Geotechnical Engineering

COORDINATOR

Olivella Pastalle, Sebastià

CONTACT

Building C2 (North Campus)
Tel.: (+34) 934 011 784
E-mail: doctorat.ET.camins@upc.edu

https://deca.upc.edu/ca/doctorat-recerca/doctorat/terreny

The doctoral programme in Geotechnical Engineering brings together two areas of knowledge that are widely recognised in international research: geotechnical engineering and groundwater hydrology (or hydrogeology). The subjects proposed in both categories or specialisations are equivalent to those established in the doctoral programmes of university departments that are well-known in other countries. The adoption of a single doctoral programme enriches the two specialisations, as they have numerous topics in common, especially in the conceptual area (some shared subjects are: flow in a porous medium; transport; thermal, mechanical, hydraulic and chemical interactions) that corresponds to the appropriate level for a doctoral programme.

The research topics and lines explored by the programme lecturers are reflected in the doctoral theses that have been completed in the past. The group that teaches the programme is well-known for its contributions to the development of mathematical and numerical models in various areas (flow in heterogeneous media, transport of pollutants, resource optimisation, constitutive equations of materials, development of advanced calculation programmes) and for its association with European and international projects in many areas relating to geotechnical engineering over the last twenty years. The projects that it has been awarded are a constant source of new research topics that are offered to students for their thesis preparation.

General information

Access profile

In relation to scientific and technological areas associated with geotechnical engineering, the admission requirements for students can be summed up in three words:
1) knowledge,
2) ability and
3) motivation.

That is:
1) Students should have sufficient educational experience to access the frontier of knowledge in one of the programme’s subject areas.
2) They should be academically mature and have sufficient ability to go further so that they can make a new, original contribution to the state of knowledge or technology in the area of the doctoral thesis. Consequently, they should be able to research, develop and create. They must have the ability to analyse and synthesise, a critical spirit, the capacity to work, and the ability and skills required for team work and oral and written communication. A command of the English language is also essential. It is important to have a good source of funding.
3) Students should be really motivated and ready for a long-term project, they must be ambitious but realistic, with personal maturity and emotional intelligence and a plan for the future that enables them to benefit from the effort and cost that doctoral studies represent.
To date, most of the students on our doctoral programme have had these characteristics. Many of them are now lecturers or researchers in universities, service institutions and research centres in Spain, Latin America and the rest of the world.

The natural route into the doctoral programme is via the master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering at the UPC. If students have completed this degree, they do not need to take additional master’s degree subjects (bridging courses).

Students who come from other master’s degrees must show that they have basic knowledge of fundamental subjects in the area of geotechnical engineering. If students do not have this knowledge, they must take bridging courses in subjects of the master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering at the UPC. The academic committee of the doctoral programme will decide which additional subjects each student must take, depending on what they have studied in their master’s degree.

Main entrance qualifications:
Engineers or university graduates, preferably in the areas of civil engineering, geological engineering and architecture. In addition, candidates must have a master’s degree in the area of civil engineering, earth sciences or other related areas. Other curricula and educational backgrounds will be assessed by the programme’s academic committee.

Output profile

Doctoral candidates who complete a doctoral degree will have acquired the following competencies, which are needed to carry out quality research (Royal Decree 99/2011, of 28 January, which regulates official doctoral studies):

a) A systematic understanding of the field of study and a mastery of the research skills and methods related to the field.
b) An ability to conceive, design or create, put into practice and adopt a substantial process of research or creation.
c) An ability to contribute to pushing back the frontiers of knowledge through original research.
d) A capacity for critical analysis and an ability to assess and summarise new and complex ideas.
e) An ability to communicate with the academic and scientific community and with society in general as regards their fields of knowledge in the manner and languages that are typical of the international scientific community to which they belong.
f) An ability to foster scientific, technological, social, artistic and cultural progress in academic and professional contexts within a knowledge-based society.

The award of a doctoral degree must equip the graduate for work in a variety of settings, especially those requiring creativity and innovation. Doctoral graduates must have at least acquired the personal skills needed to:

a) Develop in contexts in which there is little specific information.
b) Find the key questions that must be answered to solve a complex problem.
c) Design, create, develop and undertake original, innovative projects in their field.
d) Work as part of a team and independently in an international or multidisciplinary context.
e) Integrate knowledge, deal with complexity and make judgements with limited information.
f) Offer criticism on and intellectually defend solutions.

Finally, with respect to competencies, doctoral students must:
a) have acquired advanced knowledge at the frontier of their discipline and demonstrated, in the context of internationally recognised scientific research, a deep, detailed and well-grounded understanding of theoretical and practical issues and scientific methodology in one or more research fields;
b) have made an original and significant contribution to scientific research in their field of expertise that has been recognised as such by the international scientific community;
c) have demonstrated that they are capable of designing a research project that serves as a framework for carrying out a critical analysis and assessment of imprecise situations, in which they are able to apply their contributions, expertise and working method to synthesise new and complex ideas that yield a deeper knowledge of the research context in which they work;
d) have developed sufficient autonomy to set up, manage and lead innovative research teams and projects and scientific collaborations (both national and international) within their subject area, in multidisciplinary contexts and, where appropriate, with a substantial element of knowledge transfer;
e) have demonstrated that they are able to carry out their research activity in a socially responsible manner and with scientific integrity;
f) have demonstrated, within their specific scientific context, that they are able to make cultural, social or technological advances and promote innovation in all areas within a knowledge-based society;
g) have demonstrated that they are able to participate in scientific discussions at the international level in their field of expertise and disseminate the results of their research activity to audiences of all kinds.

Number of places

15

Duration of studies and dedication regime

Duration
The maximum period of study for full-time doctoral studies is four years, counted from the date of first enrolment in the relevant programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited. The academic committee of the doctoral programme may authorise a doctoral candidate to pursue doctoral studies on a part-time basis. In this case, the maximum period of study is seven years from the date of first enrolment in the programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited. To calculate these periods, the date of deposit is considered to be the date on which the thesis is made publicly available for review.

If a doctoral candidate has a degree of disability equal to or greater than 33%, the maximum period of study is six years for full-time students and nine years for part-time students.

For full-time doctoral candidates, the minimum period of study is two years, counted from the date of an applicant's admission to the programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited; for part-time doctoral candidates it is four years.

When there are justified grounds for doing so, and the thesis supervisor and academic tutor have given their authorisation, doctoral candidates may request that the academic committee of their doctoral programme exempt them from the requirement to complete this minimum period of study.

Temporary disability leave and leave for the birth of a child, adoption or fostering for the purposes of adoption, temporary foster care, risk during pregnancy or infant feeding, gender violence and any other situation provided for in current regulations do not count towards these periods. Students who find themselves in any of these circumstances must notify the academic committee of the doctoral programme, which must inform the Doctoral School.

Doctoral candidates may request periods of temporary withdrawal from the programme for up to a total of two years. Requests must be justified and addressed to the academic committee responsible for the programme, which will decide whether or not to grant the candidate's request.

Extension of studies
If a doctoral candidate has not applied to deposit their thesis before the expiry of the deadlines specified in the previous section, the academic committee of the doctoral programme may, at the request of the doctoral candidate, authorise an extension of this deadline of one year under the conditions specified for the doctoral programme in question.

Dismissal from the doctoral programme
A doctoral candidate may be dismissed from a doctoral programme for the following reasons:

  • The doctoral candidate submitting a justified application to withdraw from the programme.
  • The doctoral candidate not having completed their annual enrolment or applied for a temporary interruption.
  • The doctoral candidate not having formalised annual enrolment on the day after the end of the authorisation to temporarily interrupt or withdraw from the programme.
  • The doctoral candidate receiving a negative reassessment after the deadline set by the academic committee of the doctoral programme to remedy the deficiencies that led to a previous negative assessment.
  • The doctoral candidate having been the subject of disciplinary proceedings leading to their suspension or permanent exclusion from the UPC.
  • A refusal to authorise the extensions applied for, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.3 of these regulations.
  • The doctoral candidate not having submitted the research plan in the period established in Section 8.2 of these regulations.
  • The maximum period of study for the doctoral degree having ended, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.4 of these regulations.

Dismissal from the programme means that the doctoral candidate cannot continue studying at the UPC and that their academic record will be closed. This notwithstanding, they may apply to the academic committee of the programme for readmission, and the committee must reevaluate the candidate in accordance with the criteria established in the regulations.

A doctoral candidate who has been dismissed due to having exceeded the time limit for completing doctoral studies or due to an unsatisfactory assessment may not be Academic Regulations for Doctoral Studies Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Page 17 of 33 admitted to the same doctoral programme until at least two years have elapsed from the date of dismissal, as provided for in sections 3.4 and 9.2 of these regulations.

Legal framework

Organization

COORDINATOR:
ACADEMIC COMMISSION OF THE PROGRAM:
STRUCTURAL UNITS:
  • Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (PROMOTORA)
SPECIFIC URL OF THE DOCTORAL PROGRAM:
https://deca.upc.edu/ca/doctorat-recerca/doctorat/terreny

CONTACT:

Building C2 (North Campus)
Tel.: (+34) 934 011 784
E-mail: doctorat.ET.camins@upc.edu


Access, admission and registration

Access profile

In relation to scientific and technological areas associated with geotechnical engineering, the admission requirements for students can be summed up in three words:
1) knowledge,
2) ability and
3) motivation.

That is:
1) Students should have sufficient educational experience to access the frontier of knowledge in one of the programme’s subject areas.
2) They should be academically mature and have sufficient ability to go further so that they can make a new, original contribution to the state of knowledge or technology in the area of the doctoral thesis. Consequently, they should be able to research, develop and create. They must have the ability to analyse and synthesise, a critical spirit, the capacity to work, and the ability and skills required for team work and oral and written communication. A command of the English language is also essential. It is important to have a good source of funding.
3) Students should be really motivated and ready for a long-term project, they must be ambitious but realistic, with personal maturity and emotional intelligence and a plan for the future that enables them to benefit from the effort and cost that doctoral studies represent.
To date, most of the students on our doctoral programme have had these characteristics. Many of them are now lecturers or researchers in universities, service institutions and research centres in Spain, Latin America and the rest of the world.

The natural route into the doctoral programme is via the master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering at the UPC. If students have completed this degree, they do not need to take additional master’s degree subjects (bridging courses).

Students who come from other master’s degrees must show that they have basic knowledge of fundamental subjects in the area of geotechnical engineering. If students do not have this knowledge, they must take bridging courses in subjects of the master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering at the UPC. The academic committee of the doctoral programme will decide which additional subjects each student must take, depending on what they have studied in their master’s degree.

Main entrance qualifications:
Engineers or university graduates, preferably in the areas of civil engineering, geological engineering and architecture. In addition, candidates must have a master’s degree in the area of civil engineering, earth sciences or other related areas. Other curricula and educational backgrounds will be assessed by the programme’s academic committee.

Access requirements

As a rule, applicants must hold a Spanish bachelor's degree or equivalent and a Spanish master's degree or equivalent, provided they have completed a minimum of 300 ECTS credits on the two degrees (Royal Decree 43/2015, of 2 February).

Applicants who meet one or more of the following conditions are also eligible for admission:

a) Holders of official Spanish degrees or equivalent Spanish qualifications, provided they have passed 300 ECTS credits in total and they can prove they have reached Level 3 in the Spanish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education.
b) Holders of degrees awarded in foreign education systems in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), which do not require homologation, who can prove that they have reached Level 7 in the European Qualifications Framework, provided the degree makes the holder eligible for admission to doctoral studies in the country in which it was awarded.
c) Holders of degrees awarded in a country that does not belong to the EHEA, which do not require homologation, on the condition that the University is able to verify that the degree is of a level equivalent to that of official university master's degrees in Spain and that it makes the holder eligible for admission to doctoral studies in the country in which it was awarded.
d) Holders of another doctoral degree.
e) Holders of an official university qualification who, having been awarded a post as a trainee in the entrance examination for specialised medical training, have successfully completed at least two years of training leading to an official degree in a health sciences specialisation.

Note 1: Regulations for access to doctoral studies for individuals with degrees in bachelor's, engineering, or architecture under the system prior to the implementation of the EHEA (CG 47/02 2014).

Note 2: Agreement number 64/2014 of the Governing Council approving the procedure and criteria for assessing the academic requirements for admission to doctoral studies with non-homologated foreign degrees (CG 25/03 2014).

Legal framework

Admission criteria and merits assessment

There are two criteria for admission to the programme. The first is compliance with the established legal requirements. The second is whether students have a suitable background, in terms of their training, capacity and motivation in the areas of the programme’s scientific and technological disciplines. To access the programme, applicants must comply with legal requirements.

The suitability of an applicant’s background will be assessed according to the following criteria:

a) Whether a student’s academic background (subjects taken) is in line with the disciplines in the programme.

The suitability of a student’s background will be assessed in the following terms:
a1) Suitable academic background.
a2) Suitable academic background with bridging courses.
a3) Unsuitable background.
An evaluation of a1 indicates that the student can enter the programme with no need for bridging courses, and a2 means that the student can enter if they take bridging courses. An evaluation of a3 indicates that the student has not been accepted.

b) The suitability of a student’s personal background.
Whether a student’s personal background is suitable is assessed by considering the following aspects:
b1) Training: the personal academic record is evaluated.
b2) Capacity: other training activities are evaluated or previous contributions in areas associated with the programme, including knowledge of English. Merit will be given to students who have already been accepted by a programme lecturer who has agreed to be the thesis supervisor.
b3) Motivation: students’ statements in the corresponding section of the application are evaluated. If the academic committee considers it appropriate, this section can also be assessed in an interview.

Sections b1, b2 and b3 are evaluated on a scale of 1 to 10. To enter the programme, students must have a score that is no less than 6 for any section and an overall score above 7. The overall score will be calculated as a weighted average, in which sections b1 and b2 are worth 35% and section b3 is worth 30%. This overall score can also be used to prioritise applications if there are more applicants than available places.

Training complements

The natural route into the doctoral programme is via the master’s degree in Geotechnical and Earthquake Engineering at the UPC. Students who enter through this route do not need to take bridging courses.

Students who enter the programme through other master’s degrees must take bridging courses (a maximum of 60 ECTS) in subjects from the master’s degree in Geotechnical and Earthquake Engineering at the UPC. The academic committee of the doctoral programme will decide which additional subjects each student must take, depending on what they have studied in their master’s degree and the research line they will explore in their thesis. Below is a list of subjects from the master’s degree that is associated with the doctoral programme, by line of research.

For students who will focus on research lines in the area of soil and rock mechanics and nanotechnology of engineering materials, the bridging courses will be selected from the following list of subjects of the master's degree in Geotechnical and Earthquake Engineering at the UPC (or similar):
• Rock Mechanics
• Underground Excavations
• Water and Heat Flow in Deformable Porous Media
• Unsaturated Soil Mechanics
• Numerical Models in Geotechnical Engineering
• Modern Monitoring Techniques for Ground Movements
• Soil Behaviour and Advanced Modelling
• Constitutive Equations of Materials
• Modelling of Flow and Transport in Porous Media
• Geographic Information Systems
• Geomechanical and Geotechnical Engineering
• Geotechnical Design and Construction
• Geomechanics of Breakage
• Quaternary Geology
• Slope Stability

For students who will focus on research lines in the area of groundwater hydrology, bridging courses will be selected from the following list of subjects of the master’s degree in Geotechnical and Earthquake Engineering at the UPC (or similar):
• Water resources and Infrastructure
• Soil Mechanics
• Water and Heat Flow in Deformable Porous Media
• Environmental Isotope Techniques in Groundwater Hydrology
• Aquifers Balance and Recharge
• Reactive Transport
• Statistical Methods in Groundwater Hydrology
• Hydrogeochemical Modelling
• Groundwater and Environment
• Geographic Information Systems
• Modelling and Upscaling of Solute Transport in the Subsoil
• Aquifer Mechanics
• Hydrogeology and Public Works
• Variable Density, Multiphase Flow
• Quaternary Geology

Taking subjects from the master’s degree in Geotechnical and Earthquake Engineering associated with the programme, each of which has specific objectives, methodologies and assessment processes, will prepare students to gain competencies. The link to the programme is: https://camins.upc.edu/ca/estudis/master/met

Enrolment period for new doctoral students

Dates to be set every academic year, between September and October. Extraordinary period in February.

More information at the registration section for new doctoral students

Enrolment period

Dates to be set every academic year, between September and October.

More information at the general registration section

Monitoring and evaluation of the doctoral student

Procedure for the preparation and defense of the research plan

Doctoral candidates must submit a research plan, which will be included in their doctoral student activity report, before the end of the first year. The plan may be improved over the course of the doctoral degree. It must be endorsed by the tutor and the supervisor, and it must include the method that is to be followed and the aims of the research.

At least one of these annual assessments will include a public presentation and defence of the research plan and work done before a committee composed of three doctoral degree holders, which will be conducted in the manner determined by each academic committee. The examination committee awards a Pass or Fail mark. A Pass mark is a prerequisite for continuing on the doctoral programme. Doctoral candidates awarded a Fail mark must submit a new research plan for assessment by the academic committee of the doctoral programme within six months.

The committee assesses the research plan every year, in addition to all of the other activities in the doctoral student activity report. Doctoral candidates who are awarded two consecutive Fail marks for the research plan will be obliged to definitely withdraw from the programme.

If they change the subject of their thesis, they must submit a new research plan.

