Project title: Development of a new and original 3D finite element model to study the thermo-hydro-mechanical behaviour of multiphase porous materials, with application to the simulation of the initiation, propagation and deposition of landslides, including catastrophic landslides.

Supervision: Professor Lorenzo Sanavia, University of Padua, Italy; lorenzo.sanavia@unipd.it
Host institution: University of Padua, Italy

Grant: 24 months, gross remuneration of 24,589 Euro per annum.

Call deadline: January 7th, 2025 (at 15:00 CET).

Work plan:

1) Implementation of the non-isothermal elasto-plastic and multiphase porous media model available in the finite element code COMES-GEO (UniPD) into the open-source code KRATOS (CIMNE). The porous media model, based on the Hybrid Mixture Theory, allows for the description of the multiphase and multiphysics nature of porous materials and the interactions present between the phases (solid, liquid, and gaseous).
2) Validation of the implementation using test cases.
3) Numerical simulation of two experimental tests performed with SHIVA (Slow to High Velocity Apparatus) at INGV (National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology) in Rome on Vajont clays and comparison between experimental and numerical results.
4) Link of COMES-GEO with KRATOS.
5) Application (back-analysis) to the study of the thermo-hydro-mechanical conditions of initiation and propagation of the catastrophic Vajont landslide (October 9, 1963).

The activity will be carried out, primarily, at the Centre for Studies on Climate Change Impacts CRITICAL of the University of Padua located in Rovigo (Italy).

Knowledge of programming in at least two of the three languages is required: Fortran, C++ and Python.

See the attached files (Call with the description of the grant and the Instructions to participate in the call) for more information.

Further info at: lorenzo.sanavia@unipd.it