Long-term inhibition of clay shrink-swell: Chemo-Hydro-Mechanical modelling and field scale numerical simulations

In the framework of the IRGAK project, coordinated by ESTP and ENPC, we are looking for candidates for a PhD position.

The IRGAK project aims to develop an in-situ soil treatment solution to inhibit the shrink-swell behaviour of clayey soils (CSS) during seasonal wetting-drying cycles. In France, structural damages to constructions caused by CSS exceed several hundred million euros annually. In the context of climate change, increasing occurrences of extreme meteorological events will exacerbate the vulnerability of constructions to CSS. Managing the CSS geohazard thus constitutes a considerable economic challenge.

In this context, the present PhD position focuses on performing a comprehensive numerical analysis to model the ability of the treatment solution to inhibit CSS. In particular, the PhD student will:

• Develop and implement a constitutive model for the chemo-hydro-mechanical behaviour of natural expansive clays in a FEM code;
• Calibrate and validate the model through simulations of laboratory experiments performed in the framework of the IRGAK project;
• Implement an advanced soil-atmosphere interactions model and validate couplings between soil behaviour, diffusion kinetics and hydrometeorological conditions through simulations of full-scale experiments performed in the framework of the IRGAK project;
• Use the validated model to perform predictive simulations of the influence of the treatment solution on the long-term inhibition of CSS;
• Propose relevant correlations between model parameters and geotechnical properties measured using standardised laboratory or field tests.

The position will be hosted at ESTP and supervised by Dr. Abdelkrim Bennabi (ESTP), Prof. Jean-Michel Pereira (ENPC), and Dr. Benjamin Dardé (ESTP).

The candidate should have graduated in geotechnics, geomechanics, civil engineering, or mechanics, have demonstrated capabilities in numerical modelling, and be interested in both scientific development and its engineering applications.