Formation activities

Activity: Tutorial (compulsory).
- 288 hours.

Activity: Courses and seminars.
- 60 hours.

Activity: Workshops.
- 30 hours.

Activity: Publications.
- 30 hours.

Activity: Mobility.
- 480 hours.

Activity: Training in information skills.
- 1.5 hours.

Activity: Research methodology.
- 12 hours.

Activity: Innovation and creativity.
- 8 hours.

Activity: Language and communication skills.
- 18 hours.

Activity: Assessment based on doctoral student activity report (DAD) and research plan.
- 4 hours.

Procedure for assignment of tutor and thesis director

The academic committee of the doctoral programme assigns a thesis supervisor to each doctoral candidate when they are admitted or enrol for the first time, taking account of the thesis supervision commitment referred to in the admission decision.

The thesis supervisor will ensure that training activities carried out by the doctoral candidate are coherent and suitable, and that the topic of the candidate’s doctoral thesis will have an impact and make a novel contribution to knowledge in the relevant field. The thesis supervisor will also guide the doctoral candidate in planning the thesis and, if necessary, tailoring it to any other projects or activities undertaken. The thesis supervisor will generally be a UPC professor or researcher who holds a doctoral degree and has documented research experience. This includes PhD-holding staff at associated schools (as determined by the Governing Council) and UPC-affiliated research institutes (in accordance with corresponding collaboration and affiliation agreements). When thesis supervisors are UPC staff members, they also act as the doctoral candidate’s tutor.

PhD holders who do not meet these criteria (as a result of their contractual relationship or the nature of the institution to which they are attached) must be approved by the UPC Doctoral School's Standing Committee in order to participate in a doctoral programme as researchers with documented research experience.

The academic committee of the doctoral programme may approve the appointment of a PhD-holding expert who is not a UPC staff member as a candidate’s thesis supervisor. In such cases, the prior authorisation of the UPC Doctoral School's Standing Committee is required. A UPC staff member who holds a doctoral degree and has documented research experience must also be proposed to act as a co-supervisor, or as the doctoral candidate’s tutor if one has not been assigned.

A thesis supervisor may step down from this role if there are justified reasons (recognised as valid by the committee) for doing so. If this occurs, the academic committee of the doctoral programme will assign the doctoral candidate a new thesis supervisor.

Provided there are justified reasons for doing so, and after hearing any relevant input from the doctoral candidate, the academic committee of the doctoral programme may assign a new thesis supervisor at any time during the period of doctoral study.

If there are academic reasons for doing so (an interdisciplinary topic, joint or international programmes, etc.) and the academic committee of the programme gives its approval, an additional thesis supervisor may be assigned. Supervisors and co-supervisors have the same responsibilities and academic recognition.

The maximum number of supervisors of a doctoral thesis is two: a supervisor and a co-supervisor.

For theses carried out under a cotutelle agreement or as part of an Industrial Doctorate, if necessary and if the agreement foresees it this maximum number of supervisors may not apply. This notwithstanding, the maximum number of supervisors belonging to the UPC is two.

More information at the PhD theses section

Permanence

The maximum period of study for full-time doctoral studies is four years, counted from the date of first enrolment in the relevant programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited. The academic committee of the doctoral programme may authorise a doctoral candidate to pursue doctoral studies on a part-time basis. In this case, the maximum period of study is seven years from the date of first enrolment in the programme until the date on which the doctoral thesis is deposited. To calculate these periods, the date of deposit is considered to be the date on which the thesis is made publicly available for review.

If a doctoral candidate has a degree of disability equal to or greater than 33%, the maximum period of study is six years for full-time students and nine years for part-time students.

If a doctoral candidate has not applied to deposit their thesis before the expiry of the deadlines specified in the previous section, the academic committee of the doctoral programme may, at the request of the doctoral candidate, authorise an extension of this deadline of one year under the conditions specified for the doctoral programme in question.

Dismissal from the doctoral programme
A doctoral candidate may be dismissed from a doctoral programme for the following reasons:

  • The doctoral candidate submitting a justified application to withdraw from the programme.
  • The doctoral candidate not having completed their annual enrolment or applied for a temporary interruption.
  • The doctoral candidate not having formalised annual enrolment on the day after the end of the authorisation to temporarily interrupt or withdraw from the programme.
  • The doctoral candidate receiving a negative reassessment after the deadline set by the academic committee of the doctoral programme to remedy the deficiencies that led to a previous negative assessment.
  • The doctoral candidate having been the subject of disciplinary proceedings leading to their suspension or permanent exclusion from the UPC.
  • A refusal to authorise the extensions applied for, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.3 of these regulations.
  • The doctoral candidate not having submitted the research plan in the period established in Section 8.2 of these regulations.
  • The maximum period of study for the doctoral degree having ended, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.4 of these regulations.

Dismissal from the programme means that the doctoral candidate cannot continue studying at the UPC and that their academic record will be closed. This notwithstanding, they may apply to the academic committee of the programme for readmission, and the committee must reevaluate the candidate in accordance with the criteria established in the regulations.

A doctoral candidate who has been dismissed due to having exceeded the time limit for completing doctoral studies or due to an unsatisfactory assessment may not be Academic Regulations for Doctoral Studies Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Page 17 of 33 admitted to the same doctoral programme until at least two years have elapsed from the date of dismissal, as provided for in sections 3.4 and 9.2 of these regulations.

Legal framework

Learning resources

• Access to the UPC virtual environment for teaching: Atenea or https://atenea.upc.edu/moodle/login/index.php

• Classrooms equipped with projectors, class computer and internet access.
• Computer equipment and rooms in the department and the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering (ETSECCPB). General and calculation programmes that are specific to the doctoral programme.
• Four-wheel drive vehicle that belongs to the department for field visits.
• Depending on the availability of space, students will be provided with a workplace in the department with access to high-speed internet (100 Mbps).
• Wi-Fi service in the entire UPC campus.
• Departmental laboratories for teaching practicals and research
• Soil and Rock Mechanics Laboratory
• Thermohydrodynamics of Unsaturated Soils Laboratory
• Hydrogeochemistry Laboratory
• Topography and Geomatics Laboratory
• Geophysics Laboratory.

Doctoral Theses

List of authorized thesis for defense

Last update: 03/12/2024 05:45:25.

List of lodged theses

  • ENCALADA LÓPEZ, DAVID ALEJANDRO: Soil Deterioration and Crack Formation during Drying. Mitigation Strategies
    Author: ENCALADA LÓPEZ, DAVID ALEJANDRO
    Thesis file: (contact the Doctoral School to confirm you have a valid doctoral degree and to get the link to the thesis)
    Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
    Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
    Mode: Normal
    Deposit date: 29/11/2024
    Deposit END date: 13/12/2024
    Thesis director: LEDESMA VILLALBA, ALBERTO | PRAT CATALAN, PERE
    Thesis abstract: This thesis investigates the cracking behaviour of deformable soils undergoing moisture exchange with the environment. The research combines experimental approaches, evaluates proposed models, and includes the evaluation of numerical modelling to understand the properties controlling soil cracking during desiccation.The experimental work encompasses four main areas: soil deformation measurement, suction measurement, soil-atmosphere interaction evaluation, and soil cracking assessment.Three methodologies were employed to assess soil deformation: direct measurement, volume displacement, and digital image analysis (DIA). DIA proved particularly effective, offering simplicity and rapidity in acquiring soil shrinkage curves (SSC) while providing additional information on soil colour changes due to water content variations. The collected data validated a proposed model capable of capturing various curve shapes, including J-shaped and S-shaped, with physically meaningful parameters.Suction measurements employed multiple techniques, including high-capacity tensiometers (HCTs), conventional tensiometers, water potential sensors, hygrometers, and filter paper. HCTs stood out for their extensive range and good overlap with methods estimating suction from relative humidity. These measurements facilitated the construction of soil water retention curves (SWRC) for different soil specimens.The volumetric and suction measurements at unconfined conditions, through SSC and SWRC, allowed the construction of part of the state surface (e-s-p). This data improves current constitutive models for unsaturated soils by considering the non-linear behaviour of suction-induced stiffness. An analytical solution for the e-s curve was derived from the proposed model, which aims to extend to confined conditions and link soil deformational behaviour with constrained swelling and swelling pressure.Soil-atmosphere interaction tests were conducted in an open atmosphere, environmental chamber, and large-scale field settings. These experiments evaluated soil evaporation stages and tested a model considering diffusion resistance and relative humidity at the soil surface. The impact of these factors varied with soil type: diffusion resistance significantly affected granular soils, relative humidity influenced high-plasticity clay, and low-plasticity soil was affected by both. A capillary barrier using a geosynthetic layer was evaluated as a mitigation strategy, demonstrating effectiveness in reducing evaporation and preventing cracking below the barrier.Soil cracking was assessed using two approaches: surface evaluation with DIA and X-ray computed tomography (CT) for depth analysis. Results showed good agreement with SSC, revealing that cracking represented a percentage of volume changes during induced shrinkage, depending on soil type and initial water content. X-ray CT revealed the influence of pre-existing flaws on crack formation and demonstrated incomplete crack sealing during wetting cycles.Fibre addition was tested as a crack reduction method, showing effectiveness in the first drying cycle but reduced efficacy in subsequent cycles. X-ray CT observations highlighted the persistence of sealed cracks as weak points, leading to crack reopening along previous paths.Finally, numerical modelling focused on simulating soil deformation in selected soil-atmosphere interaction tests. The models emphasised the importance of boundary conditions, particularly mass and heat transfer coefficients, in representing soil-atmosphere interaction. The simulations corroborated the capillary barrier effect of geosynthetics as an effective strategy for moisture preservation and crack prevention.

Last update: 03/12/2024 05:30:28.

List of defended theses by year

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  • ALCOVERRO BASSOLS, JORDI: Constitutive models for unsaturated soils. A thermodynamic approach
    Author: ALCOVERRO BASSOLS, JORDI
    Thesis link: http://hdl.handle.net/10803/692241
    Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
    Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
    Mode: Normal
    Reading date: 25/07/2024
    Thesis director: GENS SOLE, ANTONIO

    Committee:
         PRESIDENT: NAVARRO GAMIR, VICENTE
         SECRETARI: RAMON TARRAGONA, ANNA
         VOCAL: PINTADO LLURBA, XAVIER CESAR
    Thesis abstract: Unsaturated soils are particular instances of porous materials, which are characterized by a solid skeleton and a number of fluids that can move through the skeleton. At the microscale, a porous material is made of interacting entities of various dimensions (3D phases, 2D interfaces, 1D common lines, 0D common points), which contain various species (mineral, water, air, …). If representative volume elements (REV) can be defined, averaging yields a set of macroscale interacting continua, which can be modeled using mixture theory. After averaging, the microscale geometric features of the entities and the microscale distributions of thermodynamic properties within the entities are lost. In order to recover part of this information, macroscale geometric variables (e.g. volume, area, length or number of points of each entity in the REV) and macroscale density variables (e.g. mass of each species in each entity in the REV) are defined. Additional macroscale variables can be defined in order to characterize the anisotropy of the porous material (e.g. structure tensors).The state of a porous material is assumed to be given by the deformation of the solid skeleton, the measure (volume, area, length, number of points) of each microscale entity in the REV, the mass of each species in each microscale entity in the REV, the temperature and a set of internal variables. The number of state variables can be significantly reduced by assuming that the evolution of the porous material is along local equilibrium states. These states are such that, for prescribed values of the strain tensor of the solid skeleton, the total mass of each species per unit reference volume, the temperature and the internal variables, the measure of each microscale entity in the REV and of the mass of each species in each microscale entity in the REV take unique values, such that the total free energy per unit reference volume is minimum. As a result, the state of a porous material is given by the strain tensor of the solid skeleton, the total mass of each species per unit reference volume, the temperature and the internal variables. The constitutive model of a porous material is derived using the framework of thermodynamics with internal variables, in which the porous material is considered to be an open thermodynamic system. The state equations are derived from the free energy and the evolution equations of the internal variables are derived from the dissipation or a dissipation potential. For unsaturated soils, additional simplifying assumptions are made: (1) small strains of the solid skeleton; (2) isothermal atmospheric conditions; (3) three species: solid mineral, water and gas; and (4) elastoplastic response of the deformation of the solid skeleton and of the water mass content.In some soils short-range interaction forces bond water to the solid skeleton. Vicinal water is bond to the solid skeleton, whereas free water is not. The behavior of free water is as if it were outside the soil, so that microscale pressure distributions are uniform (neglecting gravity), so that chemical potentials and temperature allow to define a macroscale pressure. In contrast, the behavior of vicinal water depends on the interaction forces, so that microscale pressure distributions are not uniform. The behavior of a soil is assumed to be given by three different regimes: (1) saturated (fixed vicinal water, variable free water, no gas phase); (2) capillary (fixed vicinal water, variable free water, gas phase), with an hysteretic water retention curve; and (3) dry (variable vicinal water, no free water, gas phase). At each of these regimes a different constitutive model for the soil is used. Generic examples of these models are given: elastoplastic for the saturated regime, elastoplastic with water content hysteresis for the capillary regime and elastoplastic for the dry regime.

  • AVILES MURCIA, LUIS ANGEL: Numerical modelling of unsaturated soils with the material point method
    Author: AVILES MURCIA, LUIS ANGEL
    Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
    Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
    Mode: Normal
    Reading date: 26/09/2024
    Thesis director: PINYOL PUIGMARTI, NURIA MERCE

    Committee:
         PRESIDENT: LIZCANO, ARCESIO
         SECRETARI: OLIVELLA PASTALLE, SEBASTIAN
         VOCAL: CUOMO, SABATINO
    Thesis abstract: The Material Point Method (MPM) is presented as an advanced numerical method used to simulate geotechnical problems subjected to large deformations and soil-structure interaction problems, such as landslides, penetration issues, and collapse of geotechnical structures. Its main advantage is the ability to simulate large movements without the mesh-related problems typical of the standard Finite Element Method (FEM).Simulating different material states and external conditions is a challenging aspect in geotechnical engineering. This process requires a detailed analysis of how to address phenomena such as rainfall and water flow through the soil. Additionally, it is crucial to incorporate material constitutive relationships to properly replicate or predict stress-strain behavior.The modelling of unsaturated soils is necessary in various fields, especially in geotechnical works employing compacted materials such as embankments, dams, fills, and natural slopes. The study and analysis of these soils requires modelling the entire process of the work, from its construction, if applicable, to post-failure behavior.Until now, simulating the unsaturated state of materials has mainly relied on FEM, assuming small deformations at a theoretical level. This involves developing coupled mechanical and hydraulic constitutive models and utilizing advanced numerical tools. This Thesis presents advancements in modelling unsaturated soils in large deformation problems through the development of the MPM. The formulation of a single-point, multi-phases has been used, showing its potential for improving the accuracy and reliability of geotechnical simulations involving large deformations.Firstly, the developments for simulating boundary conditions for unsaturated soils (imposed flow and seepage condition) are presented. These conditions are complex, particularly since the boundary where they are applied is not fixed and must be determined during the calculations. Validation of these conditions is consistently performed using a soil column subjected to infiltration flow. The results are compared with those obtained from a widely used finite element code, giving similar results.Next, for the first time, the modelling of wetting collapse in MPM is proposed. A constitutive model is implemented to capture the key characteristics of unsaturated material behavior. This model is based on critical state theory and employs two alternative formulations, depending on whether Bishop's stress or net stress is used, along with suction. Validation is conducted through conventional laboratory tests.The loss of volume due to wetting is analysed, a characteristic associated with unsaturated soils with an open structure. The loss of suction in the material leads to a loss of strength and, consequently, the possibility of failure. This is illustrated by a physical test conducted in a centrifuge on a slope subjected to a rising water table from the base, which results in the evolution of the saturation front, collapse-induced deformations, and ultimately a landslide when critical saturation conditions are reached.Finally, one of the objectives of this Thesis is to model the entire process of a geotechnical project. To achieve this, a numerical scheme was implemented to simulate construction stages, representing a significant advancement in the application of the MPM for analysing material behavior during the pre-failure stage.Modelling of the construction process is crucial because it not only represents the construction process and the displacements occurring during it, but also establishes the initial state of the structure for subsequent analysis stages. The proposed scheme effectively captures deformations and failure processes during construction, unlike conventional methods based on Eulerian formulations, which cannot accommodate large material displacements during construction

  • BARANDIARÁN VILLEGAS, LUCÍA BELÉN: THM numerical modeling of multiphase flow in fractured rock masses using zero-thickness interface elements
    Author: BARANDIARÁN VILLEGAS, LUCÍA BELÉN
    Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
    Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
    Mode: Normal
    Reading date: 11/10/2024
    Thesis director: CAROL VILARASAU, IGNACIO | LOPEZ GARELLO, CARLOS MARIA

    Committee:
         PRESIDENT: PRAT CATALAN, PERE
         SECRETARI: SEGURA SERRA, JOSE MARIA
         VOCAL: XOTTA, GIOVANNA
    Thesis abstract: To address the impacts of climate change, several measures have been suggested among which utilizing renewable energy sources such as geothermal energy and implementing technologies such as hydrogen storage or CCUS. Some of these solutions imply the injection of fluids into fractured rock masses (e.g. depleted O&G reservoirs) with the subsequent change in local stress conditions. This alteration may lead to the initiation of micro-seismic events by reactivating existing faults or the generation of new fractures, with the risk of ultimately establishing pathways for fluid leakage. Additionally, depleted reservoirs contain multiphase and multicomponent fluids that could react chemically with the new injection fluids. Therefore, the accurate prediction of operation conditions demands advanced geomechanical software capable of evaluating the viability and safety of potential extraction or storage locations. In this context, the main objective of this thesis is to develop a thermo-hydro-mechanical multiphase model in fractured porous medium with the Finite Element Method using zero-thickness interface elements to model discrete discontinuities. The main assumptions of the model are: the small strain theory, the system composition with two fluid phases (liquid and gas), two species (water and dry gas) and one solid phase. The gas phase follows the ideal gas law and the liquid phase evaporation is considered. The main variables are: displacements, phase pressures and temperature. The formulation takes into account: the equilibrium equation, the mass balance equation of the water species, the mass balance equation of the gas species and the balance of energy. The formulation of the discontinuities considers similar assumptions as the porous medium and takes into account a reduction factor of the water retention curve parameters based on the mechanical opening of the fracture. The model has been implemented and validated with academic verification examples in a FE code.However, some limitations were observed related to the time integration scheme, the treatment of storage terms of the governing equations and the mass flow. This issues have motivated the following new developments: new mass-conservative approach for diffusion equations using FE formulations, a new physically-based exponential model which considers the pore size or aperture distribution in case of the porous medium or discontinuities, respectively, and a new damage-frictional law which properly models discontinuity closure.

