The rising interest and demand for energy geo-structures and energy storage  systems require a fundamental understanding of the  hydro-chemo-thermo-mechanically coupled processes in soils and rocks for  thermal piles, nuclear waste disposal, gas storage and caprock integrity, etc. Advanced imaging techniques provide essential insights  into the behaviour of geomaterials under various applied conditions,  including hydraulic pressure, chemical reaction, temperature, and  mechanical loading. For example, X-ray micro-tomography is a  non-destructive 3D imaging tool for the in-situ multi-physical  characterisation of geomaterials. Other imaging techniques include  digital cameras, neutron tomography, X-ray diffraction, and magnetic  resonance imaging.
 
Image  analysis and machine learning apply widely in our daily life, from face  recognition to self-driving cars. In geomechanics, machine learning is  becoming increasingly popular to enhance the quantitative information  that image analysis can provide through phase segmentation, fracture  recognition, particle tracking, etc. This session aims to attract  high-quality contributions that use image analysis and machine learning  in geomechanics.
 
The relevant topics include but are not limited to:

•  Soil mechanics
• Rock mechanics
• Multiphase flow
• Hydraulic-induced instability
• Dissolution and precipitation
• Freezing and thawing
• Fines migration and clogging
• Microbially induced calcite precipitation
• …

More information on https://www.ismlg2023.com/special-session7.

Mesh-free models have become increasingly popular in the computational mechanics community, especially when traditional mesh-based approaches –such as the Finite Element Method (FEM)– may lose their predictive capacity due to excessive mesh distortions induced by large deformations. However, mesh-free models remain relatively unknown among most engineers (compared to FEM), and are relegated to purely academic cases most of the time. One of the reasons may be the fact that engineers do not usually design conventional structures to behave in the finite deformation regime, which is commonly associated with the post-failure behaviour of the structure (buckling, slope failure and others). Indeed, before it happens, FEM simulations are able to predict the early stages of the dominant failure mechanism and thus calculate safety factors, which is in most of the cases the main concern of professional engineers. Naturally, the following questions may arises, there is room for mesh-free methods in daily engineering? And finally, what are the applications that can be subject to this type of methodology? This thematic seminar aims answer this question (and related-ones) and to open a discussion between pure numerical researchers and those which interact with industry.

Further information can be found on the following links:
https://www.semta.org.es/activities/seminars-workshops/23-thematic-seminar-mesh-free
https://sites.google.com/view/semta-meshfree-models

A four-day Winter School to explore the basics and advanced applications of soil-structure modelling in OpenSees, focussing on critical issues of the implementation and discussing possible solutions. A meeting point to interact within the world of dynamics of soil-structure systems, for sharing experience and pointing to new horizons.

More information on the contents and attendance modalities can be found in the flyer and brochure attached, as well as on this website.

The Organising Committee
Dr. Davide Noè Gorini (Sapienza University of Rome)
Prof. Luigi Callisto (Sapienza University of Rome)
Prof. Paolo Franchin (Sapienza Università of Rome)
Dr. Tony Fierro (University of Molise)

From the 28th of November to the 2nd of December 2022, the Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering of the Università di Genova, 

is organizing a Ph.D. school entitled Unsaturated Soils: theory and practice. 

The objective is to provide the theoretical elements of unsaturated soils to be applied to geotechnical problems via numerical analysis. 

The course is taught in English and takes place in presence. It lasts 25 hours and is open to external Ph.D. students and researchers.

For more details and registration, please refer to the flyer attached.

The Session “Characterisation, remediation or management of contaminated sites and waste materials” will mainly focus on: i) multidisciplinary and multiscale characterisation of contaminated sites aimed to investigate the current state of the system and find experimental evidence of bio-chemo-mechanical coupling processes; ii) experimental and/or modelling studies addressing emerging remediation techniques; iv) emerging technique for treating and managing waste materials.

Abstract submission: https://www.issmge.org/publications/review-platform/conferences/iceg2023

More information on this pdf file.

The Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering of the University of Naples Federico II is organizing the third edition of the Mediterranean PhD School. This year the School will be entitled “From Sustainable to Regenerative and Resilient Design” and will deal with various themes of Civil Engineering. In the framework of Geotechnical section, lectures will be given by prof. Alessandro Tarantino from the Strathclyde University of Glasgow and prof. Katherine Tsiampousi from the Imperial College of London, both addressing the new frontiers of geotechnical engineering in reducing environmental impact. The Ph.D. students are invited to attend the school freely (in presence or on-line) and eventually to present their research activities consistently with the theme of the school; a selected number of Ph.D. students will be admitted to an oral presentation of their research and will receive a reward of 500 euros if they will attend the competition in presence. Other technical and exercise activities are also planned in a competitive form with further awards.

Link to the website: https://www.dicea.unina.it/mediterranean-phd-school-2022/

Attached to this message the program and flyer of the school.

The course incudes half a day of technical visit of the Synchrotron facility in Grenoble on the 29th of August, and half a day of lectures on the 30th. The fees also include the social dinner on the 29th evening and the coffee breaks. Transfer to Torino to attend the main conference will be eventually organised for the 30th afternoon, depending on the number of interested people.

The detailed program is available on the website, together with the registration fees (https://www.symposium.it/en/events/2022/16th-international-conference-of-iacmag-2022/satellite-courses). Advantageous registration fees are available for students and for those who are also participating to the main conference.

Registration is now open, through the following link : https://www.azur-colloque.fr/UGA/inscription/inscription/151

More information on this poster.