The subject of thermo-hydro-mechanical coupled processes in fractured rock masses has close relevance to energy-related deep earth engineering activities, such as enhanced geothermal systems, geological disposal of radioactive waste, sequestration of CO2, long-term disposal of waste water and recovery of hydrocarbons from unconventional reservoirs. Despite great efforts by engineers and researchers, comprehensive understanding of the thermo-hydro-mechanical coupled processes in fractured rock mass remains a great challenge. The discrete element method (DEM), originally developed by Dr. Peter Cundall, has become widely used for the modeling of a rock mass, including its deformation, damage, fracturing and stability. DEM modeling of the coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes in fractured rock masses can provide some unique insights, to say the least, for better understanding of those complex issues. The authors of this book have participated in various projects involving DEM modeling of coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes during treatment of a rock mass by fluid injection and/or extraction and have provided consulting services to some of the largest oil-and-gas companies in the world. The breadth and depth of our engineering expertise are reflected by its successful applications in the major unconventional plays in the world, including Permian, Marcellus, Bakken, Eagle Ford, Horn River, Chicontepec, Sichuan, Ordos and many more. The unique combination of the state-of-the-art numerical modeling techniques with state-of-the-practice engineering applications makes the presented material relevant and valuable for engineering practice. We believe that it is beneficial to share the advances on this subject and promote some further development.

This work brings together the results, information and data that emerged from an international cooperative project, DECOVALEX, 1992-1995. This project was concerned with the mathematical and experimental studies of coupled thermo(T) -hydro(H) -mechanical(M) processes in fractured media related to radioactive waste disposal. The book presents, for the first time, the systematic formulation of mathematical models of the coupled T-H-M processes of fractured media, their validation against theoretical bench-mark tests, and experimental studies at both laboratory and field scales. It also presents, for the first time, a comprehensive analysis of continuum, and discrete approaches to the study of the problems of (as well as a complete description of), the computer codes applied to the studies. The first two chapters provide a conceptual introduction to the coupled T-H-M processes in fractured media and the DECOVALEX project. The next seven chapters give a state-of-the-art survey of the constitutive models of rock fractures and formulation of coupled T-H-M phenomena with continuum and discontinuum approaches, and associated numerical methods. A study on the three generic Bench-Mark Test problems and six Test Case problems of laboratory and field experiments are reported in chapters 10 to 18. Chapter 19 contains lessons learned during the project. The research contained in this book will be valuable for designers, practising engineers and national waste management officials who are concerned with planning, design and performance, and safety assessments of radioactive waste repositories. Researchers and postgraduate students working in this field will also find the book of particular relevance.

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.

This book presents the coupled Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical-Chemical (THMC) processes in fractured rocks at varying scales from single fractures to fracture networks. It also discussed the implication and potential application of the advanced understanding of coupled THMC processes in fractured rocks for geotechnical and geo-energy engineering.

This book presents some fundamental concepts behind the basic theories and tools of discrete element methods (DEM), its historical development, and its wide scope of applications in geology, geophysics and rock engineering. Unlike almost all books available on the general subject of DEM, this book includes coverage of both explicit and implicit DEM approaches, namely the Distinct Element Methods and Discontinuous Deformation Analysis (DDA) for both rigid and deformable blocks and particle systems, and also the Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) approach for fluid flow and solute transport simulations. The latter is actually also a discrete approach of importance for rock mechanics and rock engineering. In addition, brief introductions to some alternative approaches are also provided, such as percolation theory and Cosserat micromechanics equivalence to particle systems, which often appear hand-in-hand with the DEM in the literature. Fundamentals of the particle mechanics approach using DEM for granular media is also presented.· Presents the fundamental concepts of the discrete models for fractured rocks, including constitutive models of rock fractures and rock masses for stress, deformation and fluid flow· Provides a comprehensive presentation on discrete element methods, including distinct elements, discontinuous deformation analysis, discrete fracture networks, particle mechanics and Cosserat representation of granular media· Features constitutive models of rock fractures and fracture system characterization methods detaiing their significant impacts on the performance and uncertainty of the DEM models

Semiannual, with semiannual and annual indexes. References to all scientific and technical literature coming from DOE, its laboratories, energy centers, and contractors. Includes all works deriving from DOE, other related government-sponsored information, and foreign nonnuclear information. Arranged under 39 categories, e.g., Biomedical sciences, basic studies; Biomedical sciences, applied studies; Health and safety; and Fusion energy. Entry gives bibliographical information and abstract. Corporate, author, subject, report number indexes.

These are papers selected from the 2012 International Conference on Civil, Architectural and Hydraulic Engineering (ICCAHE 2012) held on August 10-12th 2012 in Zhangjiajie, China. The 947 peer- reviewed papers present cutting-edge knowledge related to “Progress in Industrial and Civil Engineering” and are grouped into 17 chapters: Geological and Geotechnical Engineering; Structural Engineering; Tunnel, Subway and Underground Facilities; Road and Railway Engineering; Bridge Engineering; Coastal Engineering; Seismic Engineering; Surveying Engineering, Cartography and Geographic Information Systems; Monitoring and Control of Structures; Reliability and Durability of Structures; Natural and Technogenic Disasters Prevention and Mitigation; Building Science and Technology; Traditional Construction Materials; Novel Constructional Materials and Functional Materials; Heating, Gas Supply, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Works; Applied and Computational Mechanics; Computer Application, Mathematical Modeling and Analysis