  • BISCARO, CATERINA: 3D FEM meso-level analysis of sulphate attack in concrete: new results and developments using parallel HP computing
    Author: BISCARO, CATERINA
    Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
    Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
    Mode: Change of supervisor
    Reading date: 07/06/2024
    Thesis director: CAROL VILARASAU, IGNACIO | XOTTA, GIOVANNA

    Committee:
         PRESIDENT: SALOMONI, VALENTINA
         SECRETARI: PRAT CATALAN, PERE
         VOCAL: LIAUDAT, JOAQUÍN
         VOCAL: MAROTTI DE SCIARRA, FRANCESCO
         VOCAL: CIANCIO, DANIELA
    Thesis abstract: When concrete is subject to an environment characterised by a high humidity index and rich in sulphate ions, a concrete degradation process may be initiated due to External Sulphate Attack (ESA). The sulphate penetrating into the concrete activates a series of chemical reactions that lead to the formation of secondary ettringite, which may cause non-uniform volumetric expansions that may in turn generate cracking and ultimately culminate in the disintegration of the sample. Because the cracking may in turn facilitate sulphate penetration, ESA may be considered a coupled chemical-mechanical problem. In this study, the numerical analysis of ESA is conducted using the Finite Element Method by considering the specimen at the meso-level composed of larger aggregates embedded in a mortar matrix. Standard continuum finite elements are used to discretise the aggregates and the mortar. Zero-thickness interface elements are inserted along all the aggregate-mortar and selected mortar-mortar contacts to represent potential cracks. The diffusion-reaction of sulphate ions (chemical problem) is formulated following Tixier and Mobasher (2003) and Idiart et al. (2011b). Regarding the mechanical problem, the continuum elements are considered linear elastic, while the interface elements behave according to an elasto-plastic law incorporating concepts of fracture mechanics which was initially developed by Carol et al. (1997) and later extended for 3D analysis by Caballero et al. (2006).The first part of this thesis deals with the verification and use of DRAC5, a completely parallelised version of the in-house code developed within the materials mechanics group (MECMAT) of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) which now incorporates MPI and PETSC libraries as well as HDF5 i/o files. This new version of the code, which is used to solve both the mechanical problem and the chemical problem through a staggered scheme, has allowed the analysis of new and more challenging 3D studies, producing realistic results that reflect the 'onion peeling' cracking pattern, similar to what has been observed in the laboratory and in previously studied 2D cases (Idiart, 2009). The second part of the thesis, deals with the development of new numerical solving techniques applicable to this type of mesh. In particular, a solution technique based on substructuring and the Schur complement is applied to the analysis of specimens comprising elements of the continuum exhibiting linear elastic behaviour and interface elements characterised by non-linear (elasto-plastic) behaviour. This new technique, which reduces substantially the number of degrees of freedom that need to be considered during the iterative process, has been preliminarily implemented in DRAC4, a simpler series version of the code, and is tested showing great advantages in terms of solution time for a range of 2D application examples. The development of a new formulation using rigid-plastic interfaces is also initiated. This formulation uses relative degrees of freedom at each pair of interface nodes, and leads to the resolution of a Linear Complementarity Problem. This development allows a further reduction in the degrees of freedom of the problem by only considering the nodes of the interface elements involved in the fracture process.

  • CID ESCOBAR, DANIELA: Methodologies for improving groundwater access in rural areas: towards the improvement of human development in low and middle-income countries
    Author: CID ESCOBAR, DANIELA
    Thesis link: http://hdl.handle.net/10803/691822
    Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
    Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
    Mode: Normal
    Reading date: 27/06/2024
    Thesis director: FOLCH SANCHO, ALBERT | SANCHEZ VILA, FRANCISCO JAVIER

    Committee:
         PRESIDENT: SAWYER, AUDREY
         SECRETARI: FERNANDEZ GARCIA, DANIEL
         VOCAL NO PRESENCIAL: PALTAN LOPEZ, HOMERO
    Thesis abstract: Sustainable groundwater management in rural areas presents multifaceted challenges stemming from hydrogeological complexities, socio-economic disparities, and governance issues. This thesis aims to provide quantitative tools for addressing some of the groundwater access problems in rural areas of low- and middle-income countries by promoting an interdisciplinary approach and the understanding of the expertise of each discipline. The first part of the thesis focuses on developing a comprehensive methodology to assess individual user risk of groundwater shortage. After a preliminary multifactorial analysis incorporating a range of variables from technical to societal, it was found that most of the overall risk of water shortage for an individual household could be attributed to three factors: Proximity, specified as the distance to the closest supply well. Availability of good quality water in the wells, and Sustainability. The factors are mapped onto indicators in the range of [0 - 1] and then represented in a Geographical Information System based on the partition of the entire spatial domain. The three indicators are then combined in a final index based on the product of the three factors, thus mapping time-dependent overall risk and allowing the assessment of temporal risk-evolution scenarios. The methodology is applied to Kwale County, Kenya, where community handpumps and groundwater points comprise the main water supply system. Apart from mapping the present situation, the methodology is also used to assess the impact on hypothetical scenarios. The second part of the thesis extends the analysis to four Eastern African countries, as an attempt to address the complexity and heterogeneity that characterise the human-groundwater interaction in rural water supply systems, we propose a multivariate approach that combines many different variables, such as water point functionality and groundwater quality characteristics, social and economic parameters, such as water point maintenance, finance, and governance system. The combination of variables of very different types and ranges of values is better suited using Multiple Factor Analysis (MFA) as a way to determine formally the main variables that affect water access and the relationship amongst them. The methodology was applied in four different countries of Eastern Africa supplied mainly with hand-pumps. The analysis was performed on datasets collected during a waterpoint census by the UPGro "Hidden Crises" and "Grow for Good" Projects from Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, and Ethiopia. The results of the analysis show the existence of common trends, indicating that water access in Eastern African rural areas can be described mainly by three main components: one representing the hydrogeological environment, a second comprising water point management agreements, and a third component linked to the sustainable functionality of hand-pumps. Finally, the thesis explores into household water usage patterns and the impact of groundwater salinity on (ground)water source selection. A mixed-methods approach combining household surveys and physicochemical analysis of groundwater was employed across Kwale County during the dry season. Co-occurrence matrices were used to analyse usage patterns, while logistic regression models were used to understand the influence of salinity, demographic and socio-economic factors on water source preferences. Despite limited changes in drinking water sources between wet and dry seasons, significant shifts occur in non-drinking water uses, demonstrating the community's adaptability in utilizing available water sources. Factors such as taste, safety, and proximity play significant roles in households' decisions regarding their main drinking water source. Moreover, the study highlights the significant impact of groundwater salinity levels on usage patterns, identifying threshold salinity levels beyond which households are less likely to choose certain water sources.

  • CUI, HONGZHI: Susceptibility assessment of shallow landslides at the regional scale using physically-based models and probabilistic approaches
    Author: CUI, HONGZHI
    Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
    Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
    Mode: Change of supervisor + Article-based thesis
    Reading date: 25/09/2024
    Thesis director: HURLIMANN ZIEGLER, MARCEL | JI, JIAN

    Committee:
         PRESIDENT: ZHU, HONGHU
         SECRETARI: MOYA SANCHEZ, JOSE
         VOCAL: ZHANG, WENGANG
         VOCAL: ZHONG, QIMING
         VOCAL NO PRESENCIAL: ABANCÓ MARTÍNEZ DE ARENZANA, CLÀUDIA
    Thesis abstract: This thesis focuses on the evaluation of shallow landslide susceptibility in mountainous areas induced by rainfall or seismic events. The primary aim is to efficiently assess regional-scale landslide susceptibility based on physical modelling within a probabilistic framework while accounting for uncertainties arising from complex geological conditions and challenges related to data collection. The study proposes an innovative framework for probabilistic landslide susceptibility assessment by introducing the first-order reliability method (FORM) in the platform of geographic information system (GIS), called “"GIS-FORM”". This method effectively addresses the challenge of considering uncertainty in geotechnical parameters methods at the regional scale. In response to the challenge of inefficient computation and low prediction accuracy in regional-scale shallow landslide susceptibility assessment caused by transient rainfall-induced, a simplified instantaneous rainfall infiltration model was proposed based on integrating the GIS-FORM method. The model simulates the variation of the wetting front depth due to the vertical infiltration of rainfall and surface run-off. Subsequently, a general software program was developed for Windows platforms. The results show that the coefficient of variation (COV) of random parameters, statistical correlation, and non-normal distribution have a significant impact on the landslide probability assessment. A rapid assessment framework for the probabilistic susceptibility evaluation of shallow landslides at the regional scale is proposed by integrating the “code "Fast Shallow Landslide Assessment Model" (FSLAM) and GIS-FORM. The study reveals that hydrological conditions can significantly influence the spatial distribution of landslides, particularly under the combined impacts of antecedent rainfall and event rainfall. The extent of the high susceptibility area is observed to increase considerably when the event rainfall is between 77 and 107 mm. To further improve the accuracy of susceptibility assessments, this study proposes an innovative clustering method by utilising image processing techniques. This approach effectively simplifies the raster outcome and markedly enhances the prediction accuracy of susceptibility assessment as well.

  • LEI, JIANGTAO: A micromechanical investigation of pile set-up effect in sands
    Author: LEI, JIANGTAO
    Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
    Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
    Mode: Normal
    Reading date: 17/10/2024
    Thesis director: ARROYO ALVAREZ DE TOLEDO, MARCOS | CIANTIA, MATTEO

    Committee:
         PRESIDENT: BROWN, MICHAEL JOHN
         SECRETARI: ALONSO PEREZ DE AGREDA, EDUARDO
         VOCAL: GONZALEZ TEJADA, IGNACIO
    Thesis abstract: Driven piles in granular soils gain shaft capacity after installation in a phenomenon known as “pile set-up”. Set-up effects in sand have not been incorporated into design procedures largely because the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This thesis reports a micromechanical investigation of pile set-up effect in sand using a newly developed fracture-based DEM model for simulating time-dependent behaviour in sand. Creep and stress relaxation around the pile have been widely discussed as possible underlying mechanism for pile set-up effect. Following the idea that creep and stress relaxation in sands are frequently accompanied by grain breakage, a new model based on the discrete-element method (DEM) to simulate creep/stress relaxation in sands was proposed. The model aims for conceptual simplicity, computational efficiency and ease of calibration. To this end a new form of normalized Charles power law is incorporated into a DEM model for rough crushable sands based on the particle splitting technique. The creep/stress relaxation time is advanced using an off-DEM ageing strategy. The model is validated by simulating creep/stress relaxation in quartz sands in oedometric and triaxial conditions. Model predictions are shown to compare favourably with experimental creep results in terms of creep strain, creep strain rates and particle breakage/GSD evolution, and with experimental stress relaxation results in terms of relaxed stress, stress relaxation rate, and GSD evolution.The fracture-based DEM model was then implemented to a centrifuge DEM chamber to simulated pile creep and pile set-up. Simulated pile creep settlements agree with observations in terms of pile creep parameter m and pile creep rate. Simulated pile set-up falls into the range of field observations for jacked piles. The results obtained indicate that particle breakage may play a significant role in set-up and represent the first validated modelling attempt of this complex phenomenon. To gain familiarity with DEM modelling of penetration problems, a DEM based CPT and SPT simulation on a volcanic sand was also conducted, using a virtual calibration chamber (VCC). The simulated CPT results are shown to capture well experiments from the literature over a range of density and confining stress. A good correlation between the energy-based equivalent SPT tip resistance with the CPT tip resistance can be observed if shaft resistance effects are discounted. SPT driven scheme may be used for simulating pile driven in the future study once proper driven parameters are determined.

  • PÉREZ ILLANES, RODRIGO ALFONSO: Particle methods for reactive transport modeling in heterogeneous aquifers
    Author: PÉREZ ILLANES, RODRIGO ALFONSO
    Thesis link: http://hdl.handle.net/10803/690549
    Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
    Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
    Mode: Normal
    Reading date: 16/01/2024
    Thesis director: FERNANDEZ GARCIA, DANIEL

    Committee:
         PRESIDENT: GÓMEZ HERNÁNDEZ, JAIME
         SECRETARI: SANCHEZ VILA, FRANCISCO JAVIER
         VOCAL: PROVOST, ALDEN
    Thesis abstract: Aquifers are naturally heterogeneous systems across multiple scales, which poses a known difficulty for grid-based solvers of solute transport. When advection is the dominant transport mechanism, concentrations obtained from these solvers are prone to be influenced by oscillations and numerical diffusion, causing a negative impact upon the calculations related to chemical reactions. Particle methods are free of these issues thanks in part to advection being incorporated into the particle displacement. Therefore, simulations based on particles lead to an improved description of complex transport processes and related metrics, motivating their consideration for simulating reactive transport through aquifers. Nevertheless, limitations related to computational efficiency, or the availability of particle-based programs, still influence the ability of these methods to reach the end-users and real-world studies. The objective of this thesis is to contribute to the development of particle methods for reactive transport modeling in aquifers. The work provides novel methodologies, complemented by computer programs that can be integrated into the workflow of modelers. The first part of the thesis focuses on the progressive development of a solute transport code based on the Random Walk Particle Tracking (RWPT) method. Several components needed to be developed to achieve a functional program seamlessly integrated with groundwater flow models employed by hydrogeologists. The work began by implementing parallel capabilities into a well-known particle tracking code, which is the base for the main program. A complementary module provides the smoothed reconstruction of concentrations, compatible with non-uniform-weight particle sets and three-dimensional domains. These merge into a single major program implementing RWPT, which also required the formulation of a new method to displace solute particles exactly to the interface of a flow-model cell. The product of these developments is a new multispecies solute transport code, integrating several other functionalities necessary for reactive transport studies. The thesis continues with a chapter presenting a review of the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method, focusing on its ability to simulate anisotropic dispersion in heterogeneous porous media. The potential of SPH for this kind of problem is recognized in the literature. However, an unphysical effect seems to have hindered its adoption for practical studies: conservative simulations present negative concentrations in scenarios with anisotropic dispersion. To address the issue, three different SPH formulations were evaluated, discussing the origin of negative concentrations. This chapter presents the first application of the SPH method to an aquifer with an explicit representation of heterogeneity and dispersion anisotropy, without negative concentrations. The potential of the method for applications related to mixing-controlled reactive transport is discussed, and one of the formulations stands out as a robust solver in terms of the particles’ disorder, for a wide range of dispersion anisotropies. The thesis finalizes with a new nonlinear formulation of multicomponent reactive transport with species-specific dispersion properties. The study is motivated by a recurrent assumption in the literature considering dispersion coefficients to be the same for all chemical species. However, recent experiments have shown that specific diffusion coefficients limit transverse mixing, controlling the extent of reactions. A new expression for computing reaction rates while accounting for differences in transport coefficients is presented. This expression explains nonlinear mixing processes proportional to the differences in transport coefficients, which are also influenced by the chemical signature of the input solutions.

