ENAC Seminar Series by Dr. Eleni Stavropoulou
Event details
| Date | 16.05.2023 |
| Hour | 10:15 › 11:15 |
| Speaker | Dr. Eleni Stavropoulou |
| Location | |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
| Event Language | English |
10:15-11:15 - Dr. Eleni Stavropoulou
Research Associate, EPFL
Can we continue to pretend that geomaterials are homogeneous? Micro-scale observation
as a tool for understanding
Geo-engineers are facing increasing challenges in characterising the behaviour of
complex geo-systems related to deep-underground or deep-sea applications. Discontinuities, coupled solid/fluid processes, large and time-dependent deformation are only a few to be named, that traditional geotechnics encounter significant difficulties to characterise. While natural geomaterials are at their great extent largely heterogeneous and anisotropic, most experimental methods and constitutive models are designed to describe an idealised homogeneous behaviour. This is partly related to the temporal and spatial scales of observation that are key for understanding and successfully modelling the occurring multi-physical phenomena. In this talk, we will discuss the importance of micro-scale for understanding and successfully modelling the macroscopic processes in natural and engineered geosystems. Different geotechnical applications involving different geomaterials and their interfaces, under different types of loading and boundary conditions will be presented. From piles to geological reservoirs, the viability of geotechnical systems requires deep understanding of the localised processes that take place at small scales. Micro-structural heterogeneity, soil/fluid interaction, as well as pre-existing and/or created discontinuities will be discussed. In addition to bulk characterisation, particular emphasis will be given on the impact of the different geomaterial interfaces on the long-term behaviour of such geostructures. To better understand and visualise the contribution of micro-structure to the response of the studied materials and their interfaces, systematic use of imaging techniques (post-mortem and in-situ) is applied, such as x-ray and neutron tomography.
Short bio:
Dr. Eleni Stavropoulou is leading the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) activities of the Laboratory of Soil Mechanics (LMS) in EPFL. She received her PhD in Geomechanics in 2017 from the University Grenoble Alpes (France). Her research focuses on the characterisation of natural geomaterials in the context of contemporary engineering applications, such as radioactive waste storage (Andra, PhD thesis), design of piles for offshore wind turbines (Solcyp+, 2018), dam stability (EDF, 2019) and geological CO2 storage (SwissTopo, DemoUpStorage, 2020+). She has been particularly interested in understanding the impact of micro-scale processes on the macroscopic response, by systematically using advanced imaging techniques. In 2021, Dr. Stavropoulou obtained an SNSF Spark grant to develop a technique for 3D real-time monitoting of caprock response to CO2 injection with x-ray tomography, visualising for the first time the localised multiphysical phenomena that take place in the material.
Research Associate, EPFL
Can we continue to pretend that geomaterials are homogeneous? Micro-scale observation
as a tool for understanding
Geo-engineers are facing increasing challenges in characterising the behaviour of
complex geo-systems related to deep-underground or deep-sea applications. Discontinuities, coupled solid/fluid processes, large and time-dependent deformation are only a few to be named, that traditional geotechnics encounter significant difficulties to characterise. While natural geomaterials are at their great extent largely heterogeneous and anisotropic, most experimental methods and constitutive models are designed to describe an idealised homogeneous behaviour. This is partly related to the temporal and spatial scales of observation that are key for understanding and successfully modelling the occurring multi-physical phenomena. In this talk, we will discuss the importance of micro-scale for understanding and successfully modelling the macroscopic processes in natural and engineered geosystems. Different geotechnical applications involving different geomaterials and their interfaces, under different types of loading and boundary conditions will be presented. From piles to geological reservoirs, the viability of geotechnical systems requires deep understanding of the localised processes that take place at small scales. Micro-structural heterogeneity, soil/fluid interaction, as well as pre-existing and/or created discontinuities will be discussed. In addition to bulk characterisation, particular emphasis will be given on the impact of the different geomaterial interfaces on the long-term behaviour of such geostructures. To better understand and visualise the contribution of micro-structure to the response of the studied materials and their interfaces, systematic use of imaging techniques (post-mortem and in-situ) is applied, such as x-ray and neutron tomography.
Short bio:
Dr. Eleni Stavropoulou is leading the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) activities of the Laboratory of Soil Mechanics (LMS) in EPFL. She received her PhD in Geomechanics in 2017 from the University Grenoble Alpes (France). Her research focuses on the characterisation of natural geomaterials in the context of contemporary engineering applications, such as radioactive waste storage (Andra, PhD thesis), design of piles for offshore wind turbines (Solcyp+, 2018), dam stability (EDF, 2019) and geological CO2 storage (SwissTopo, DemoUpStorage, 2020+). She has been particularly interested in understanding the impact of micro-scale processes on the macroscopic response, by systematically using advanced imaging techniques. In 2021, Dr. Stavropoulou obtained an SNSF Spark grant to develop a technique for 3D real-time monitoting of caprock response to CO2 injection with x-ray tomography, visualising for the first time the localised multiphysical phenomena that take place in the material.
Practical information
- General public
- Free
- This event is internal
Organizer
- ENAC
Contact
- Clivia Waldvogel & Sarah Feller