Category Archives: Events

Summer School ‘Numerical Modelling in Geotechnical Engineering’ at University of Innsbruck!

Posted on by
Reply

Date: 22.07.2024 – 26.07.2024
Location: Universität Innsbruck, Austria (in-person only)

After two very enriching and fun events in 2018 and 2020, we are looking forward to the pleasant discussions and exchanges this summer. We will also offer a side program to spend time with you beyond the numerics. Places are limited, so please register soon, if you are interested!

https://www.uibk.ac.at/en/weiterbildung/health-stem/numerische-modellierung

Gertraud Medicus, Franz Tschuchnigg and Barbara Schneider-Muntau!

ALERT Workshop 2024 – Call for abstracts

Posted on by
Reply

The ALERT Workshop 2024 should be held in Aussois from 30th September to 2nd October, 2024. Abstracts can now be submitted for the sessions. Please submit your abstracts by email directly to the coordinators using the Workshop abstract form (doc). If you wish to publish your presentation after the Workshop on the ALERT website, do not forget to agree by ticking the corresponding box in the abstract form.

Since time for the presentations is limited, only a part of the submitted abstracts can be chosen for the oral presentations. Therefore, we invite you to submit your abstract as soon as possible. The presentation can also be submitted as a poster. The abstracts of the posters will be published in a separate booklet (ISSN registered).

The deadline for the abstract submission is May 24, 2024. For any communication about your participation to the workshops, please contact the coordinators of the workshop sessions directly.

Here is a reminder of the workshop sessions that are opened to abstract, as well as a short description of each of them:

  • Session 1: “Emerging properties in geomaterials across the scales”
    Organizers: Antoine Wautier, Farhang Radjai and Francesco Froiio.

    Geomaterials exhibit a wide range of complex behaviors that are of crucial interest for engineering scale applications or for mitigating natural risk hazards. Such behaviors are often accounted for through continuum mechanics concepts such as constitutive behavior, yield surfaces, hardening law, permeability, shear or compaction bands… Given the complexity of the macroscopic behavior of geomaterials, a current strategy is to use a multi-scale approach either in the lab or in the virtual lab (with DEM, molecular dynamics, X-ray tomography, SEM…), to identify sub-components with simpler behavior. However, in the change of scale, some properties are lost and some emerge.
    In the upscaling, we face the issue of emerging properties fundamentally different from those at lower scales. For instance, sand is usually modeled as non-deformable solids interacting through elastofrictionnal contact laws, but the internal friction angle (macroscale) does not corresponds to the contact friction (micro scale) but incorporate geometrical properties of the microstructure.
    On the contrary, the huge number of degrees of freedom that exist at the microscale is compressed into a much more limited number of macroscopic degrees of freedom. For instance, the displacements and the rotations of thousands of sand grains reduce to the strain tensor (and possibly its derivatives for enriched continuum mechanics) at the representative elementary volume scale. For the stress, the well-known Love-Weber formula, compress contact based information into a second order tensor.
    Working on the mico to macro link is probably the key for a wise use of phenomenological constitutive models (e.g. physics based justification of the parameters) and for an efficient use of multiscale strategies (e.g. FEMxDEM methods save probably too much microscale information).
    In addition, fundamental knowledge on the micro/macro link may prove crucial to anticipate future use of geomaterials subjected to unprecedented loading conditions. Among other conditions, we can think of temperature rises, thawing permafrost, chemical creation or dissolution of bonds, diffusion of pollution, cyclic loadings, recycling materials, varying degrees of saturation…


  • Session 2 (half-day): “Geomechanics in the submicron-scale”
    Organizers: Katerina Ioannidou and Gilles Pijaudier-Cabot.