  • ZENG, HAO: Multi-scale hydro-mechanical and gas transport characterisation of granular bentonite
    Author: ZENG, HAO
    Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
    Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
    Mode: Normal
    Reading date: 04/10/2024
    Thesis director: ROMERO MORALES, ENRIQUE EDGAR | GONZÁLEZ BLANCO, LAURA

    Committee:
         PRESIDENT: VILLAR GALICIA, MARÍA VICTORIA
         SECRETARI: LLORET MORANCHO, ANTONIO
         VOCAL: JOMMI, CRISTINA
    Thesis abstract: Bentonite-based materials with low permeability, great water retention and self-sealing properties have been extensively used for engineered barriers in waste disposal facilities. Several typologies of bentonites exist. On the one hand, during installation, powder bentonites can release and disperse fine particles, while pouring bentonites in the form of pellet/powder mixtures can lead to particle segregation. On the other hand, sand/bentonite mixtures have a lower swelling potential compared to pure bentonites. Highly compacted bentonite blocks are more laborious to install and their use could hinder the release of gases formed in long-term operational facilities. These technological challenges could be addressed by using granular bentonite (GB), which has millimetre-sized granules and micrometre-sized grains, along with an extended particle size distribution (PaSD) (Fuller) that improves workability and pourability. Additionally, GB contains numerous macropores that allow gas release at low pressures. Consequently, GB is emerging as a reference material for engineering barriers. However, the geotechnical properties of GB remain poorly understood, particularly in terms of sample preparation, particle size and microstructural evolution and its correlations to hydro-mechanical (HM) and gas transport behaviour and self-sealing capacity. The Thesis provides robust, systematic, multi-scale experimental and theoretical frameworks for studying these aspects. The outcomes offer new particle-scale insights into the preparation technique of GB samples and how it affects the HM behaviour (e.g. compressibility on loading, volumetric expansion/collapse and swelling pressure on wetting under different stress and displacement boundary conditions) and its microstructure. A straightforward methodology combining Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP) and X-ray Micro-Computed Tomography (Micro-CT) has been proposed to improve the characterisation of compacted GB’s granular-type microstructure. Based on this methodology, compacted GB’s HM behaviour (e.g. swelling pressure, water permeability) can be further analysed from the pore-scale perspective, which displays a wide range of sizes. This microstructural information has also served as the basis for developing a multi-scale and multi-physics constitutive model of water retention behaviour. Moreover, the granular-type fabric with numerous and large interconnected macropores has been found to limit entrapped gas accumulation under partially saturated states while its gas transport properties also depend on how the initial microstructure evolves in response to gas pressurisation. The gas migration pathways at different HM states have been tracked by imaging techniques, which have subsequently used to define a model that incorporates this unique microstructure and its evolution to predict gas permeability. Furthermore, the granular-type microstructure with many high-density granules influences the sealing of technological gaps during loading and saturation. After gap-sealing, the HM behaviour of compacted GB is governed by the microstructure of the matrix set on compaction (the artificial gap insertion affected the compaction). The geometry of residual gaps after loading and saturation paths determines whether they could serve as preferential pathways for water and gas flow. In conclusion, this Thesis contributes meaningful information for evaluating the short- and long-term behaviour of GB as a geomaterial for engineered barriers.

  • ZHOU, YUNFENG: Multiphase fluid flow in heterogeneous / anisotropic deformable geomaterials
    Author: ZHOU, YUNFENG
    Programme: DOCTORAL DEGREE IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
    Department: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA)
    Mode: Normal
    Reading date: 26/07/2024
    Thesis director: RODRIGUEZ DONO, ALFONSO | OLIVELLA PASTALLE, SEBASTIAN

    Committee:
         PRESIDENT: CARRERA RAMIREZ, JESUS
         SECRETARI: SAALTINK, MAARTEN WILLEM
         VOCAL: DE SIMONE, SILVIA
    Thesis abstract: Deep geological disposal is currently the preferred option for managing long-lived and heat-emitting radioactive waste. This method involves confining the waste for an extremely long period, potentially severa! hundreds of thousands of years, by placing it in a deep geological formation. Therefore, understanding the migration of gases produced by metal corrosion, microbial degradation, and radiolysis of water within a deep geological repository is crucial for assessing the repository's performance and long-term evolution. The primary objective of this study is to enhance the predictive capability of numerical models for understanding the processes and mechanisms of fracture initiation and growth in claystones with inherent heterogeneity and anisotropy, especially under rapid gas overpressure increases. To achieve this, geostatistics were applied into the finite element method software CODE_BRIGHT to generate a spatially correlated heterogeneous field for porosity. In CODE_BRIGHT, properties such as Young's modulus, intrinsic permeability, and thermal conductivity are functions of porosity, making these properties heterogeneous as well. Additionally, the solution of Eshelby's problem was implemented to introduce both heterogeneity and anisotropy in Young's modulus. lt is crucial to select the appropriate constitutive laws to effectively introduce anisotropy in intrinsic permeability. Simulations were conducted to validate the proposed framework, and sensitivity analyses were performed at both laboratory and in-situ experiment scales to assess the model's performance. The results indicate that the proposed model successfully captures the main observed features of heterogeneous anisotropic claystones during gas injection, including the formation of preferential gas pathways.

Last update: 03/12/2024 06:01:40.

Theses related publications

AUTHOR:CID ESCOBAR, DANIELA
Title:Methodologies for improving groundwater access in rural areas: towards the improvement of human development in low and middle-income countries
Reading date:27/06/2024
Director:FOLCH SANCHO, ALBERT
Co-director:SANCHEZ VILA, FRANCISCO JAVIER
Mention:No mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
An assessment tool to improve rural groundwater access: integrating hydrogeological modelling with socio-technical factors
Cid, D.; Folch, A.; Ferrer, N.; Katuva, J.; Sanchez-Vila, X.
Science of the total environment, ISSN: 0048-9697 (JCR Impact Factor-2022: 9.8; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 02/2024
Journal article

Combining groundwater numerical modelling and social sciences to assess water access in developing countries rural environments
European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2022
Presentation date: 05/2022
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:BISCARO, CATERINA
Title:3D FEM meso-level analysis of sulphate attack in concrete: new results and developments using parallel HP computing
Reading date:07/06/2024
Director:CAROL VILARASAU, IGNACIO
Co-director:XOTTA, GIOVANNA
Mention:No mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
New results in 3D-mesomechanical coupled analysis of external sulphate attack in concrete
XVI International Conference on Computational Plasticity
Presentation date: 09/2021
Presentation of work at congresses

A LCP formulation for the fracture analysis of concrete using zero-thickness interface elements
8th European Congress on Computational Methods in Applied Sciences and Engineering
Presentation date: 06/2022
Presentation of work at congresses

Cracking and Fracture of 2D and 3D concrete specimens subject to External Sulfate Attack
Seventh International Conference on Computational Modeling of Fracture and Failure of Materials and Structures
Presentation date: 22/06/2023
Presentation of work at congresses

HPC of concrete specimens subject to External Sulfate Attack at the meso-level using interface elements
XVII International Conference on Computational Plasticity
Presentation date: 06/09/2023
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:PÉREZ ILLANES, RODRIGO ALFONSO
Title:Particle methods for reactive transport modeling in heterogeneous aquifers
Reading date:16/01/2024
Director:FERNANDEZ GARCIA, DANIEL
Mention:International Mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Multiprocessing for the particle tracking model MODPATH
Pérez-Illanes, R.; Fernandez, D.
Groundwater, ISSN: 1745-6584 (JCR Impact Factor-2022: 2.6; Quartil: Q3)
Publication date: 12/2022
Journal article

Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics for anisotropic dispersion in heterogeneous porous media
Pérez-Illanes, R.; Sole, G.; Fernandez, D.
Advances in water resources, ISSN: 1872-9657 (JCR Impact Factor-2022: 4.7; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 01/2024
Journal article

Diffusive smoothed particle hydrodynamics for reactive transport with conservative components in heterogeneous aquifers
American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2021
Presentation date: 16/12/2021
Presentation of work at congresses

A comparative analysis of solute concentrations obtained from particle methods applied to advection dispersion in heterogeneous porous media
VII International Conference on Particle-Based Methods
Presentation date: 04/10/2021
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:PRADES VALLS, ALBERT
Title:Aportaciones de técnicas geomáticas al análisis de los desprendimientos rocosos
Reading date:30/11/2023
Director:LANTADA ZARZOSA, MARIA DE LAS NIEVES
Co-director:COROMINAS DULCET, JORDI
Mention:No mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Simulation of full-scale rockfall tests with a fragmentation model
Matas, G.; Lantada, N.; Corominas, J.; Gili, J.; Ruiz-Carulla, R.; Prades, A.
Geosciences (Switzerland), ISSN: 2076-3263 (JCR Impact Factor-2020: 0.0
Publication date: 05/2020
Journal article

Analysis of fragmentation of rock blocks from real-scale tests
Ruiz-Carulla, R.; Corominas, J.; Gili, J.; Matas, G.; Lantada, N.; Moya, J.; Prades, A.; Núñez-Andrés, M.A.; Buill, F.; Puig-Polo, C.
Geosciences (Switzerland), ISSN: 2076-3263 (JCR Impact Factor-2020: 0.606; Quartil: Q2)
Publication date: 08/2020
Journal article

Rockfalls: analysis of the block fragmentation through field experiments
Gili, J.; Ruiz-Carulla, R.; Matas, G.; Moya, J.; Prades, A.; Corominas, J.; Lantada, N.; Núñez-Andrés, M.A.; Buill, F.; Puig-Polo, C.; Martinez-Bofill, J.; Saló, L.; Mavrouli, O.
Landslides (Berlin), ISSN: 1612-5118 (JCR Impact Factor-2022: 6.7; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 05/2022
Journal article

Capturing rockfall kinematic and fragmentation parameters using high-speed camera system
Prades, A.; Corominas, J.; Lantada, N.; Matas, G.; Núñez-Andrés, M.A.
Engineering geology, ISSN: 0013-7952 (JCR Impact Factor-2022: 7.4; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 05/06/2022
Journal article

New approach for photogrammetric rock slope premonitory movements monitoring
Núñez-Andrés, M.A.; Prades, A.; Matas, G.; Buill, F.; Lantada, N.
Remote sensing, ISSN: 2072-4292 (JCR Impact Factor-2021: 5.349; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 04/01/2023
Journal article

The RockModels project: rockfalls characterization and modelling
Sharing Geoscience Online 2020
Presentation date: 07/05/2020
Presentation of work at congresses

Rockfall fragmentation simulations of real scale tests
Sharing Geoscience Online 2020
Presentation date: 07/05/2020
Presentation of work at congresses

Vegetation filtering using colour for monitoring applications from photogrammetric data
7th International Conference on Geographical Information Systems Theory, Applications and Management
Presentation date: 24/04/2021
Presentation of work at congresses

Medida de parámetros cinemáticos de bloques rocosos en un ensayoa escala real
X Simposio Nacional sobre Taludes y Laderas Inestables
Presentation date: 2022
Presentation of work at congresses

Implementation of a fixed-location time lapse photogrammetric rock slope monitoring system in Castellfollit de la Roca, Spain
5th Joint International Symposium on Deformation Monitoring
Presentation date: 06/2022
Presentation of work at congresses

An open-source code to calculate the spatial distributed roughness from 3D point clouds for rockfall simulation models
European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2023
Presentation date: 26/04/2023
Presentation of work at congresses

Técnicas geomáticas como herramienta en el estudio de desprendimientos rocosos
XII Congreso Internacional de Geomática y Ciencias de la Tierra
Presentation date: 25/10/2022
Presentation of work at congresses

Geomatic techniques to filter vegetation from point clouds
17th International Conference on Geomatics Engineering and Technologies
Presentation date: 02/10/2023
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:JANERAS CASANOVA, MARC
Title:Formació de despreniments rocosos a la muntanya de Montserrat
Reading date:23/10/2023
Director:GILI RIPOLL, JOSE ANTONIO
Mention:Industrial Doctorate Mention (Generalitat)
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Los desprendimientos de rocas en la montaña de Montserrat. Un riesgo geológico relevante
Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya
Publication date: 07/2016
Book chapter

RocExs 2017 field trip: rockfall risk management in the Montserrat massif
International Centre for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE)
Publication date: 2017
Book chapter

Multi-technique approach to rockfall monitoring in the Montserrat massif (Catalonia, NE Spain)
Janeras, M.; Jara, J.; Royan, M.; Vilaplana, J.M.; Aguasca, A.; Fabregas, F.; Gili, J.; Buxó, P.
Engineering geology, ISSN: 0013-7952 (JCR Impact Factor-2017: 3.1; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 09/03/2017
Journal article

Monitoratge del moviment del terreny en la gestió dels riscos geològics
Revista catalana de geografia, ISSN: 0210-6000
Publication date: 11/2017
Journal article

Suport a la planificació territorial i urbana en matèria de riscos geològics
Revista catalana de geografia, ISSN: 0210-6000
Publication date: 11/2017
Journal article

Identificación y clasificación de desprendimientos de roca con LIDAR y machine learning en Montserrat y Castellfollit de la Roca (Cataluña)
Geotemas (Madrid), ISSN: 1576-5172
Publication date: 2021
Journal article

Using mixed reality for the visualization and dissemination of complex 3D models in geosciences: application to the Montserrat massif (Spain)
Janeras, M.; Roca, J.; Gili, J.; Pedraza, O.; Magnusson, G.; Núñez-Andrés, M.A.; Franklin, KA.
Geosciences (Switzerland), ISSN: 2076-3263 (JCR Impact Factor-2022: 0.0
Publication date: 10/2022
Journal article

Rockfall magnitude-frequency relationship based on multi-source data from monitoring and inventory
Janeras, M.; Lantada, N.; Núñez-Andrés, M.A.; Hantz, D.; Pedraza, O.; Cornejo, R.; Guinau Selles, Marta; García-Sellés, D.; Blanco,-Hinojo L.; Gili, J.; Palau, J.
Remote sensing, ISSN: 2072-4292 (JCR Impact Factor-2021: 5.349; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 04/2023
Journal article

Using several monitoring techniques to measure the rock mass deformation in the Montserrat Massif
International Symposium on Geohazards and Geomechanics 2015
Presentation date: 11/09/2015
Presentation of work at congresses

Rockfall hazard assessment by means of the magnitude-frequency curves in the Montserrat Massif (central Catalonia, Spain): first insights
EGU General Assembly 2016
Presentation date: 22/04/2016
Presentation of work at congresses

Detección e inventario de desprendimientos de rocas mediante el seguimiento con LiDAR Terrestre en la Montaña de Montserrat (Catalunya, España)
XIV Reunión Nacional de Geomorfología
Presentation date: 23/06/2016
Presentation of work at congresses

Development of a wireless sensor network for rock mass deformation monitoring in the Montserrat Massif
3rd Rock Slope Stability conference
Presentation date: 17/11/2016
Presentation of work at congresses

Development of a Rockfall Risk Mitigation Plan in the Montserrat Massif (Central Catalonia, Spain)
4th World Landslide Forum
Presentation date: 01/06/2017
Presentation of work at congresses

¿Qué nos enseña la pared de Degotalls en Montserrat sobre los desprendimientos de roca?
IX Simposio Nacional sobre Taludes y Laderas Inestables
Presentation date: 06/2017
Presentation of work at congresses

Plataforma on-line para el seguimiento geológico y geotécnico de la red ferroviaria de FGC
IX Simposio Nacional sobre Taludes y Laderas Inestables
Presentation date: 06/2017
Presentation of work at congresses

Inestabilidades de ladera en una carretera de montaña: Talud de Port Ainé (Pirineo de Lleida)
IX Simposio Nacional sobre Taludes y Laderas Inestables
Presentation date: 06/2017
Presentation of work at congresses

Estabilización de la ladera del Molinet, tramo final del paseo marítimo de L’Estartit (Girona)
IX Simposio Nacional sobre Taludes y Laderas Inestables
Presentation date: 06/2017
Presentation of work at congresses

Checking the complementarity of different LiDAR / SfM terrain models for rockfall projects in a demanding environment
3rd Virtual Geoscience Conference
Presentation date: 08/2018
Presentation of work at congresses

Lessons learned from Degotalls rock wall monitoring in the Montserrat Massif (Catalonia, NE Spain)
International Symposium Rock Slope Stability 2018
Presentation date: 11/2018
Presentation of work at congresses

Comparison of several geomatic techniques for rockfall monitoring
4th Joint International Symposium on Deformation Monitoring
Presentation date: 17/05/2019
Presentation of work at congresses

TLS- and inventory-based Magnitude – Frequency relationship for rockfall in Montserrat and Castellfollit de la Roca
5th International Symposium Rock Slope Stability
Presentation date: 18/11/2021
Presentation of work at congresses

Identification, validation and assessment of Multiple Occurrence Regional Landslide Events (MORLE) in Catalonia (Spain) during the last one hundred years
23rd European Geosciences Union General Assembly
Presentation date: 27/04/2021
Presentation of work at congresses

¿Cuánto grande es 'grande' en los movimientos de ladera? Encuesta sobre la idea de magnitud y su comunicación
X Simposio Nacional sobre Taludes y Laderas Inestables
Presentation date: 09/2022
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:BERTRAN OLLER, ORIOL
Title:On the evaluation of mixing in heterogeneous porous media: from laboratory characterization to the design of engineered chaotic flows for practical application
Reading date:11/07/2023
Director:FERNANDEZ GARCIA, DANIEL
Co-director:RODRIGUEZ ESCALES, PAULA FELICIDAD
Mention:No mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Chaotic flow as a treatment strategy to enhance dilution and break preferential paths inheterogeneous aquifers
AGU Fall Meeting 2021
Presentation date: 16/12/2021
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:NAJDI, ABDALLAH
Title:Experimental and numerical analysis of the unsaturated soil shrinkage and swelling behaviour under different compaction conditions
Reading date:20/06/2023
Director:LEDESMA VILLALBA, ALBERTO
Co-director:PRAT CATALAN, PERE
Mention:No mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
THM analysis of a soil drying test in an environmental chamber: the role of boundary conditions
Cuadrado, A.; Najdi, A.; Ledesma, A.; Olivella, S.; Prat, P.
Computers and geotechnics, ISSN: 0266-352X (JCR Impact Factor-2022: 5.3; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 01/2022
Journal article

Dynamic assessment of evaporation-related soil hydromechanical behaviour, using non-contact infrared thermography
Water resources research, ISSN: 0043-1397 (JCR Impact Factor-2022: 5.4; Quartil: Q1)
Journal article

