RD Subsurface Modeling & Engineering

WORKSHOP: FUSED - From Underground to Surface: Energy provision and Distribution - 30.11.2023

On Thursday, November 30th, 2023, the first FUSED 'From Underground to Surface: Energy provision and Distribution', organized by the Research Department 'Subsurface Engineering and Modelling', will take place. It is hosted at Ruhr-Universität Bochum and begins at 9 AM at Saal 3 of Veranstaltungszentrum. In the spirit of its predecessor CRUST, we intend to bring together master students, PhD-students, and young post-docs. Going beyond CRUST, we would like to foster trans-institutional interaction and therefore open this event to all young energy-scientists of the Ruhr area: our motto is "connect and interact"! Therefore, please, feel included wherever your specific research topic locates in the triangle "subsurface - energy - distribution".

The meeting will take place on registration. Please, register now here RD SME. Attendance is free and does not require co-authorship of an abstract. You can also take part in the event with a poster or talk. The abstract submission is still open. Please, register yourself and send an email to RD SME and provide us with a pdf-document giving title of your talk or poster presentation, author(s), affiliation, body (300 words max). Abstracts will be accepted until October 31st 2023.

The program of the convention comprises a keynote, talks, poster session, breaks and post-meeting socializing with ample opportunity for exchange. Have a look at the program schedule.
A compilation of the accepted abstracts is now available.

Flyer of the RD SME Workshop

What is Computational Mechanics? What makes it so interesting? And why do we all encounter it in everyday life?

In this video, members of the "German Association for Computational Mechanics" (GACM) show how exciting and diverse the research field of computational mechanics is and how much influence it can have on our lives.



Has the video sparked your interest? Would you like to start your studies in this area? Then the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Ruhr-Universität Bochum has exactly the right study program for you:
- Computational Engineering
- Subsurface Engineering
- Master's program in Civil Engineering (Field of Specialization: KIB - Digital Design and Construction)
We look forward to welcome you in one of the study programs!

Participation in the video:
- DYNAmore GmbH, Dr. Thomas Münz
- TU Munich, Institute for Computational Mechanics, Prof. Wolfgang A. Wall
- RWTH Aachen, Chair for Computational Analysis of Technical Systems, Prof. Marek Behr
- TU Dresden, Institute of Structural Analysis, Prof. Michael Kaliske
- Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Institute for Structural Mechanics, Prof. Günther Meschke

Information about the GACM Association:
https://www.gacm.de/gacm/

SFB 837: Herausforderung Tunnelbau 2022

Die Nutzung des unterirdischen Raums ist ein Schlüsselfaktor für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung sowohl von Industrie-, als auch von Schwellen- und Entwicklungsländern. Unterirdische transalpine Verkehrsverbindungen, die Tendenz zu größeren Durchmessern, schwierige geologische Verhältnisse oder hohe Grundwasserdrücke stellen den Tunnelbau und die Vortriebstechnologien vor große Herausforderungen.

Die diesjährige Veranstaltung, die am 18. November 2022 im Veranstaltungszentrum der RUB stattfindet, widmet sich wieder zwei spannenden und aktuellen Themen:

- Dipl.-Ing. Felix Amberg ist Präsident der weltweit im Tunnelbau tätigen Amberg Gruppe und wird in seinem Vortrag auf den aktuellen Stand bei Planung und Bau der Metro Line 17 in Paris eingehen.

- Prof. Dr. Matthias Flora ist stv. Vorsitzender des Vorstands der Herrenknecht AG und Professor für Baumanagement, Baubetrieb und Tunnelbau an der Universität Innsbruck. Er trägt zu Herausforderungen und Entwicklungen im maschinellen Tunnelbau vor.

Die Teilnahme am Workshop ist kostenlos. Bitte melden Sie sich bis zum 16.11.2022 hier an: http://sfb837.sd.rub.de/en/registration/Herausforderung_Tunnelbau_2022.html

Anreise-Hinweis: An der Ruhr-Universität Bochum finden derzeit größere Bauarbeiten statt, die die Anreise mit dem Auto einschränken. Daher geben Sie als Veranstaltungsadresse bitte nicht das Veranstaltungszentrum der Ruhr-Universität Bochum in Ihre Navigation ein, sondern die G-Südstraße, 44801 Bochum. Hier stehen ausreichend Parkplätze zur Verfügung. Eine weitere Beschilderung zeigt Ihnen den kurzen Fußweg zum Veranstaltungszentrum an. Bahnfahrer*innen können weiterhin mit der U35 an der Haltestelle „Ruhr-Universität“ aussteigen.

Corona-Hinweis: Das Tragen eines Mund-Nasen-Schutz ist empfohlen.


Flyer zum Workshop.

Weitere Information zum SFB 837.

