Behaviour of frozen soils from micro to macro: new insights, database and numerical techniques

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Raul Fuentes
• Subject Area: Geotechnics, Hydraulic Engineering
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 505704399

In this project we will investigate the behaviour of frozen soils, both natural and artificially frozen, from the micro-scale at particle level to macro-scale in case studies. The project will use the latest MRI and µCT imaging technology to provide a comprehensive dataset of frozen soils under different temperature and loading regimes at particle level. The results will be compared to element testing size carried out in a freezing chamber. The new database of observed behaviour will be used to develop and validate novel constitutive relationships including Fast-Fourier-Transform homogenisation and Machine Learning. These will be used in boundary value problems which will be solved in finite element models covering multi-scale and poromechanical approaches, as well as in physics-informed neural networks (PINNs). The final step towards macro-scale will be taken using these newly developed techniques to calibrate them against real case studies at two levels, one in a controlled physical model in the laboratory and two real case studies: a slope failure in Mount Fuji, Japan, and the artificially frozen ground campaign carried out in Berlin during the construction of the underground works at the famous Unter der Linden street. The project will provide a unique and novel database and insights from the observed behaviour with an unprecedented level of detail as well as novel numerical approaches to frozen soils, never attempted to date.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: France
• Partner Organisation: Agence Nationale de la Recherche / The French National Research Agency
• Co-Investigator: Professor Florian Amann, Ph.D.
• Cooperation Partners: Professor Jean-Michel Pereira, Ph.D.; Dr. Anh-Minh Tang