Towards the development on new high capacity tensiometers capable of measuring soil matric suction beyond 3 MPa
Mendes, J.; Najdi, A.; Encalada, D.; Prat, P.; Ledesma, A.
Canadian geotechnical journal, ISSN: 0008-3674 (JCR Impact Factor-2022: 3.6; Quartil: Q2)
Publication date: 09/2022
Journal article

High Capacity Tensiometers: performance and behaviours
Mendes, J.; Jamali, A.; Najdi, A.; Encalada, D.; Bruno, A.; Prat, P.; Buzzi, O.; Gallipoli, D.; Ledesma, A.; Toll, D.
E3S Web of Conferences, ISSN: 2267-1242 (JCR Impact Factor-2017: 0.127; Quartil: Q4)
Publication date: 04/2023
Journal article

Influence of compaction on the soil shrinkage and swelling curves
Encalada, D.; Najdi, A.; Mendes, J.; Prat, P.; Ledesma, A.
E3S Web of Conferences, ISSN: 2267-1242 (JCR Impact Factor-2017: 0.127; Quartil: Q4)
Publication date: 04/2023
Journal article

Evaluating innovative direct and indirect soil suction and volumetric measurement techniques for the determination of soil water retention curves following drying and wetting paths
Najdi, A.; Encalada, D.; Mendes, J.; Prat, P.; Ledesma, A.
Engineering geology, ISSN: 1872-6917 (JCR Impact Factor-2021: 6.902; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 09/2023
Journal article

Experimental and numerical analysis of soil desiccating cracks in compacted and non-compacted specimens.
4th European Conference on Unsaturated Soils: Unsaturated Horizons
Presentation date: 19/10/2020
Presentation of work at congresses

Mitigación de grietas por desecación en suelos finos mediante el uso de fibras sintéticas
XXXI Reunión Nacional de Ingeniería Geotécnica
Presentation date: 18/11/2022
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:JAQUÉS ADELL, IRENE
Title:Visco-plasticity of zero-thickness interfaces with softening, and application to the study of fault reactivation.
Reading date:10/02/2023
Director:CAROL VILARASAU, IGNACIO
Mention:No mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Further developments in stress initialization in geomechanics via FEM and a two-step procedure involving Airy functions
XIV International Conference on Computational Plasticity
Presentation date: 09/2017
Presentation of work at congresses

Viscoplastic constitutive models for zero-thickness interface elements, formulation and applications
XV International Conference on Computational Plasticity
Presentation date: 09/2019
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:OORTHUIS GÓMEZ, RAÜL
Title:Monitoring and analysis of soil-vegetation-atmosphere interactions at slope and catchment scale.
Reading date:19/07/2022
Director:HURLIMANN ZIEGLER, MARCEL
Co-director:VAUNAT, JEAN
Mention:No mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Monitoring of a full-scale embankment experiment regarding soil–vegetation–atmosphere interactions
Oorthuis, R.; Hürlimann, M.; Fraccica, A.; Lloret, A.; Moya, J.; Puig-Polo, C.; Vaunat, J.
Water (Basel), ISSN: 2073-4441 (JCR Impact Factor-2018: 2.524; Quartil: Q2)
Publication date: 06/2018
Journal article

Slope orientation and vegetation effects on soil thermo-hydraulic behavior: an experimental study
Oorthuis, R.; Vaunat, J.; Hürlimann, M.; Lloret, A.; Moya, J.; Puig-Polo, C.; Fraccica, A.
Sustainability (Switzerland), ISSN: 2071-1050 (JCR Impact Factor-2021: 3.889; Quartil: Q2)
Publication date: 01/2021
Journal article

Monitoring of rainfall and soil moisture at the Rebaixader catchment (Central Pyrenees)
Oorthuis, R.; Hürlimann, M.; Abanco, C.; Moya, J.; Carleo, L.
Environmental and engineering geoscience, ISSN: 1078-7275 (JCR Impact Factor-2021: 0.779; Quartil: Q4)
Publication date: 05/2021
Journal article

Multi-scale analysis of slope-mass wasting under climate change: from laboratory tests to regional assessment in the Pyrenees
European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2018
Presentation date: 19/04/2018
Presentation of work at congresses

In-situ monitoring, stability calculations and thermo-hydraulic modelling of a shallow landslide in Cercs (Catalan Pre-Pyrenees)
Multi-scale Analysis of Slopes under Climate Change: a Cross-disciplinary Workshop 2019
Presentation date: 19/09/2019
Presentation of work at congresses

Effect of land cover and climate change on slope mass-wasting at different scales: preliminary results from a multidisciplinary project in the Pyrenees (Spain)
Climate Change and Natural Hazards: coping with and managing hazards in the context of a changing climate
Presentation date: 25/02/2019
Presentation of work at congresses

Influence of orientation and vegetation cover on soil thermo-hydraulic behaviour: a monitored embankment study
Multi-scale Analysis of Slopes Under Climate Change: a Cross-disciplinary Workshop
Presentation date: 20/09/2019
Presentation of work at congresses

Rainfall and soil moisture conditions for the triggering of torrential flows at the Rebaixader catchment (Central Pyrenees)
Sharing Geoscience Online 2020
Presentation date: 05/2020
Presentation of work at congresses

Effect of vegetation and slope orientation on water infiltration in a monitored embankment
Gather Online
Presentation date: 27/04/2021
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:WANG, YUFEI
Title:Numerical Modeling of Geological Carbon Sequestration: Enhanced Dissolution in Randomly Heterogeneous Media
Reading date:11/07/2022
Director:FERNANDEZ GARCIA, DANIEL
Mention:No mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Enhanced NAPL removal and mixing with engineered injection and extraction
Wang, Y.; Fernandez, D.; Sole-Mari, G.; Rodriguez, P.
Water resources research, ISSN: 0043-1397 (JCR Impact Factor-2022: 5.4; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 04/2022
Journal article

AUTHOR:DI CARLUCCIO, GAIA
Title:Dynamic large deformation modelling of soils including static liquefaction
Reading date:30/11/2021
Director:PINYOL PUIGMARTI, NURIA MERCE
Co-director:ALONSO PEREZ DE AGREDA, EDUARDO
Mention:No mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Excavation-induced instabilities
Pinyol, N.; Di Carluccio, G.
CRC Press
Publication date: 2019
Book chapter

A slow and complex landslide under static and seismic action
Pinyol, N.; Di Carluccio, G.; Alonso, E.
Engineering geology, ISSN: 0013-7952 (JCR Impact Factor-2022: 7.4; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 02/2022
Journal article

Numerical modelling of Val d’Arán landslide with Material Point Method
VI International Conference on Particle-Based Methods: Fundamentals and Applications
Presentation date: 29/10/2019
Presentation of work at congresses

Liquefaction-induced large displacements of caisson quay wall: Barcelona Harbor, Spain
MPM 2019 - Second International Conference on The Material Point Method for Modelling Large Deformation and Soil–Water–Structure Interaction
Presentation date: 10/01/2019
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:SAU VALENZUELA, NÚRIA
Title:THM coupled behaviour of a deep poorly indurated argillaceous formation
Reading date:19/11/2021
Director:ROMERO MORALES, ENRIQUE EDGAR
Mention:No mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Studying the thermal conductivity of a deep Eocene clay formation: direct measurements vs back-analysis results
Romero, E.; Sau, N.; Lima, A.; Van Baelen, H.; Sillen, X.; Li, X.
Geomechanics for energy and the environment, ISSN: 2352-3808 (JCR Impact Factor-2016: 0.75; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 12/2016
Journal article

Coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical behaviour of a deep clay
E3S Web of Conferences, ISSN: 2267-1242 (JCR Impact Factor-2017: 0.127; Quartil: Q4)
Publication date: 06/2019
Journal article

Restoring initial conditions in a deep argillaceous formation with induced suction on retrieval
Sau, N.; Romero, E.; Van Baelen, H.
E3S Web of Conferences, ISSN: 2267-1242 (JCR Impact Factor-2017: 0.127; Quartil: Q4)
Publication date: 10/2020
Journal article

Anisotropic features on the thermal conductivity of a deep argillaceous formation
15th Pan-American Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.
Presentation date: 15/11/2015
Presentation of work at congresses

Thermal properties of a deep Eocene clay formation: direct measurements vs back-analysis results
7th International Conference on Clays in Natural and Engineered Barriers for Radioactive Waste Confinement
Presentation date: 24/09/2017
Presentation of work at congresses

THM behaviour of a deep Eocene clay formation during heating tests
International Symposium on Energy Geotechnics 2018
Presentation date: 26/09/2018
Presentation of work at congresses

The mineralogical and microstructural control on the thermal properties of clays as evidenced by natural and artificially prepared Ypresian clay samples. Extended abstract. Conference postponed to 2022
8th Clay conference 2020
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:DE FRANCISCO SANS, MIGUEL
Title:Elementos junta/interfase mortar con nudos no coincidentes. Aplicación al análisis de discontinuidades y contactos en geomecánica
Reading date:19/11/2021
Director:CAROL VILARASAU, IGNACIO
Mention:No mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Displacement-based and hybrid formulations of zero-thickness mortar/interface elements for unmatched meshes, with application to fracture mechanics
De Francisco, M.; Carol, Ignacio
International journal for numerical methods in engineering, ISSN: 0029-5981 (JCR Impact Factor-2021: 3.021; Quartil: Q2)
Publication date: 02/2021
Journal article

A zero-thickness mortar / Interface formulation with application to fracture mechanics
XV International Conference on Computational Plasticity
Presentation date: 09/2019
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:PALAU BERASTEGUI, ROSA-MARIA
Title:Landslide and debris flow warning at regional scale. A real-time system using susceptibility mapping, radar rainfall and hydrometeorological thresholds
Reading date:23/09/2021
Director:BERENGUER FERRER, MARC
Co-director:HURLIMANN ZIEGLER, MARCEL
Mention:No mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Flood consequences of land-use changes at a ski resort: overcoming a geomorphological threshold (Portainé, Eastern Pyrenees, Iberian Peninsula)
Furdada Bellavista, Glòria; Victoriano, A.; Díez, A.; Palau, RM.; Hürlimann, M.
Water (Basel), ISSN: 2073-4441 (JCR Impact Factor-2020: 3.103; Quartil: Q2)
Publication date: 02/2020
Journal article

Influence of the mapping unit for regional landslide early warning systems: comparison between pixels and polygons in Catalonia (NE Spain)
Palau, RM.; Hürlimann, M.; Berenguer, M.; Sempere-Torres, D.
Landslides (Berlin), ISSN: 1612-5118 (JCR Impact Factor-2020: 6.578; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 09/2020
Journal article

A prototype regional early warning system for shallow landslides and debris flows
European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2018
Presentation date: 12/04/2018
Presentation of work at congresses

Which is the best mapping unit for a regional scale landslide early warning system? Comparison between pixel and polygons for Catalonia
EGU General Assembly 2019
Presentation date: 12/04/2019
Presentation of work at congresses

Debris-flow early warning system at regional scale using weather radar and susceptibility mapping
7th International Conference on Debris-Flow Hazards Mitigation
Presentation date: 06/2019
Presentation of work at congresses

An early warning system for rainfall-triggered shallow slides and debris flows: application in Catalonia, Spain and Canton of Bern, Switzerland
Sharing Geoscience Online 2020
Presentation date: 05/05/2020
Presentation of work at congresses

Towards the use of hydrometeorological thresholds for the regional-scale LEWS of Catalonia (NE Spain)
Gather Online
Presentation date: 27/04/2021
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:YUBERO DE MATEO, MARÍA TERESA
Title:Ejecución de túneles en terreno deltaico mediante tuneladora EPB. El caso de la línea 9.
Reading date:22/07/2021
Director:GENS SOLE, ANTONIO
Co-director:DI MARIANO SIMONCINI, ALESSANDRA
Mention:No mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Ejecución de túneles en terreno deltaico mediante tuneladora EPB. El caso de la línea 9
International Centre for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE)
Publication date: 06/10/2021
Book

CSE algorithm: ‘canal survey estimation’ to evaluate the flow rate extractions and hydraulic state in irrigation canals
Bonet, E.; Gomez, M.; Yubero, M.T.; Fernández , J.
Journal of hydroinformatics, ISSN: 1464-7141 (JCR Impact Factor-2017: 1.797; Quartil: Q2)
Publication date: 01/2017
Journal article

GoRoSoBo: an overall control diagram to improve the efficiency of water transport systems in real time
Bonet, E.; Gomez, M.; Yubero, M.T.; Fernández-Francos, XAvier
Journal of hydroinformatics, ISSN: 1464-7141 (JCR Impact Factor-2017: 1.797; Quartil: Q2)
Publication date: 05/2017
Journal article

Subsidence management system for underground mining
Sanmiquel, L.; Bascompta, M.; Vintro, C.; Yubero, M.T.
Minerals, ISSN: 2075-163X (JCR Impact Factor-2018: 2.25; Quartil: Q2)
Publication date: 07/06/2018
Journal article

The importance of mineralogical knowledge in the sustainability of artisanal gold mining: a mid-south Peru case
Alfonso, P.; Anticoi, H.; Yubero, M.T.; Bascompta, M.; Henao, L.; García-Vallès, M.; Palacios, S.; Yáñez, J.
Minerals, ISSN: 2075-163X (JCR Impact Factor-2019: 2.38; Quartil: Q2)
Publication date: 01/06/2019
Journal article

GoRoSoBo simplified: an accurate feedback control algorithm in real time for irrigation canals
Bonet, E.; Gomez, M.; Yubero, M.T.; Fernandez, J.
Journal of hydroinformatics, ISSN: 1464-7141 (JCR Impact Factor-2019: 1.728; Quartil: Q3)
Publication date: 11/2019
Journal article

Analysis of the process of compaction movements of deposits of crushed salt tailings
Yubero, M.T.; Olivella, S.; Gens, A.; Bonet, E.; Lloret, A.; Alfonso, P.
Engineering geology, ISSN: 0013-7952 (JCR Impact Factor-2021: 6.902; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 11/2021
Journal article

Gold characterization of the San Luis alta mine, Ayacucho, Perú
7th World Congress on Mechanical, Chemical, and Material Engineering
Presentation date: 08/2021
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:MESA ALCANTARA, ARISLEIDY
Title:Hydro-mechanical behaviour of pellet/powder mixture of bentonite and impact of gas migration
Reading date:02/07/2021
Director:ROMERO MORALES, ENRIQUE EDGAR
Co-director:MOKNI, NADIA
Mention:No mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Microstructural and hydro-mechanical behaviour of bentonite pellets and powder mixtures
Mesa, A.; Romero, E.; Mokni, N.; Olivella, S.
E3S Web of Conferences, ISSN: 2267-1242 (JCR Impact Factor-2017: 0.127; Quartil: Q4)
Publication date: 10/2020
Journal article

Modelling of oedometer tests on pellet-powder bentonite mixtures to support mock-up test analysis
Mesa, A.; Mokni, N.; Romero, E.; Olivella, S.
E3S Web of Conferences, ISSN: 2267-1242 (JCR Impact Factor-2017: 0.127; Quartil: Q4)
Publication date: 10/2020
Journal article

Mock-up demonstration tests to support the VSEAL Project.
Young Researchers Meeting 2018
Presentation date: 16/02/2018
Presentation of work at congresses

Hydro-mechanical modelling of infiltration test to study the behaviour of binary bentonite mixtures
ALERT Workshop 2019
Presentation date: 30/09/2019
Presentation of work at congresses

Mock-up demonstration tests to support the VSEAL Project. Long-term hydration and impact of gas migration on sealing systems
Young Researchers Meeting 2020
Presentation date: 13/02/2020
Presentation of work at congresses

Hydration and gas tests at mock-up scale to understand the hydro-mechanical behaviour of a bentonite pellet/powder mixture
8th International Conference on Clays in Natural and Engineered Barriers for Radioactive Waste Confinement
Presentation date: 09/06/2020
Presentation of work at congresses

Pellet/powder mixture swelling induced by hydration: a model based on pellet representation
8th International Conference on Clays in Natural and Engineered Barriers for Radioactive Waste Confinement
Presentation date: 06/2022
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:SONG, FEI
Title:Modelling time-dependent plastic behaviour of geomaterials
Reading date:28/06/2021
Director:RODRIGUEZ DONO, ALFONSO
Co-director:GENS SOLE, ANTONIO
Award:
Mention:No mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Analysis and modelling of longitudinal deformation profiles of tunnels excavated in strain-softening time-dependent rock masses
Song, F.; Rodriguez-Dono, A.; Olivella, S.; Zhong, Z.
Computers and geotechnics, ISSN: 0266-352X (JCR Impact Factor-2020: 4.956; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 09/2020
Journal article

Numerical solutions for tunnels excavated in strain-softening rock masses considering a combined support system
Song, F.; Rodriguez-Dono, A.
Applied mathematical modelling, ISSN: 0307-904X (JCR Impact Factor-2021: 5.336; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 04/2021
Journal article

Size effect on the hydraulic behavior of fluid flow through a single rough-walled fracture
Zhong, Z.; Wang, L.; Song, L.; Gao, C.; Hu, Y.; Gao, H.; Song, F.; Rodriguez-Dono, A.; Lou, R.
Soil dynamics and earthquake engineering (1984), ISSN: 0267-7261 (JCR Impact Factor-2021: 4.25; Quartil: Q2)
Publication date: 04/2021
Journal article

Hydro-mechanical modelling and analysis of multi-stage tunnel excavations using a smoothed excavation method
Song, F.; Rodriguez-Dono, A.; Olivella, S.
Computers and geotechnics, ISSN: 0266-352X (JCR Impact Factor-2021: 5.218; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 07/2021
Journal article

