| Abstract Submission No. | ABS-4.1-0078 |
| Title of Abstract | Modelling the Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Behaviour of Rocks: A Continuum and Pore-Scale Approach |
| Authors | Manoj Dhage*, Shib S Ganguli*, Prakash Kumar |
| Organisation | CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute |
| Address | CSS and Gas Hydrate department NGRI Hyderabad, Telangana, India Pincode: 500007 E-mail: manojdhage81@gmail.com |
| Country | India |
| Presentation | Oral |
| Abstract | Understanding coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) processes is essential for predicting the behaviour of geological formations under thermal, hydraulic, and mechanical loads. These processes are crucial in applications such as geothermal energy extraction, carbon capture and storage, and overall subsurface reservoir management. This study applies numerical modelling at both continuum and pore scales to investigate the THM response of saturated porous media. At the continuum scale, the Finite Element Method (FEM) simulated displacement-controlled triaxial tests on cylindrical rock samples under drained and undrained THM conditions, where drained conditions allowed pore fluid escape resulting in negligible pore pressure and higher deviatoric stress at failure, while undrained conditions caused progressive pore pressure buildup, reducing effective stress and triggering earlier yielding, followed by post-yield dilation that reduced pore pressure and generated strain hardening. At the pore scale, the Discrete Element Method (DEM) coupled with a finite volume scheme captured grain-scale THM interactions between solid particles and pore fluids under no-flow (conductive) and constant-flow (conductive and advective) scenarios, revealing localized heat transfer, fluid-thermal interactions, and mechanical responses within the pore network. By combining FEM and DEM results, this approach provides a comprehensive multi-scale evaluation of THM behaviour in thermal reservoirs, supporting improved design and sustainable management of geothermal energy systems. |
| Keywords | Thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) coupling, Discrete element modelling, Finite element modelling, Displacement controlled triaxial test |