Research Grant

Project title: Development of a new and original 3D finite element model for the study of thermo-hydro-mechanical behaviour of multiphase porous materials, with application to the simulation of the initiation, propagation and deposition of landslides, including catastrophic ones.

Supervision: Professor Lorenzo Sanavia, 

Host institution: University of Padua, Italy

Research Grant: 24 months, gross remuneration of 24,589 Euro per annum.

Work plan:

1) Implementation of the non-isothermal elasto-plastic and multiphase porous media model available in the finite element code COMES-GEO (UniPD) into the open-source code KRATOS (CIMNE). The porous media model, based on the Hybrid Mixture Theory, allows for the description of the multiphase and multiphysics nature of porous materials and the interactions present between the phases (solid, liquid, and gaseous).
2) Validation of the implementation using test cases.
3) Numerical simulation of two experimental tests performed with SHIVA (Slow to High Velocity Apparatus) at INGV (National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology) in Rome on Vajont clays and comparison between experimental and numerical results.

4) Link of COMES-GEO with the KRATOS MPM solver.
5) Application (back-analysis) to the study of the thermo-hydro-mechanical conditions of initiation and propagation of the catastrophic Vajont landslide (October 9, 1963).

The activity will be carried out primarily at the Centre for Studies on Climate Change Impacts CRITICAL of the University of Padua, located in Rovigo (Italy).

Knowledge of programming in at least two of the three languages is required: Fortran, C++, and Python.

The deadline to apply is January 7 at 3:00 p.m. CET