Coupled solid-fluid response of deep tunnels excavated in saturated rock masses with a time-dependent plastic behaviour
Song, F.; Rodriguez-Dono, A.; Olivella, S.; Gens, A.
Applied mathematical modelling, ISSN: 0307-904X (JCR Impact Factor-2021: 5.336; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 12/2021
Journal article

A viscoplastic damage model combined with strain softening failure criterions for rock mass
11th Workshop of CODE_BRIGHT Users
Presentation date: 16/05/2019
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:TARRAGÓ MUNTÉ, DANIEL
Title:Hydraulic fills liquefaction. Effect on quay stability
Reading date:03/06/2021
Director:GENS SOLE, ANTONIO
Co-director:ALONSO PEREZ DE AGREDA, EDUARDO
Mention:No mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
A new re-usable shallow foundation for light loads: load tests and analysis
19th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering: Unearth the Future, Connect Beyond
Presentation date: 09/2017
Presentation of work at congresses

Proyecto de ampliación del muelle adosado 2ª fase B. Puerto de Barcelona
XIV Jornadas Españolas de Ingeniería de Costas y Puertos
Presentation date: 24/05/2017
Presentation of work at congresses

Gas effect on CPTu and dissipation test carried out on natural soft-soil of Barcelona Port
4th International Symposium on Cone Penetration Testing
Presentation date: 06/2018
Presentation of work at congresses

Geo-mechanical behavior of CDW (aggregate). The use and the evaluation for specific case.
9th International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics ICEG2023
Presentation date: 06/2023
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:BARBOZA DE VASCONCELOS, RAMON
Title:A double-porosity formulation for the THM behaviour of bentonite-based materials
Reading date:18/05/2021
Director:GENS SOLE, ANTONIO
Co-director:VAUNAT, JEAN
Mention:No mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Towards higher temperatures in nuclear waste repositories
Gens, A.; Barboza, R.; Olivella, S.
E3S Web of Conferences, ISSN: 2267-1242
Publication date: 11/2020
Journal article

Homogenización de barreras de arcilla para residuos nucleares
Gens, A.; Barboza, R.; Rodríguez, C.; Vaunat, J.; Villar, M.V.
Geotecnia (Lisboa), ISSN: 0379-9522
Publication date: 07/2021
Journal article

Homogenization of unsaturated bentonite during hydration
Gens, A.; Barboza, R.; Rodríguez, C.; Vaunat, J.; Villar, M.V.
E3S Web of Conferences, ISSN: 2267-1242 (JCR Impact Factor-2017: 0.127; Quartil: Q4)
Publication date: 2023
Journal article

Modelling a hydration and heating column test on unsaturated bentonite using a double-porosity approach
Barboza, R.; Gens, A.; Vaunat, J.; Rodríguez, C.; Villar, M.V.
E3S Web of Conferences, ISSN: 2267-1242 (JCR Impact Factor-2017: 0.127; Quartil: Q4)
Publication date: 2023
Journal article

Modelling infiltration tests on pelletized bentonite under non-isothermal conditions
XIII International Conference on Computational Plasticity: Fundamentals and Applications
Presentation date: 09/2015
Presentation of work at congresses

Modelling a heating-hydration bentonite-based column test using a double porosity approach
XV International Conference on Computational Plasticity
Presentation date: 09/2019
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:TORRES SERRA, JOEL
Title:Granular flow characterisation towards an enhanced bulk feeder selection
Reading date:26/02/2021
Director:RODRIGUEZ FERRAN, ANTONIO
Co-director:ROMERO MORALES, ENRIQUE EDGAR
Mention:Industrial Doctorate Mention (Generalitat)
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Classification of granular materials via flowability-based clustering with application to bulk feeding
Torres-Serra, J.; Rodriguez-Ferran, A.; Romero, E.
Powder technology, ISSN: 0032-5910 (JCR Impact Factor-2021: 5.64; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 22/01/2021
Journal article

Study of grain-scale effects in bulk handling using discrete element simulations
Torres-Serra, J.; Rodriguez-Ferran, A.; Romero, E.
Powder technology, ISSN: 0032-5910 (JCR Impact Factor-2021: 5.64; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 04/2021
Journal article

AUTHOR:MARTÍNEZ PÉREZ, LAURA
Title:Characterization of seawater intrusion and submarine groundwater discharge in al luvial coastal aquifers: field and laboratory approach
Reading date:09/07/2020
Tutor/a:SAALTINK, MAARTEN WILLEM
Director:CARRERA RAMIREZ, JESUS
Director:LUQUOT, LINDA
Mention:International Mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Time-lapse cross-hole electrical resistivity tomography (CHERT) for monitoring seawater intrusion dynamics in a Mediterranean aquifer
Palacios, A.; Ledo, J.; Linde, N.; Luquot, L.; Bellmunt, F.; Folch, A.; Marcuello, A.; Queralt, P.; Pezard, P.; Martinez, L.; Del Val, L.; Bosch, D.; Carrera, J.
Hydrology and Earth system sciences, ISSN: 1027-5606 (JCR Impact Factor-2020: 5.748; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 04/2020
Journal article

Combining fiber optic DTS, cross-hole ERT and time-lapse induction logging to characterize and monitor a coastal aquifer
Folch, A.; Del Val, L.; Luquot, L.; Martinez, L.; Bellmunt, F.; Le Lay, H.; Rodellas, V.; Ferrer, N.; Palacios, A.; Marazuela, M.; Diego, M.; Pool , M.; Goyetche, T.; Ledo, J.; Pezard, P.; Bour, O.; Queralt, P.; Marcuello, A.; Garcia-Orellana, J.; Saaltink, M.; Vazquez-Suñe, E.; Carrera, J.
Journal of hydrology, ISSN: 0022-1694 (JCR Impact Factor-2020: 5.722; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 09/2020
Journal article

New perspectives on the use of 224Ra/228Ra and 222Rn/226Ra activity ratios in groundwater studies
Diego, M.; Rodellas, V.; Saaltink, M.; Alorda, A.; Goyetche, T.; Martinez, L.; Folch, A.; Garcia-Orellana, J.
Journal of hydrology, ISSN: 0022-1694 (JCR Impact Factor-2021: 6.708; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 05/2021
Journal article

A multidisciplinary approach to characterizing coastal alluvial aquifers to improve understanding of seawater intrusion and submarine groundwater discharge
Martinez, L.; Luquot, L.; Carrera, J.; Marazuela, M.; Goyetche, T.; Pool , M.; Palacios, A.; Bellmunt, F.; Ledo, J.; Ferrer, N.; Del Val, L.; Garcia-Orellana, J.; Diego, M.; Rodellas-Vila, V.; Saaltink, M.; Vazquez-Suñe, E.; Folch, A.
Journal of hydrology, ISSN: 0022-1694 (JCR Impact Factor-2022: 6.4; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 04/2022
Journal article

Combining long term monitoring of distributed temperature and cross-hole ERT with hydraulic tests to characterize the seawater intrusion and SGD dynamics in a coastal aquifers
46th International Association of Hydrogeologists Congress
Presentation date: 09/2019
Presentation of work at congresses

Continuous monitoring of Eh, pH and CE of a coastal multilayer alluvial aquifer under different dynamic conditions
European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2022
Presentation date: 05/2022
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:MARAZUELA CALVO, MIGUEL ÁNGEL
Title:Hydrogeology of salt flats: the Salar de Atacama example
Reading date:03/07/2020
Director:VÁZQUEZ SUÑÉ, ENRIC
Co-director:OLIVELLA PASTALLE, SEBASTIAN
Mention:No mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Towards more sustainable brine extraction in salt flats: learning from the Salar de Atacama
Marazuela, M.; Vazquez-Suñe, E.; Ayora, C.; García, A.
Science of the total environment, ISSN: 0048-9697 (JCR Impact Factor-2020: 7.963; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 10/02/2020
Journal article

Hydrogeological constraints for the genesis of the extreme lithium enrichment in the Salar de Atacama (NE Chile): a thermohaline flow modelling approach
Marazuela, M.; Ayora, C.; Vazquez-Suñe, E.; Olivella, S.; García, A.
Science of the total environment, ISSN: 0048-9697 (JCR Impact Factor-2020: 7.963; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 10/2020
Journal article

La importancia de incorporar la hidrodinámica de la interfaz salina en la gestión de los recursos minerales y ecosistemas de los salares
Marazuela, M.; Vazquez-Suñe, E.; Custodio, E.; Ayora, C.; Palma, T.; García, A.
Boletín geológico y minero, ISSN: 2253-6167 (JCR Impact Factor-2021: 0.0
Publication date: 01/01/2021
Journal article

Geothermal anomaly identified under a dense urban area in the metropolitan region of Barcelona, Spain
World Geothermal Congress 2020+1
Presentation date: 12/05/2021
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:DEL VAL ALONSO, LAURA
Title:Advancing in the characterization of coastal aquifers. A multimethodological approach based on fiber optics distributed temperature sensing
Reading date:03/06/2020
Director:FOLCH SANCHO, ALBERT
Director:SAALTINK, MAARTEN WILLEM
Mention:International Mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Heat dissipation test with fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing to estimate groundwater flux
Del Val, L.; Carrera, J.; Pool , M.; Martinez , L.; Casanovas, C.; Bour, O.; Folch, A.
Water resources research, ISSN: 0043-1397 (JCR Impact Factor-2021: 6.159; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 03/2021
Journal article

Exploring the use of Fiber Optic Distributed Temperature Sensing for monitoring seawater intrusion
46th International Association of Hydrogeologists Congress
Presentation date: 09/2019
Presentation of work at congresses

Modelling heat transport at the fresh-saltwater interface in coastal aquifers
11th Workshop of CODE_BRIGHT Users
Presentation date: 16/05/2019
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:SOLÉ MARÍ, GUILLEM
Title:Lagrangian modeling of reactive transport in heterogeneous porous media
Reading date:13/03/2020
Director:FERNANDEZ GARCIA, DANIEL
Co-director:SANCHEZ VILA, FRANCISCO JAVIER
Mention:No mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Entropy: (1) The former trouble with particle-tracking simulation, and (2) A measure of computational information penalty
Benson, D.; Pankavich, S.; Schmidt, M.; Sole-Mari, G.
Advances in water resources, ISSN: 0309-1708 (JCR Impact Factor-2020: 4.51; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 03/2020
Journal article

Solute transport in bounded porous media characterized by Generalized Sub-Gaussian log-conductivity distributions
Sole-Mari, G.; Riva, M.; Fernandez, D.; Sanchez-Vila, X.; Guadagnini, A.
Advances in water resources, ISSN: 0309-1708 (JCR Impact Factor-2021: 5.361; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 01/2021
Journal article

Characterizing reactive transport behavior in a three-dimensional discrete fracture network
Sherman, T.; Sole-Mari, G.; Hyman, J.; Sweeney, M.; Vassallo, D.; Bolster, D.
Transport in porous media, ISSN: 0169-3913 (JCR Impact Factor-2021: 3.61; Quartil: Q2)
Publication date: 03/2021
Journal article

Modeling reactive transport with local mixing limitation via random walk particle tracking
Goldschmidt Conference 2019
Presentation date: 22/08/2019
Presentation of work at congresses

Reactive transport in porous media with local mixing limitation: a Lagrangian modeling approach
Sharing Geoscience Online 2020
Presentation date: 04/05/2020
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:PARERA MORALES, FERRAN
Title:Advanced image analysis techniques for laboratory experiments on soils
Reading date:27/01/2020
Director:ALONSO PEREZ DE AGREDA, EDUARDO
Co-director:PINYOL PUIGMARTI, NURIA MERCE
Mention:International Mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Massive, continuous and non-invasive surface measurement of degree of saturation by shortwave infrared images
Parera, F.; Pinyol, N.; Alonso, E.
Canadian geotechnical journal, ISSN: 0008-3674 (JCR Impact Factor-2021: 1.613; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 06/2021
Journal article

Image-based measurements of degree of saturation
4th European Conference on Unsaturated Soils: Unsaturated Horizons
Presentation date: 20/10/2020
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:ZHANG, NINGNING
Title:A micromechanical study of the Standard Penetration Test
Reading date:20/01/2020
Director:ARROYO ALVAREZ DE TOLEDO, MARCOS
Director:GENS SOLE, ANTONIO
Co-director:CIANTIA, MATTEO
Mention:No mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Energy balance analyses during Standard Penetration Tests in a virtual calibration chamber
Zhang, N.; Arroyo, M.; Ciantia, M.; Gens, A.
Computers and geotechnics, ISSN: 0266-352X (JCR Impact Factor-2021: 5.218; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 05/2021
Journal article

DEM examination of SPT correction factors
Zhang, N.; Arroyo, M.; Ciantia, M.; Gens, A.
EPJ web of conferences, ISSN: 2100-014X
Publication date: 06/2021
Journal article

A contact model for rough crushable sand
Zhang, N.; Ciantia, M.; Arroyo, M.; Gens, A.
Soils and foundations, ISSN: 0038-0806 (JCR Impact Factor-2021: 3.098; Quartil: Q2)
Publication date: 06/2021
Journal article

Incorporating surface roughness into DEM models of crushable soils
Applied Numerical Modeling in Geomechanics 2020: 5th International Itasca Symposium
Presentation date: 02/2020
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:FERRER RAMOS, NÚRIA
Title:Assessment of a groundwater system under global change scenarios: the case of Kwale (Kenya)
Reading date:18/07/2019
Director:FOLCH SANCHO, ALBERT
Mention:No mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
What are the main factors influencing the presence of faecal bacteria pollution in groundwater systems in developing countries?
Ferrer, N.; Folch, A.; Masó, G.; Sánchez, S.; Sanchez-Vila, X.
Journal of contaminant hydrology, ISSN: 0169-7722 (JCR Impact Factor-2020: 3.188; Quartil: Q2)
Publication date: 01/2020
Journal article

Evidence of groundwater vulnerability to climate variability and economic growth in coastal Kenya
Ferrer, N.; Folch, A.; Fernandez, D.; Lane, M.; Thomas, M.; Gathenya, J.; Wara, C.; Thomson, P.; Custodio, E.; Hope, R.
Journal of hydrology, ISSN: 0022-1694 (JCR Impact Factor-2020: 5.722; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 07/2020
Journal article

Potential effects of climate change and future abstraction rate in a groundwater system located in coastal Kenya
46th International Association of Hydrogeologists Congress
Presentation date: 09/2019
Presentation of work at congresses

The effect of La Niña 2016-2017 and the current abstraction regime on diverse water-reliant companies in Kwale groundwater resources (Coastal Kenya)
46th International Association of Hydrogeologists Congress
Presentation date: 09/2019
Presentation of work at congresses

AUTHOR:PUIG MONTELLÀ, EDUARD
Title:Modeling capillarity and two-phase flow in granular media: From pore-scale to network-scale
Reading date:16/07/2019
Director:GENS SOLE, ANTONIO
Co-director:CHAREYRE, BRUNO
Mention:No mention
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Hybrid multi-scale model for partially saturated media based on a pore network approach and lattice Boltzmann method
Puig, E.; Yuan, C.; Chareyre, Bruno; Gens, A.
Advances in water resources, ISSN: 0309-1708 (JCR Impact Factor-2020: 4.51; Quartil: Q1)
Publication date: 10/2020
Journal article

Benchmark cases for a multi-component Lattice–Boltzmann method in hydrostatic conditions
Puig, E.; Chareyre, Bruno; Salager, S.; Gens, A.
MethodsX, ISSN: 2215-0161 (JCR Impact Factor-2020: 0.0
Publication date: 10/2020
Journal article

