Ongoing research suggests that the temperature of geomaterials (both soils and rocks) can significantly condition their hydro-mechanical properties. In particular, soils can exhibit strengthening or weakening when subject to thermal forcing (daily and seasonal temperature oscillations, long-term warming/cooling), depending on their mineralogy and structure. The amplitude of temperature oscillations is largest near the ground surface but decreases rapidly with depth. With it, the importance of thermal effects in soils also is expected to decrease. Discontinuities and groundwater flows, however, can considerably increase the reach of temperature oscillations. In this thesis, numerical modelling will be conducted to evaluate the depth of influence of thermal forcing of various periods, including the long-term forcing expected in climate change scenarios. The effect of various parameters will be taken into account, such as the soil permeability and heat capacity, the groundwater flow direction, the solar irradiation, and the presence of discontinuities. This way, it will be possible to preliminarily estimate the size of soil bodies potentially affected by thermal-induced landslides.
Preliminary scope of work in English
Ongoing research suggests that the temperature of geomaterials (both soils and rocks) can significantly condition their hydro-mechanical properties. In particular, soils can exhibit strengthening or weakening when subject to thermal forcing (daily and seasonal temperature oscillations, long-term warming/cooling), depending on their mineralogy and structure. The amplitude of temperature oscillations is largest near the ground surface but decreases rapidly with depth. With it, the importance of thermal effects in soils also is expected to decrease. Discontinuities and groundwater flows, however, can considerably increase the reach of temperature oscillations. In this thesis, numerical modelling will be conducted to evaluate the depth of influence of thermal forcing of various periods, including the long-term forcing expected in climate change scenarios. The effect of various parameters will be taken into account, such as the soil permeability and heat capacity, the groundwater flow direction, the solar irradiation, and the presence of discontinuities. This way, it will be possible to preliminarily estimate the size of soil bodies potentially affected by thermal-induced landslides.
