Modeling of reactive ion transport in partially saturated fractured porous materials

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Ralf Jänicke
• Subject Area: Applied Mechanics, Statics and Dynamics ; Mechanics
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 566769353

The proposed project aims at advancing the modeling of reactive transport phenomena in partially saturated porous materials by combining numerical models and in-situ X-Ray Computed Tomography (XRCT) experiments. Reactive transport through porous media affects a wide range of relevant engineering materials, such as battery components, soil or rock. Whilst it is the applicants’ primary objective to push the boundaries of advanced numerical and experimental characterization of such complex materials in general, cementitious materials serve as an example class of reactive porous materials in this project. To investigate the diverse electro-chemo-mechanical interactions in cement mortar, in-situ 3D imaging and continuum mechanical modeling and simulation methods are to be combined and further developed. More specifically, the purpose is: 1. Extending the in-situ XRCT 3D imaging setup existing in the PI:s’ lab. 2. Enhancing the multiphysics modeling framework to incorporate electro-chemo-mechanical interactions. 3. Developing necessary computational algorithms within the finite element framework and integrating them into the open-source FE package Ferrite.jl. By this, the following scenarios shall be investigated: 1. Capillary suction with chemo-mechanical interactions in unfractured mortar. 2. Capillary suction with chemo-mechanical interactions in fractured mortar. 3. Electrically accelerated ion migration in fractured mortar. 4. Corrosion-induced fracture (2nd funding period). By closely interlinking time-resolved in-situ experiments for 3D imaging with continuum mechanical modeling and simulation approaches, the project makes an important contribution to deepening our understanding of the diverse multiphysical processes in this technologically highly relevant class of materials.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Sweden
• Cooperation Partner: Professorin Dr. Karin Lundgren