    Geomaterials usually exhibit complex mechanical behavior across several length and time scales. The submicron scale is relevant for understanding the microstructure and mechanical response of various geomaterials such as rocks, soils, sediments etc. Such materials are usually porous or granular and have been formed under different environmental conditions. At the submicron scale, nanoscale effects become significant. This includes phenomena such as surface roughness, intermolecular forces, pore structure, and distribution of defects which can influence the mechanical behavior of geomaterials. Moreover, processes such as fluid flow through nanopores, adsorption and desorption of fluids on mineral surfaces, and chemical reactions at mineral-fluid interfaces are important for the formation and aging of the microstructure of geological materials.
    This session aims to elucidate processes at the submicron scale either with numerical or experimental techniques that are important for geomechanics. 
    We invite contributions related to, but not limited to, the following topics:
    – Multiscale modeling and simulations of geomechanical processes
    – Fluid-solid interactions and nanopore-scale transport phenomena
    – Nanoindentation and atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies of geological materials
    – Microstructure characterization and imaging techniques at submicron scales
    – Fracture mechanics and crack propagation in geomaterials
    – Applications of submicron scale geomechanics in petroleum engineering, geotechnical engineering, environmental science, and materials science
    – Experimental techniques and instrumentation for studying geomechanics at small length scales
    – Advances in nanotechnology for geomechanical applications 



  • Session 3: “Continuum-based particle methods”
    Organizers: Claudio Tamagnini, Lorenzo Sanavia and Antonia Larese.

Blind Prediction Contest: Piles under monotonic and cyclic lateral loading

Posted on by
Reply

As part of the GEOLAB project, the Institute of Geotechnics of TU Darmstadt is calling geotechnical engineers from industry and academia to participate in an international Blind Prediction Contest (BPC) on the response of piles under monotonic and cyclic lateral loading. Two separate tests will be performed on a hollow open-ended steel pile embedded in dry sand. One test under monotonic loading and the other under quasi-static cyclic loading with more than 10,000 loading cycles.

The sand has been extensively characterised with laboratory tests, including monotonic (drained and undrained) and cyclic triaxial tests.  In addition, a standard Cone Penetration Test will be performed to characterise the sand condition in depth after compaction. All the produced data will be made available for the participants with the opening of the event on 6 May 2024.

Contestant teams can submit predictions for both tests or for the monotonic test only. All prediction methods are welcome.

General information on the tests and the BPC is made available in the event webpage.

More detailed information will be published with the opening of the event on 6 May 2024.

Stay tuned for updates by subscribing to our mailing list in the BPC website.

Prague Geotechnical Days 2024 “Geotechnical monitoring” and 30th jubilee Prague Geotechnical Lecture by prof. Eduardo Alonso

Posted on by
Reply

The 30th Prague Geotechnical Days international conference focused on Geotechnical Monitoring, including 30th Prague geotechnical Lecture by prof. Eduardo Alonso, will be held on May 13–14, 2024.

Registration: free for students, 80 EUR otherwise

Registration and more details (schedule,…) available here, as well as on this attached file.

Announcement Workshop Exploring Dynamic Properties of Earth and Planetary Materials Using Neutron and X-Ray Methods

Posted on by
Reply

Dear all,

The registrations are now open for the Workshop “Exploring Dynamic Properties of Earth and Planetary Materials Using Neutrons and X-Ray Methods” which will take place on the ILL/ESRF campus from May 21-23, 2024. Additional details and the provisional program can be found in the attached document.

The registration is open and completely free, as it is supported by the sponsors of the program. You can register before April the 15th at this link https://workshops.ill.fr/event/432/ .

Kind Regards and Happy Easter Holidays.
Alessandro Tengattini,
On behalf of the organising committee 

Call for Abstracts – Geology for a sustainable management of our planet – 3-5 Sept. 2024, Bari, Italy

Posted on by
Reply

Dear colleagues,

We would like to draw your attention to the forthcoming SIMP-SGI Congress (Bari, Italy, 3-5 September 2024) and to submit your abstracts to the following session:

T30. The science of clays and zeolites: from genesis to sustainable applications

Clay and zeolites minerals can contribute to achieve the ambitious goals of the European Green Deal, representing a clear response to global challenges related to broad fields of applications for industry, environment, hydrogeological risk and more. These minerals are of great interest for geosciences. Clays are the most diffuse sediments on the Earth crust, and they have a fundamental role in understanding paleoclimate, sedimentary environments, and diagenetic processes. Moreover, as zeolites, they represent a useful tool providing information on hydrothermal system and very low-grade metamorphism. Thanks to their extreme sensitivity, clays and zeolites find application in high-value technological uses by exploiting ion exchange and selective adsorption of organic molecules such as the sequestration of undesirable substances (included that of emerging concern) from aqueous, solid, and gaseous phases. Furthermore, they represent important sources of raw materials in several industrial productions as ceramic and construction materials. This session is open to studies highlighting the important contribution of these minerals in geoscience, their crystal chemistry and genesis, as well as their applications in wastewater treatment, environmental remediation and soil reclamation, landslides studies, hydrogeological risk, in the production of ceramic and more.