Cities built on unconsolidated sediments consisting of clays, silt, peat, and sand, are particularly susceptible to subsidence. Such regions are common in delta areas, where rivers empty into the oceans, along flood plains adjacent to rivers, and in coastal marsh lands. Building cities in such areas aggravates the problem for several reasons: 1. Construction of buildings and streets adds weight to the region causing additional soil deformations. 2. Often the regions have to be drained in order to be occupied. This results in lowering of the water table and leads to hydro-compaction. 3. Often the groundwater is used as a source of water for both human consumption and industrial use. 4. Levees and dams are often built to prevent or control flooding. Earth fissures caused by ground failure in areas of uneven or differential compaction have damaged buildings, roads and highways, railroads, flood-control structures and sewer lines. As emphasized by Barends , "in order to develop a legal framework to claims and litigation, it is essential that direct and indirect causes of land subsidence effects can be quantified with sufficient accuracy from a technical and scientific point of view." Most existing methods and software applications treat the subsidence problem by analyzing one of the causes. This is due to the fact that the causes appear at different spatial scales. For example, over-pumping creates large scale subsidence, while building loading creates local subsidence/consolidation only. Then, maximum permissible land subsidence (or consolidation) is a constraint in different management problems such as: groundwater management, planning of town and/or laws on building construction. It is, therefore, necessary to quantify the contribution of each cause to soil subsidence of the ground surface in cities urban area. In this text book, we present an engineering approach based on the Biot system of equations to predict the soil settlement due to subsidence, resulting from different causes. Also we present a case study of The Bangkok Metropolitan Area (BMA).

Rock Mechanics: Achievements and Ambitions contains the papers accepted for the 2nd ISRM International Young Scholars’ Symposium on Rock Mechanics, which was sponsored by the ISRM and held on 14–16 October 2011 in Beijing, China, immediately preceding the 12th ISRM Congress on Rock Mechanics. Highlighting the work of young teachers, researchers and practitioners, the present work provides an important stimulus for the next generation of rock engineers, because in the future there will be more emphasis on the use of the Earth’s resources and their sustainability, and more accountability of engineers’ decisions. In this context, it is entirely appropriate that the Symposium venue for the young scholars was in China — because of the rock mechanics related work that is anticipated in the future. For example, in the Chinese Academy of Sciences report, “Energy Science and Technology in China: A Roadmap to 2050”, it is predicted that China’s total energy demand will reach 31, 45, 61 and 66 x 108 tce (tonnes of coal equivalent) in 2010, 2020, 2035, 2050. The associated per capita energy consumption for the same years is estimated at 2.3, 3.1, 4.1 and 4.6 tce. This increasing demand will be met, inter alia, by the continued operation and development of new coal mines, hydroelectric plants and nuclear power stations with one or more underground nuclear waste repositories, all of which will be improved by more modern methods of rock engineering design developed by young scholars. In particular, enhanced methods of site investigation, rock characterisation, rock failure understanding, computer modelling, and rock excavation and support are needed. The topics in the book include contributions on: - Field investigation and observation - Rock constitutive relations and property testing - Numerical and physical modeling for rock engineering - Information technology, artificial intelligence and other advanced techniques - Underground and surface excavation and reinforcement techniques - Dynamic rock mechanics and blasting - Predication and prevention of geo-environmental hazard - Case studies of typical rock engineering Many of the 200 papers address these topics and demonstrate the skills of the young scholars, indicating that we can be confident in the continuing development of rock mechanics and rock engineering, leading to more efficient, safer and economical structures built on and in rock masses. Rock Mechanics: Achievements and Ambitions will appeal to professionals, engineers and academics in rock mechanics, rock engineering, tunnelling, mining, earthquake engineering, rock dynamics and geotechnical engineering.

Analysis, Modeling & Design is the third volume of the five-volume set Rock Mechanics and Engineering and contains twenty-eight chapters from key experts in the following fields: - Numerical Modeling Methods; - Back Analysis; - Risk Analysis; - Design and Stability Analysis: Overviews; - Design and Stability Analysis: Coupling Process Analysis; - Design and Stability Analysis: Blast Analysis and Design; - Rock Slope Stability Analysis and Design; - Analysis and Design of Tunnels, Caverns and Stopes. The five-volume set “Comprehensive Rock Engineering”, which was published in 1993, has had an important influence on the development of rock mechanics and rock engineering. Significant and extensive advances and achievements in these fields over the last 20 years now justify the publishing of a comparable, new compilation. Rock Mechanics and Engineering represents a highly prestigious, multi-volume work edited by Professor Xia-Ting Feng, with the editorial advice of Professor John A. Hudson. This new compilation offers an extremely wideranging and comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art in rock mechanics and rock engineering and is composed of peer-reviewed, dedicated contributions by all the key experts worldwide. Key features of this set are that it provides a systematic, global summary of new developments in rock mechanics and rock engineering practices as well as looking ahead to future developments in the fields. Contributors are worldrenowned experts in the fields of rock mechanics and rock engineering, though younger, talented researchers have also been included. The individual volumes cover an extremely wide array of topics grouped under five overarching themes: Principles (Vol. 1), Laboratory and Field Testing (Vol. 2), Analysis, Modelling and Design (Vol. 3), Excavation, Support and Monitoring (Vol. 4) and Surface and Underground Projects (Vol. 5). This multi-volume work sets a new standard for rock mechanics and engineering compendia and will be the go-to resource for all engineering professionals and academics involved in rock mechanics and engineering for years to come.