Research projects

START DATEEND DATEACTIVITYFINANCING ENTITY
20/12/202331/07/2025Assistència tècnica pel seguiment de la incidència de l'abocador de la Vall de Joan sobre la qualitat de les aigües de l'aqüíferARDANA CONSULTANTS S.L.U.
01/10/202330/09/2027GeO and weather multi-risk impact Based Early warning and response systems supporting rapid deploYment of first respONders in EU and beyonDCommission of European Communities
01/09/202331/08/2026MUltiscale CHaracterization Of GroUndwater and Solutes discharge into The OceanAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
01/09/202331/08/2027Herramientas para la observación, INTERpretación y MOdelación de la INTERacción y MOvimiento multifásico en medio poroso aplicado a infraestructuras para la energía y mobilidad de las infraestructurasAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
31/05/202331/05/2023GPKDE
23/05/202322/06/2023Contracte de serveis per a la realització del Pla d'optimització de les extraccions i recàrrega gestionada d'àqüífers a la conca del BesòsAIGÜES DE BARCELONA EMP M GEST CI
06/02/202305/03/2023Servei per a la realització de la redacció del Pla d'extraccions de l'aqüífer del Besòs dins l'àmbit d'influència de l'ETAP Besòs (Nº Exp.:AB/ABAST/AD/2021/08)AIGÜES DE BARCELONA EMP M GEST CI
01/02/202331/01/2025Early warning Demonstration of pan-European rainfall-induced impact forecastsEURCOM- D.G. HUMANITARIAN
01/01/202331/12/2026CLIMAte risk and vulnerability Assessment framework and toolboXCommission of European Communities
01/01/202331/12/2027Regions for climate change resilience through Innovation, Science and TechnologyCommission of European Communities
07/12/202207/12/2022MODPATH-OMP
01/12/202230/11/2024Técnicas de evaluación multi-riesgo en suelos basadas en soluciones novedosas enfocadas en modelos numéricos reducidos. Adaptación a la fluctuación climáticaAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
01/12/202230/11/2024Investigación experimental y modelación del crecimiento de biofilmsAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
01/12/202230/11/2024Producción de sedimentos en cuencas de montaña: Evaluación del impacto del cambio climático sobre la sedimentación en embalses y la pérdida de suelosAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
01/12/202201/12/2024Towards a user-friendly and efficient open-source code Anura3D, based on the material point method for geotechnical design and analysisGobierno de España. Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Mec)
01/11/202231/10/2025Interactive understanding of groundwater hydrology and hydrogeologyCommission of European Communities
01/10/202230/09/2026The Human-Tech Nexus- Building a save Haven to cope with climate extremes.Commission of European Communities
01/10/202230/09/2026Promoting disaster preparedness and resielence by co-developing stakeholder support tools for managing the systemic risk of compounding disasters.Commission of European Communities
01/10/202230/09/2024Fundamental study of CO2 storage through microbially enhanced carbon mineralizationCommission of European Communities
01/10/202201/03/2024Reseach Collaboration Agreement fo the project entitled “Fluid Injection in Unconsolidated formations for Geo Energy and Environmental Applications (FLINUGEE)/'UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS
15/09/202231/01/2023Contrato de colaboración en servicios profesionales para la Actualización del modelo hidrogeológico en el Aeropuerto de BarcelonaVIARIUM INGENIERIA SL
01/09/202231/08/2025Sistema modular de ventilación para edificios educativos integrado con la producción urbana de alimentos: Incrementar la eficiencia energética y la sostenibilidad del edificioAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
01/09/202231/12/2022Jornada científica: reptes en la gestió de les aigües subterrànies a l'àrea metropolitana de BarcelonaAjuntament de Barcelona
01/09/202231/08/2025Recursos hidrogeológicos en riesgo: confrontando los impactos ligados al cambio climático con el incremento de la demanda hídricaAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
01/09/202231/10/2022Contrato de colaboración para el estudio hidrogeológico para analizar el impacto del soterramiento de la línea de ferrocarril sobre los acuíferos de la Vall Baixa y Delta del LlobregatACCIONA Infraesctructuras, S.A.
01/09/202231/08/2026Foundations for offshore wind turbinesCommission of European Communities
01/09/202231/08/2026Mecanismos de expansión y criterios de diseño en rocas anhidríticasMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación
19/07/202219/09/2022Contracte de col·laboració per l'elaboració de l'Informe de seguiment de la barrera hidràulica de Can Planas, Cerdanyola del VallèsCONS.URBANIST.C.DIRECC.CERDANYOLA V
01/06/202231/05/2023Trabajo de campo para la continuidad del desarrollo de la tesis doctoral “Alternative approach for water wicked problems: A socio-technical groundwater management tool to improve human developmentCentre de Cooperació per al Desenvolupament de la UPC
02/05/202231/10/2022Contrato de colaboración para la ejecución de un nuevo ramal ferroviario en las terminales 1 y 2COMSA
05/01/202205/01/2022Method to generate the in-situ state of stress in a domain O in a geological structure
01/01/202231/12/2025Les Comunitats Prehistòriques del Massís del Garraf Nord. Fase 3. Orígens, Genètica, Estat de Salut, Dieta, Patrons d’Assentament, Trets Culturals, Mobilitat i Recursos durant la Prehistòria RecentAgència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (Agaur)
16/12/202131/12/2024ASESORAMIENTO PARA EL DISEÑO DE LA BARRERA REACTIVA, SISTEMA DE RECARGA Y MODELO UNIDIMENSIONAL DE TRANSPORTE REACTIVO DEL PROYECTO “LIFE MATRIXFUN.CEN. ANDALUZ INVESTIG.DEL AGUA
02/12/202101/04/2023l’ASSISTÈNCIA TÈCNICA PER A L'ADOPCIÓ DE MESURES DE MILLORA DE L'ABASTAMENT EN DUES MASSES D’AIGUA SUBTERRÀNIA SOTMESES A UNA EXPLOTACIÓ INTENSIVAARDANA CONSULTANTS S.L.U.
01/12/202130/11/2023G-PFEM DE BOLSILLO: APLICACIONES DE SOFTWARE AVANZADO PARA EL PROYECTO GEOTÉCNICO DE INSTALACIONES DE ENERGIA RENOVABLE COSTA AFUERAAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
01/12/202130/11/2025Reactive barriers for water renaturalization during managed aquifer recharge in the Baix Camp regionEURCOM-D.G.FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
02/11/202101/01/2022ESTUDIO Y DESARROLLO DE UN PERFIL GEOLÓGICO EN LA LADERA DEL ESTRIBO DERECHO DE LA PRESA DE YESA (YESA - NAVARRA)CONFED. HIDROGRÁFICA DEL EBRO
05/10/202131/12/2022Investigación y desarrollo de nuevas tecnologías para el discurso del poder: imitando adornos de ámbar en la prehistoria reciente de IberiaJunta de Andalucía
01/09/202131/08/2024Nuevos desarrollos en el estudio experimental y numérico de la degradación de cementos de pozos por ataque ácido, en lugares de almacenamiento de carbono.AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
12/07/202122/06/2023Estudio Hidrogeológico correspondiente al soterramiento de las líneas R2 y R4 en Hospitalet del LlobregatUTE GPO INGENIERIA Y ARQUITECTURA S
22/05/202122/05/2023Contracte de serveis d’assistència tècnica per a la investigació i assessorament en temes geotècnics de les infraestructures gestionades per Infraestructures de la Generalitat de Catalunya, SAU (Infraestructures.cat) i per l’ens Infraestructures Ferroviàries de Catalunya (Ifercat). Clau: E2- INF-20500Infraestructures de la Generalitat de Catalunya , S.A.U.
01/04/202131/03/2024IJC2019-042036-IAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
15/03/202131/03/2023Actualización e integracion de datos en el modelo hidrogeológico. Analisis de la sensibilidad y simulación de transporte advecivo en el modelo. Revisión del modelo hidrogeológico regional. PlanteamienWESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC SPAIN SA
15/03/202115/03/2022Model de Gestió integrada dels Recursos hídrics del Besòs davant el canvi climàtic: solucions per a l’autoabastament i resiliència del sistema hídric a l’àrea metropolitana de Barcelona (GiR-Beso`s)Ajuntament de Barcelona
10/03/202131/07/2022Servei per a la realització de la redacció del Pla d'extraccions de l'aqüífer del Besòs dins l'àmbit d'influcència de l'ETAP Besòs (Nº Exp.: AB/ABAST/AD/2021/08)AIGÜES DE BARCELONA EMP M GEST CI
01/02/202130/06/2022trabajos de Hidrogeología necesarios para analizar el impacto de la construcción de un túnel artificial que atraviesa el acuífero superior del Delta del Llobregat y diseñar las medidas correctoras necAPIA XXI SA
01/11/202031/10/2022Emergency Risk Information and Assessments tailored for CommunitiesAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
01/11/202031/07/2021Actualización del contrato "Estudio del comportamiento geomecánico de materiales procesados en la Planta del Puerto de Barcelona"Gestió de Terres i Runes
07/10/202006/01/2021Nuevo estudio sobre las condiciones de estabilidad del muro anclado del Canyeret (Lleida, España)Ajuntament de Lleida
01/10/202031/03/2024Assistants for Healthy, Safe, and Productive Virtual Construction Design, Operation and Maintenance using a Digitial TwinCommission of European Communities
01/10/202031/12/2022PlaNet International research Network on Plant-based solutions to mitigate climate-induced geohazardsThe Reserach Council of Norway
14/09/202030/04/2021Estudi del comportament estructural i de durabilitat dels tubs de formigó d'abastiment d'aigües en 2 trams sota viaductes a Can Clota i a Torrent Gornal a Esplugues de Llobregat i a L'Hospitalet de LlAIGÜES DE BARCELONA EMP M GEST CI
01/09/202030/09/2021Triaxial and permeability tests on reinforced soils with different binders/injection liquidsBASF Construction Chemicals Europe AG
17/06/202016/12/2020Asesoramiento y estudio de los ensayos complementarios en materiales de la ladera del estribo derecho de la Presa de Yesa (Yesa / Navarra)CONFED. HIDROGRÁFICA DEL EBRO
10/06/202009/04/2022herramienta de programación, basada en códigos existentes, y que permita reproducir un modelo de transporte reactivo tan complejo como el del Salar de Atacama. modelo numérico de transporte reactivoSQM Salar S.A.
10/06/202010/06/2020Treballs d'assesoria geotècnica del túnel d'autopista A-27 Valls MontblancACCIONA, S.A
01/06/202029/02/2024Análisis de la erosión de suelos en terrenos de alta pendiente a diferentes escalas. Procesos físicos, auscultación y modelización de futuros cambios ambientales.AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
01/06/202031/12/2023Avances en el análisis de la cuantificación del riesgo (QRA) por desprendimientos rocosos empleando avances en las técnicas geomáticasAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
20/05/202031/12/2020Desarrollo de la herramienta 3D geomecánica propietaria de Repsol para modelos evolutivosREPSOL YPF, S.A.
24/04/202020/03/2023Ampliació del contracte de col·laboració entre HYDS i la UPC per al desenvolupament d'un sistema de predicció hidrològica: tractament de les dades hidrometeorològiquesHydrometeorological Innovative Solutions, S.L.
22/04/202031/12/2020Servei de manteniment i desenvolupament de millores del programari eina de previsió hidrometeorologia integrada (EHIMI) operatiu del Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya per l'any 2020Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya
01/02/202031/01/2026Removal and Mitigation of Pollution from the Use of Pesticides: Prevention, Recycling and Resource ManagementCommission of European Communities
01/02/202030/09/2022Advanced tools for pro-active Management of Impact and Risks induced by convective Weather, Heavy Rain and Flash Foods in EuropeEURCOM- D.G. HUMANITARIAN
01/01/202031/12/2022Mezcla y dispersión en el transporte de energía y solutosAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
16/12/201931/03/2020Development of two hydro-mechanical prototypes with suction control for testing partially saturated and frozen soils under oedometer conditionsUniversity of Cambridge
01/11/201931/05/2022Prevención y gestión transfronteriza del riesgo asociado a deslizamientos de tierraCommission of European Communities
01/11/201931/10/2020Assistència tècnica pel seguiment de les xarxes de control d'aigües subterrànies, superficials i drenatge del Reg Segarra-GarriguesARDANA CONSULTANTS S.L.U.
01/11/201930/10/2021Elaboración de análisis, modelación y simulación computacional para determinar las causas de la rotura de la Presa I de la Mina de Corrego do Feijao en el Complejo Paraopeba el 25/01/2019Companhia Vale do Rio Doce
23/10/201919/01/2020Introduction to the Geotechnical PFEM in KratosCLIENTS DIVERSOS
22/10/201913/12/2024Extension of the collaboration contract for the advance Fracture Modeling for Hydraulic Fracture applicationsREPSOL YPF, S.A.
01/10/201901/10/2024WP-Gas: Scientific work related to task 3 (Barrier Integrity). Linked Third Party NAGRANational Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste
16/09/201928/02/2020Estudi tècnic a realitzar al fris de Picasso del Col·legi d'Arquitectes de CatalunyaCOL.LEGI OFI. ARQUITECTES CATALUNYA
01/09/201931/08/2022Predicción de riesgo y diseño seguro en rocas anhidríticas (ANHY_RISK)Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades
20/06/201918/09/2020Bender Element transducersUniversidade do Minho
01/06/201931/05/2024European Joint Programme on Radioactive Waste ManagementCommission of European Communities
01/06/201931/05/2021Geohazards: Identification, Modelling, Preparedness, Assessment, Collaboration and TransferenceAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
01/06/201931/05/2021Thermal aspects and their coupled HM effects on Ypresian clays and Boom Clay (Reference: CCHO 2019-0236/00/00)ONDRAF/NIRAS
01/06/201931/05/2024WP GAS Mechanistic understanding of gas transport in clay materials. Part of EURAD ‘European Joint Programme on Radioactive Waste Management’ NFRP-2018.European Commission
01/06/201931/12/2022Laboratory investigation of two-phase transport in sand-bentonite mixtures (Ref. 18311)National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste
01/06/201930/06/2023DEvelopment of COupled models and their VALidation against EXperiments (2023) - Task B: MAGICNational Radioactive Waste Management Agency
21/05/201921/05/2021Assistència tècnica per a la investigació i assessorament en temes geotècnics de les infraestructures gestionades per Infraestructures de la Generalitat de Catalunya, SAU (Infraestructures.cat) i per l'Ens Infraestructures Ferroviàries de Catalunya (IFERCAT). Clau: E2-INF-18500 NomInfraestructures de la Generalitat de Catalunya , S.A.U.
17/05/201931/05/2023Recarga gestionada de acuíferos: abordando los riesgos asociados a la recarga de aguas regeneradasAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
02/05/201915/07/2019Development of a hydro-mechanical prototype cell for performing gas migration tests under axisymmetric triaxial conditions with hollow cylinder rock sample and inner core of expansive bentonite preparTEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
01/05/201931/10/2020Nuevo estudio de la estabilidad del deslizamiento del Embalse de CanellesENDESA GENERACIÓN, S.A.
01/04/201931/03/2020Triaxial test on reinforced soils with different binders/injection liquidsBASF Construction Chemicals Europe AG
27/03/201931/12/2020Anàlisi geotècnic i hidrogeològic dels túnels de la Línia Llobregat-AnoiaFerrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya
01/03/201928/02/2023Managed Aquifer Recharge Solutions Training NetworkCommission of European Communities
28/02/201928/02/2019A METHOD FOR ESTIMATING THE FRACTURED VOLUME IN A RESERVOIR DOMAIN BY INJECTING A HIGH PRESSURE FLUID
01/01/201930/09/2022Atenuación natural de patógenos y contaminantes orgánicos en medio poroso durante operaciones de recarga gestionada de acuíferosAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
01/01/201931/12/2024Ampliación del contrato de colaboración para la realización de campañas de seguimiento de la evolución de las paredes rocosas (Monasterio de Piedra)MONASTERIO DE PIEDRA SA
01/01/201931/03/2020Massive and non-destructive mining of information in experimentsMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación
01/01/201931/12/2019Ensayos geotécnicoss avanzados de grandes dimensiones sobre materiales de Getió de Terres i RunesGestió de Terres i Runes
01/01/201931/12/2023FE-Modelling Task Force / Task 1: Validation of thermally induced THM effects in the rock around the FE-tunnelNational Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste
01/01/201931/12/2021Master's Degree in Urban MobilityEuropean Institute for Innovation and Technology
01/01/201931/12/2022Stability análisis of slope B-40 Highway (Catalunya, Spain).MAPA
01/09/201730/06/2019Contracte de serveis per a l'assistència tècnica per a la investigació i assessorament en temes geotècnics de les infraestructures de la Generalitat de CatalunyaInfraestructures de la Generalitat de Catalunya S.A.U.
01/06/201601/01/1970Seguimiento del comportamiento del viaducto de Pont de CandíAdministrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias
01/03/201531/10/2025Assistència tècnica per a la investigació i assessorament en temes geotècnics de la línia 9 del Metro de BarcelonaInfraestructures de la Generalitat de Catalunya S.A.U.
24/09/201401/01/1970MPM Research Community. Modelling large deformation and soil–water–stucture interactionGeotechnical and Environmental Research Group, Engineering Department, University of Cambridge; Soil and Rock Mechanics Research Group, Department of Geotechnical Engineering and Geosciences, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya; Institute of Geotechnical Engineering and Construction Management, Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg (TUHH); Unit Geo-engineering Deltares; Università degli Studi di Padova; Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology
01/02/201431/10/2025Contracte de serveis per a l'assistència tècnica per a la investigació i assessorament en temes geotècnics de la línia 9 del Metro de Barcelona i altres grans infraestructures gestionades per Infraestructures de la Generalitat de Catalunya, SAU. Clau: AT.TM-00509Infraestructures de la Generalitat de Catalunya S.A.U.
01/12/201231/10/2025Contracte de serveis per a l'assistència tècnica per a la investigació i assessorament en temes geotècnics de la línia 9 del Metro de Barcelona i altres grans infraestructures gestionades per Infraestructures de la Generalitat de Catalunya, SAU (AT.TM-00509)Infraestructures de la Generalitat de Catalunya , S.A.U.
01/09/201131/10/2025Assistència tècnica per a la investigació i assessorament en temes geotècnics de la Línia 9 del Metro de Barcelona i altres grans infraestructures gestionades per GISA (Clau: AT.TM-00509)Gestió d'Infrastructures, S.A
01/08/201031/10/2025Contracte de serveis per a I'assistència tècnica per a la investigació i assessorament en temes geotècnics de la Línia 9 del Metro de Barcelona i altres grans infraestructures gestionades per GISA. Clau: TM-00509Gestió d'Infrastructures, S.A
20/12/200930/11/2024EQUIPO ENDOMÉTRICO CON SUCCIÓN CONTROLADAUniversity of Strathclyde
01/03/200831/10/2025Estudi per a la investigació i assessorament en temes geotècnics de la Línia 9 del Metro de Barcelona i altres grans infraestructures gestionades per GISA. Clau: E23-TM-00509Gestió d'Infrastructures, S.A