Share: https://www.geoscienze.org/bari2024/

The deadline for abstract submission is 26 April 2024, 19:00 CET.

Hoping to see you in Bari!

More information on the pdf file.

Computational Dynamic Soil-Structure Interaction (CompDSSI) International Workshop – 11-13 September 2024 – Assisi (Italy)

Posted on by
Reply

Advances in the field of soil-structure interaction are impacting design, retrofitting and protection of civil engineering structures against natural hazards. CompDSSI is an in-person International Workshop devoted to new-generation numerical approaches for the dynamic analysis of soil-structure systems of strong practical relevance, investigating critical issues and high-fidelity methods applicable from local to regional scale. A meeting point to share knowledge, in which researchers and designers of Structural & Geotechnical Engineering will promote solutions for a safer and more efficient urban fabric.

More information on the contents and attendance modalities can be found in the flyer and full programme attached.

Website: https://compdssi.altervista.org/

The Organising Committee

Dr. Davide Noè Gorini (Sapienza University of Rome)

Prof. Pedro Arduino (University of Washington)

Dr. Domenico Gallese (ARUP)

Soil-structure interaction in OpenSees: strategies, applications and perspectives (SSI-OS) International Advanced School – 9-11 September 2024 – Assisi (Italy)

Posted on by
Reply

OpenSees is an evolving numerical framework for advanced assessment of civil engineering structures against natural hazards, in which soil-structure interaction can be simulated through multiple levels of complexity. We will explore soil-structure modelling in OpenSees, focussing on critical issues of the implementation. The development of nonlinear dynamic analyses is the main goal of this path. To this end, new-generation approaches for assessing the dynamic performance of soil-structure systems will be described and techniques to implement new features in OpenSees will be discussed, of interest for both Users and Developers. The discussion will be extended to the use of tools for regional analysis and artificial intelligence-based assessment. Several example applications will be provided, supported by hands-on experience and working groups.

More information on the contents and attendance modalities can be found in the flyer and full programme attached.

Website: https://compdssi.altervista.org/

The Organising Committee

Dr. Davide Noè Gorini (Sapienza University of Rome)

Prof. Pedro Arduino (University of Washington)

Prof. Guido Camata (University of Chieti-Pescara)

Dr. Domenico Gallese (ARUP)

Dr. Massimo Petracca (ASDEA Software Technology)

22nd International Symposium on Geo-disaster Reduction, 22-25 July 2024 in Salerno, Italy

Posted on by
Reply

This symposium, the annual event of the International Consortium on Geo-disaster Reduction (ICGdR), aims to bring together academic scientists, leading engineers, and students to exchange and share their experiences and research results.
The topics will span from landslides to tsunamis, including earthquake-related disasters and human-related activities towards a common goal to reduce geo-disasters.

Continue reading →

Ioannis Vardoulakis PhD Prize 2024 – Deadline Extension

Posted on by
Reply

The Bureau of ALERT Geomaterials has decided to fund the Ioannis Vardoulakis PhD Prize 2024. Since 2016, the PhD prize is entitled Ioannis Vardoulakis PhD Prize to commemorate Prof. Vardoulakis and his contributions to research and teaching in the field of Geomechanics.

The participation to the prize is open to all the PhD students with at least one official supervisor from one of the institutions belonging to ALERT, that have successfully defended their PhD thesis in 2023. The deadline for the applications is extended until 30th April, 2024.

The rules, agenda and further details are to be found on the ALERT website:
https://alertgeomaterials.eu/alert-phd-prize/