This book is open access book. The collaborative Pilot Project, titled "Comparison of Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical-Chemical (THMC) Processes in Bentonite Barrier Systems", aims to investigate the fundamentals, conduct laboratory and field experiments, and develop numerical models for barrier systems that ensure the safe isolation of radioactive waste in deep geological repositories. This book compares methodologies and technologies used in experimental laboratory and field research, as well as systems analysis, in a collaborative work of German and Chinese scientists. Both parties have access to exceptional experimental and modelling research capabilities. The Beishan underground research laboratory (URL) is currently under construction in Gansu, China. It will serve as an international collaboration platform for URL research in the future. International cooperation is essential for excellent research and development due to the high cost of scientific programmes and technical operation of URLs, making it a precondition for providing secure solutions. This is important not only for deep geological repositories for radioactive waste disposal but also for other geoenergy applications, such as energy storage and geothermal energy utilization.

The book comprises the 3rd collection of benchmarks and examples for porous and fractured media mechanics. Analysis of thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical (THMC) processes is essential to a wide area of applications in environmental engineering, such as geological waste deposition, geothermal energy utilization (shallow and deep systems), carbon capture and storage (CCS) as well as water resources management and hydrology. In order to assess the feasibility, safety as well as sustainability of geoenvironmental applications, model-based simulation is the only way to quantify future scenarios. This charges a huge responsibility concerning the reliability of conceptual models and computational tools. Benchmarking is an appropriate methodology to verify the quality and validate the concept of models based on best practices. Moreover, benchmarking and code comparison are building strong community links. The 3rd THMC benchmark book also introduces benchmark-based tutorials, therefore the subtitle is selected as “From Benchmarking to Tutoring”. The benchmark book is part of the OpenGeoSys initiative - an open source project to share knowledge and experience in environmental analysis and scientific computation. The new version of OGS-6 is introduced and first benchmarks are presented therein (see appendices).

Among the most important and exciting current steps forward in geo-engineering is the development of coupled numerical models. They represent the basic physics of geo-engineering processes which can include the effects of heat, water, mechanics and chemistry. Such models provide an integrating focus for the wide range of geo-engineering disciplines. The articles within this volume were originally presented at the inaugural GeoProc conference held in Stockholm and contain a collection of unusually high quality information not available elsewhere in an edited and coherent form. This collection not only benefits from the latest theoretical developments but also applies them to a number of practical and wide ranging applications. Examples include the environmental issues around radioactive waste disposal deep in rock, and the search for new reserves of oil and gas.

Rock Characterisation, Modelling and Engineering Design Methods contains the contributions presented at the 3rd ISRM SINOROCK Symposium (Shanghai, China, 1820 June 2013). The papers contribute to the further development of the overall rock engineering design process through the sequential linkage of the three themes of rock characterisation, model

Harmonising Rock Mechanics and the Environment comprises the proceedings (invited and contributed papers) of the 12th ISRM International Congress on Rock Mechanics (Beijing, China, 18-21 October 2011). The contributions cover the entire scope of rock mechanics and rock engineering, with an emphasis on the critical role of both disciplines in sustai

The international Mont Terri rock laboratory in Switzerland plays a central role in the safety and construction of deep geological nuclear repositories in clay formations. The laboratory has developed and refined a range of new measurement and evaluation methods: it has e.g. advanced the determination of rock parameters using innovative borehole geophysics, improved the methodology for characterizing pore-water and microbial activity in claystones, and greatly improved our understanding of diffusion and retention processes of radionuclides in and through claystones. The methods and insights described in this compendium can also be applied to low-permeability rocks at various sites around the globe, and in other fields of application.