Teaching staff and research groups

Research projects

START DATEEND DATEACTIVITYFINANCING ENTITY
20/12/202331/07/2025Assistència tècnica pel seguiment de la incidència de l'abocador de la Vall de Joan sobre la qualitat de les aigües de l'aqüíferARDANA CONSULTANTS S.L.U.
01/10/202330/09/2027GeO and weather multi-risk impact Based Early warning and response systems supporting rapid deploYment of first respONders in EU and beyonDCommission of European Communities
01/09/202331/08/2026MUltiscale CHaracterization Of GroUndwater and Solutes discharge into The OceanAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
01/09/202331/08/2027Herramientas para la observación, INTERpretación y MOdelación de la INTERacción y MOvimiento multifásico en medio poroso aplicado a infraestructuras para la energía y mobilidad de las infraestructurasAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
31/05/202331/05/2023GPKDE
23/05/202322/06/2023Contracte de serveis per a la realització del Pla d'optimització de les extraccions i recàrrega gestionada d'àqüífers a la conca del BesòsAIGÜES DE BARCELONA EMP M GEST CI
06/02/202305/03/2023Servei per a la realització de la redacció del Pla d'extraccions de l'aqüífer del Besòs dins l'àmbit d'influència de l'ETAP Besòs (Nº Exp.:AB/ABAST/AD/2021/08)AIGÜES DE BARCELONA EMP M GEST CI
01/02/202331/01/2025Early warning Demonstration of pan-European rainfall-induced impact forecastsEURCOM- D.G. HUMANITARIAN
01/01/202331/12/2026CLIMAte risk and vulnerability Assessment framework and toolboXCommission of European Communities
01/01/202331/12/2027Regions for climate change resilience through Innovation, Science and TechnologyCommission of European Communities
07/12/202207/12/2022MODPATH-OMP
01/12/202230/11/2024Técnicas de evaluación multi-riesgo en suelos basadas en soluciones novedosas enfocadas en modelos numéricos reducidos. Adaptación a la fluctuación climáticaAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
01/12/202230/11/2024Investigación experimental y modelación del crecimiento de biofilmsAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
01/12/202230/11/2024Producción de sedimentos en cuencas de montaña: Evaluación del impacto del cambio climático sobre la sedimentación en embalses y la pérdida de suelosAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
01/12/202201/12/2024Towards a user-friendly and efficient open-source code Anura3D, based on the material point method for geotechnical design and analysisGobierno de España. Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Mec)
01/11/202231/10/2025Interactive understanding of groundwater hydrology and hydrogeologyCommission of European Communities
01/10/202230/09/2026The Human-Tech Nexus- Building a save Haven to cope with climate extremes.Commission of European Communities
01/10/202230/09/2026Promoting disaster preparedness and resielence by co-developing stakeholder support tools for managing the systemic risk of compounding disasters.Commission of European Communities
01/10/202230/09/2024Fundamental study of CO2 storage through microbially enhanced carbon mineralizationCommission of European Communities
01/10/202201/03/2024Reseach Collaboration Agreement fo the project entitled “Fluid Injection in Unconsolidated formations for Geo Energy and Environmental Applications (FLINUGEE)/'UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS
15/09/202231/01/2023Contrato de colaboración en servicios profesionales para la Actualización del modelo hidrogeológico en el Aeropuerto de BarcelonaVIARIUM INGENIERIA SL
01/09/202231/08/2025Sistema modular de ventilación para edificios educativos integrado con la producción urbana de alimentos: Incrementar la eficiencia energética y la sostenibilidad del edificioAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
01/09/202231/12/2022Jornada científica: reptes en la gestió de les aigües subterrànies a l'àrea metropolitana de BarcelonaAjuntament de Barcelona
01/09/202231/08/2025Recursos hidrogeológicos en riesgo: confrontando los impactos ligados al cambio climático con el incremento de la demanda hídricaAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
01/09/202231/10/2022Contrato de colaboración para el estudio hidrogeológico para analizar el impacto del soterramiento de la línea de ferrocarril sobre los acuíferos de la Vall Baixa y Delta del LlobregatACCIONA Infraesctructuras, S.A.
01/09/202231/08/2026Foundations for offshore wind turbinesCommission of European Communities
01/09/202231/08/2026Mecanismos de expansión y criterios de diseño en rocas anhidríticasMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación
19/07/202219/09/2022Contracte de col·laboració per l'elaboració de l'Informe de seguiment de la barrera hidràulica de Can Planas, Cerdanyola del VallèsCONS.URBANIST.C.DIRECC.CERDANYOLA V
01/06/202231/05/2023Trabajo de campo para la continuidad del desarrollo de la tesis doctoral “Alternative approach for water wicked problems: A socio-technical groundwater management tool to improve human developmentCentre de Cooperació per al Desenvolupament de la UPC
02/05/202231/10/2022Contrato de colaboración para la ejecución de un nuevo ramal ferroviario en las terminales 1 y 2COMSA
05/01/202205/01/2022Method to generate the in-situ state of stress in a domain O in a geological structure
01/01/202231/12/2025Les Comunitats Prehistòriques del Massís del Garraf Nord. Fase 3. Orígens, Genètica, Estat de Salut, Dieta, Patrons d’Assentament, Trets Culturals, Mobilitat i Recursos durant la Prehistòria RecentAgència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (Agaur)
16/12/202131/12/2024ASESORAMIENTO PARA EL DISEÑO DE LA BARRERA REACTIVA, SISTEMA DE RECARGA Y MODELO UNIDIMENSIONAL DE TRANSPORTE REACTIVO DEL PROYECTO “LIFE MATRIXFUN.CEN. ANDALUZ INVESTIG.DEL AGUA
02/12/202101/04/2023l’ASSISTÈNCIA TÈCNICA PER A L'ADOPCIÓ DE MESURES DE MILLORA DE L'ABASTAMENT EN DUES MASSES D’AIGUA SUBTERRÀNIA SOTMESES A UNA EXPLOTACIÓ INTENSIVAARDANA CONSULTANTS S.L.U.
01/12/202130/11/2023G-PFEM DE BOLSILLO: APLICACIONES DE SOFTWARE AVANZADO PARA EL PROYECTO GEOTÉCNICO DE INSTALACIONES DE ENERGIA RENOVABLE COSTA AFUERAAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
01/12/202130/11/2025Reactive barriers for water renaturalization during managed aquifer recharge in the Baix Camp regionEURCOM-D.G.FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
02/11/202101/01/2022ESTUDIO Y DESARROLLO DE UN PERFIL GEOLÓGICO EN LA LADERA DEL ESTRIBO DERECHO DE LA PRESA DE YESA (YESA - NAVARRA)CONFED. HIDROGRÁFICA DEL EBRO
05/10/202131/12/2022Investigación y desarrollo de nuevas tecnologías para el discurso del poder: imitando adornos de ámbar en la prehistoria reciente de IberiaJunta de Andalucía
01/09/202131/08/2024Nuevos desarrollos en el estudio experimental y numérico de la degradación de cementos de pozos por ataque ácido, en lugares de almacenamiento de carbono.AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
12/07/202122/06/2023Estudio Hidrogeológico correspondiente al soterramiento de las líneas R2 y R4 en Hospitalet del LlobregatUTE GPO INGENIERIA Y ARQUITECTURA S
22/05/202122/05/2023Contracte de serveis d’assistència tècnica per a la investigació i assessorament en temes geotècnics de les infraestructures gestionades per Infraestructures de la Generalitat de Catalunya, SAU (Infraestructures.cat) i per l’ens Infraestructures Ferroviàries de Catalunya (Ifercat). Clau: E2- INF-20500Infraestructures de la Generalitat de Catalunya , S.A.U.
01/04/202131/03/2024IJC2019-042036-IAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
15/03/202131/03/2023Actualización e integracion de datos en el modelo hidrogeológico. Analisis de la sensibilidad y simulación de transporte advecivo en el modelo. Revisión del modelo hidrogeológico regional. PlanteamienWESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC SPAIN SA
15/03/202115/03/2022Model de Gestió integrada dels Recursos hídrics del Besòs davant el canvi climàtic: solucions per a l’autoabastament i resiliència del sistema hídric a l’àrea metropolitana de Barcelona (GiR-Beso`s)Ajuntament de Barcelona
10/03/202131/07/2022Servei per a la realització de la redacció del Pla d'extraccions de l'aqüífer del Besòs dins l'àmbit d'influcència de l'ETAP Besòs (Nº Exp.: AB/ABAST/AD/2021/08)AIGÜES DE BARCELONA EMP M GEST CI
01/02/202130/06/2022trabajos de Hidrogeología necesarios para analizar el impacto de la construcción de un túnel artificial que atraviesa el acuífero superior del Delta del Llobregat y diseñar las medidas correctoras necAPIA XXI SA
01/11/202031/10/2022Emergency Risk Information and Assessments tailored for CommunitiesAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
01/11/202031/07/2021Actualización del contrato "Estudio del comportamiento geomecánico de materiales procesados en la Planta del Puerto de Barcelona"Gestió de Terres i Runes
07/10/202006/01/2021Nuevo estudio sobre las condiciones de estabilidad del muro anclado del Canyeret (Lleida, España)Ajuntament de Lleida
01/10/202031/03/2024Assistants for Healthy, Safe, and Productive Virtual Construction Design, Operation and Maintenance using a Digitial TwinCommission of European Communities
01/10/202031/12/2022PlaNet International research Network on Plant-based solutions to mitigate climate-induced geohazardsThe Reserach Council of Norway
14/09/202030/04/2021Estudi del comportament estructural i de durabilitat dels tubs de formigó d'abastiment d'aigües en 2 trams sota viaductes a Can Clota i a Torrent Gornal a Esplugues de Llobregat i a L'Hospitalet de LlAIGÜES DE BARCELONA EMP M GEST CI
01/09/202030/09/2021Triaxial and permeability tests on reinforced soils with different binders/injection liquidsBASF Construction Chemicals Europe AG
17/06/202016/12/2020Asesoramiento y estudio de los ensayos complementarios en materiales de la ladera del estribo derecho de la Presa de Yesa (Yesa / Navarra)CONFED. HIDROGRÁFICA DEL EBRO
10/06/202009/04/2022herramienta de programación, basada en códigos existentes, y que permita reproducir un modelo de transporte reactivo tan complejo como el del Salar de Atacama. modelo numérico de transporte reactivoSQM Salar S.A.
10/06/202010/06/2020Treballs d'assesoria geotècnica del túnel d'autopista A-27 Valls MontblancACCIONA, S.A
01/06/202029/02/2024Análisis de la erosión de suelos en terrenos de alta pendiente a diferentes escalas. Procesos físicos, auscultación y modelización de futuros cambios ambientales.AGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
01/06/202031/12/2023Avances en el análisis de la cuantificación del riesgo (QRA) por desprendimientos rocosos empleando avances en las técnicas geomáticasAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
20/05/202031/12/2020Desarrollo de la herramienta 3D geomecánica propietaria de Repsol para modelos evolutivosREPSOL YPF, S.A.
24/04/202020/03/2023Ampliació del contracte de col·laboració entre HYDS i la UPC per al desenvolupament d'un sistema de predicció hidrològica: tractament de les dades hidrometeorològiquesHydrometeorological Innovative Solutions, S.L.
22/04/202031/12/2020Servei de manteniment i desenvolupament de millores del programari eina de previsió hidrometeorologia integrada (EHIMI) operatiu del Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya per l'any 2020Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya
01/02/202031/01/2026Removal and Mitigation of Pollution from the Use of Pesticides: Prevention, Recycling and Resource ManagementCommission of European Communities
01/02/202030/09/2022Advanced tools for pro-active Management of Impact and Risks induced by convective Weather, Heavy Rain and Flash Foods in EuropeEURCOM- D.G. HUMANITARIAN
01/01/202031/12/2022Mezcla y dispersión en el transporte de energía y solutosAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
16/12/201931/03/2020Development of two hydro-mechanical prototypes with suction control for testing partially saturated and frozen soils under oedometer conditionsUniversity of Cambridge
01/11/201931/05/2022Prevención y gestión transfronteriza del riesgo asociado a deslizamientos de tierraCommission of European Communities
01/11/201931/10/2020Assistència tècnica pel seguiment de les xarxes de control d'aigües subterrànies, superficials i drenatge del Reg Segarra-GarriguesARDANA CONSULTANTS S.L.U.
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23/10/201919/01/2020Introduction to the Geotechnical PFEM in KratosCLIENTS DIVERSOS
22/10/201913/12/2024Extension of the collaboration contract for the advance Fracture Modeling for Hydraulic Fracture applicationsREPSOL YPF, S.A.
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16/09/201928/02/2020Estudi tècnic a realitzar al fris de Picasso del Col·legi d'Arquitectes de CatalunyaCOL.LEGI OFI. ARQUITECTES CATALUNYA
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20/06/201918/09/2020Bender Element transducersUniversidade do Minho
01/06/201931/05/2024European Joint Programme on Radioactive Waste ManagementCommission of European Communities
01/06/201931/05/2021Geohazards: Identification, Modelling, Preparedness, Assessment, Collaboration and TransferenceAGENCIA ESTATAL DE INVESTIGACION
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01/06/201931/05/2024WP GAS Mechanistic understanding of gas transport in clay materials. Part of EURAD ‘European Joint Programme on Radioactive Waste Management’ NFRP-2018.European Commission
01/06/201931/12/2022Laboratory investigation of two-phase transport in sand-bentonite mixtures (Ref. 18311)National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste
01/06/201930/06/2023DEvelopment of COupled models and their VALidation against EXperiments (2023) - Task B: MAGICNational Radioactive Waste Management Agency
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02/05/201915/07/2019Development of a hydro-mechanical prototype cell for performing gas migration tests under axisymmetric triaxial conditions with hollow cylinder rock sample and inner core of expansive bentonite preparTEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
01/05/201931/10/2020Nuevo estudio de la estabilidad del deslizamiento del Embalse de CanellesENDESA GENERACIÓN, S.A.
01/04/201931/03/2020Triaxial test on reinforced soils with different binders/injection liquidsBASF Construction Chemicals Europe AG
27/03/201931/12/2020Anàlisi geotècnic i hidrogeològic dels túnels de la Línia Llobregat-AnoiaFerrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya
01/03/201928/02/2023Managed Aquifer Recharge Solutions Training NetworkCommission of European Communities
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01/01/201931/03/2020Massive and non-destructive mining of information in experimentsMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación
01/01/201931/12/2019Ensayos geotécnicoss avanzados de grandes dimensiones sobre materiales de Getió de Terres i RunesGestió de Terres i Runes
01/01/201931/12/2023FE-Modelling Task Force / Task 1: Validation of thermally induced THM effects in the rock around the FE-tunnelNational Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste
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01/06/201601/01/1970Seguimiento del comportamiento del viaducto de Pont de CandíAdministrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias
01/03/201531/10/2025Assistència tècnica per a la investigació i assessorament en temes geotècnics de la línia 9 del Metro de BarcelonaInfraestructures de la Generalitat de Catalunya S.A.U.
24/09/201401/01/1970MPM Research Community. Modelling large deformation and soil–water–stucture interactionGeotechnical and Environmental Research Group, Engineering Department, University of Cambridge; Soil and Rock Mechanics Research Group, Department of Geotechnical Engineering and Geosciences, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya; Institute of Geotechnical Engineering and Construction Management, Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg (TUHH); Unit Geo-engineering Deltares; Università degli Studi di Padova; Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology
01/02/201431/10/2025Contracte de serveis per a l'assistència tècnica per a la investigació i assessorament en temes geotècnics de la línia 9 del Metro de Barcelona i altres grans infraestructures gestionades per Infraestructures de la Generalitat de Catalunya, SAU. Clau: AT.TM-00509Infraestructures de la Generalitat de Catalunya S.A.U.
01/12/201231/10/2025Contracte de serveis per a l'assistència tècnica per a la investigació i assessorament en temes geotècnics de la línia 9 del Metro de Barcelona i altres grans infraestructures gestionades per Infraestructures de la Generalitat de Catalunya, SAU (AT.TM-00509)Infraestructures de la Generalitat de Catalunya , S.A.U.
01/09/201131/10/2025Assistència tècnica per a la investigació i assessorament en temes geotècnics de la Línia 9 del Metro de Barcelona i altres grans infraestructures gestionades per GISA (Clau: AT.TM-00509)Gestió d'Infrastructures, S.A
01/08/201031/10/2025Contracte de serveis per a I'assistència tècnica per a la investigació i assessorament en temes geotècnics de la Línia 9 del Metro de Barcelona i altres grans infraestructures gestionades per GISA. Clau: TM-00509Gestió d'Infrastructures, S.A
20/12/200930/11/2024EQUIPO ENDOMÉTRICO CON SUCCIÓN CONTROLADAUniversity of Strathclyde
01/03/200831/10/2025Estudi per a la investigació i assessorament en temes geotècnics de la Línia 9 del Metro de Barcelona i altres grans infraestructures gestionades per GISA. Clau: E23-TM-00509Gestió d'Infrastructures, S.A

Quality

The Validation, Monitoring, Modification and Accreditation Framework (VSMA Framework) for official degrees ties the quality assurance processes (validation, monitoring, modification and accreditation) carried out over the lifetime of a course to two objectives—the goal of establishing coherent links between these processes, and that of achieving greater efficiency in their management—all with the overarching aim of improving programmes.

Validation

Monitoring

Accreditation

    Registry of Universities, Centers and Degrees (RUCT)

    Indicators