peer review, it includes 7 lectures delivered by invited keynote speakers and the Third Bishop Lecture, delivered by Professor Herve Di Benedetto of the University of Lyon, France, who presented a reference work on the advanced testing and modeling of bituminous bounded and unbounded granular materials. The conference brought together practitioners, researchers and educators from around the world engaged in the understanding of the deformation properties of geo-materials before failure, and the small strain parameters as fundamental characteristics of geo-materials. The main topics covered by the symposium include experimental investigations from very small strains to beyond failure, including multi-physical approach; HTC M coupling behavior, characterization and modeling of various geo-materials and interfaces; and practical prediction and interpretation of ground responses: field observation and case histories.

Advances in Multi-Physics and Multi-Scale Couplings in Geo-Environmental Mechanics reunites some of the most recent work from the French research group MeGe GDR (National Research Group on Multiscale and Multiphysics Couplings in Geo-Environmental Mechanics) on the theme of multi-scale and multi-physics modeling of geomaterials, with a special focus on micromechanical aspects. Its offers readers a glimpse into the current state of scientific knowledge in the field, together with the most up-to-date tools and methods of analysis available. Each chapter represents a study with a different viewpoint, alternating between phenomenological/micro-mechanically enriched and purely micromechanical approaches. Throughout the book, contributing authors will highlight advances in geomaterials modeling, while also pointing out practical implications for engineers. Topics discussed include multi-scale modeling of cohesive-less geomaterials, including multi-physical processes, but also the effects of particle breakage, large deformations on the response of the material at the specimen scale and concrete materials, together with clays as cohesive geomaterials. The book concludes by looking at some engineering problems involving larger scales. Identifies contributions in the field of geomechanics Focuses on multi-scale linkages at small scales Presents numerical simulations by discrete elements and tools of homogenization or change of scale