The Geo-Energy Lab at EPFL, led by Prof. Lecampion, has opportunities to pursue a fully funded PhD within the EPFL doctoral program.

The aim of this thesis is to advance the mechanics of fluid-driven fracture. Notably the interaction between fault-slip and tensile hydraulic fracture growth in relation to deep geothermal energy (among other applications). It will combine laboratory experiments with theoretical developments – using both our unique polyaxial apparatus, as well as our numerical modeling tools developed for this class of problems.
Primary goal is to combine distributed fiber optic strain measurement with microseismic monitoring at decimeter scales.

For further information, see the attached [PDF].

“Coupled hydro-chemo-mechanical instabilities in geomaterials: laboratory scale experimental analysis of phenomena occurring in CO2 geological sequestration”

The objectives of the research activity will be to reproduce at the laboratory scale the scenarios representative of the interactions between the acidic solution stored in the reservoir rock and the sealing caprock. To this purpose analog materials will be designed which will allow to carry out tests within the loading capacity of BIAX (about 1.5 MPa) being representative of the response of real shale-like geomaterials under in-situ loading conditions (hundred of MPa).
The scientific program should respect the following itemized list of tasks
– developing the experimental campaign based on oedometer tests, during the secondment period at Strathclyde University (UK);
– calibrating the upgraded experimental apparatus;
– exploiting the experimental protocol relative to the campaign to be conducted together with a Post-Doc researcher

For further information, see the attached [PDF].

Permafrost underlies a quarter of the Northern Hemisphere and is thawing rapidly due to global warming. This has major consequences for ecosystems, water resources, infrastructure stability and long-term economic costs. Anticipating these changes through numerical modelling is essential for supporting resilient Arctic environments and communities.

The PERMACHANGE project is developing a site-scale hybrid digital twin of permafrost, combining high-performance computing, hybrid modelling and machine-learning-based soil mechanics surrogate models. This approach enables efficient, high-fidelity simulations of subsurface heat and water transfer, as well as terrain stability, under thawing conditions.

This PhD aims at adding soil mechanics (M) simulation capabilities to the TH hybrid twin. The detailed objectives are: (1) simulating the effect of temperature change on geotechnical infrastructures, and (2) building a mechanical surrogate model.

For further information, see the attached [PDF].

PhD scholarship at Laboratoire de Mécanique et de Génie Civil (LMGC), Université de Montpellier, France.
This thesis is about the numerical and experimental investigation of the micromechanical phenomena involved in the generation of waves by the collapse of a granular mass into a body of water.

For further information, see the attached [PDF].