SFB 837-Workshop: Aktuelle Entwicklung zum Ringspaltmörtel im maschinellen Tunnelbau

Am 2. November findet der SFB 837-Workshop zum Thema Aktuelle Entwicklung zum Ringspaltmörtel im maschinellen Tunnelbau im Veranstaltungszentrum der Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Saal 1) statt.

Beim maschinellen Tunnelvortrieb ist die Ringspaltverpressung von essentieller Bedeutung. In Abhängigkeit der (hydro-)geologischen und projektspezifischen Randbedingungen kommen verschiedene Mörtelsysteme (ein- und zweikomponentig) zum Einsatz. Die Fortschritte beruhen zum einen auf experimentellen Untersuchungen unter realitätsnahen Randbedingungen, zum anderen ermöglichen numerische Analysen entsprechende Prognosen zum Materialverhalten für verschiedene Szenarien. In dem Workshop werden aktuelle Entwicklungen und Erfahrungen aus dem Bereich der Ringspaltverpressung vorgestellt und diskutiert.

Die Teilnahme am Workshop ist kostenlos. Bitte melden Sie sich bis zum 26.10.2022 hier an: http://sfb837.sd.rub.de/en/registration/Aktuelle_Entwicklungen_zum_Ringspaltmoertel_im_maschinellen_Tunnelbau.html

Flyer zum Workshop.

Weitere Information zum SFB 837.

Closing Workshop - 12 Years SFB 837

We are pleased to announce that the registration for the in-person SFB837 Closing Workshop is now possible.

After 12 years of research, the SFB 837 will reach the end of its funding through the DFG - German Research Foundation by the end of this year. To mark this occasion, we are organizing this SFB Closing Workshop on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at Ruhr University Bochum together with our long-time partners, colleagues and friends. The date of the SFB Closing Workshop has been chosen so that the event will take place immediately before the EURO:TUN conference.

Within the past 12 years, a total of 10 joint workshops have been held at Cambridge, Shanghai, Bochum, Salzburg, Innsbruck and Leoben together with partners from IKC Cambridge (UK), Tongji University (China), ACTUE-Group (Austria), Colorado School of Mines (USA) and University of Cork (Ireland). In addition, a long term collaboration with the University of Molise has been set up as well as winter and summer schools with the partners of the Research Training Group 1462 "Evaluation of coupled numerical partial models in structural engineering", Bauhaus University Weimar, the Doctoral Program "Water Resource Systems" (Vienna University of Technology) and the Research Training Group 2075 "Models for the description of the change of state during aging of building materials and structures" (Braunschweig University of Technology). In the context of these cooperation's, a one-day workshop will take place, which will end with a pleasant get-together in the form of a joint dinner.

All Colleagues and guests are highly welcome to join our workshop, the participation is free.
Please register here: http://sfb837.sd.rub.de/en/registration/Closing_Workshop.html

Flyer of the SFB 837 Closing Workshop.

Further information about the SFB 837.

RD SME NEWSLETTER 2022

We are pleased to present to you the recent newsletter of the Research Department Subsurface Modeling and Engineering (RD SME). In the Newsletter we report about current developments and activities within the RD and present selected current research results.

Download the newsletter here.

RD SME & SFB 837 HYBRID EVENT

On May 04th, 2022 a RD SME & SFB 837 hybrit event will take place. From 3 p.m. you can take part in the lectures either in the HZO 40 of the Ruhr University Bochum or online via Zoom.

The seminar consists of a lecture and a keynote:

“Sandwich Support Project 1: Heterogeneous Bentonite Hydration in the Context of Sealing Elements in Deep Geological Formations” by Wiebke Baille (RUB), Antonia Nitsch (RUB), Katja Emmerich (KIT)

“German nuclear waste management: Geoscientific aspects and related R&D at the German implementer BGE” by Dr. Axel Liebscher, Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung (BGE).


More information are given in the fyler.

SFB 837 & EURO:TUN 2022

Due to the pandemic situation, EURO:TUN will be shifted to 22.-24.6.2022 as an in-person event in Bochum. The EURO:TUN conference will be combined with a workshop on Interaction Modeling in Mechanized Tunneling, which will be organized on 21.6.2022. The new conference name is International Conference on Computational Methods and Information Models in Tunneling incorporating Interaction Modeling in Mechanized Tunneling - SFB 837 & EURO:TUN.

Topics to be addressed are:
- integration of computational and information models for tunnel planning and design,
- machine-ground and soil-structure interaction,
- numerical models and experimental investigations of excavation, ground-tool interaction and face stability,
- process and logistics simulation,
- data driven modeling, machine learning, data mining, and expert systems in subsurface engineering,
- design of lining systems,
- multi-phase and multi-scale models for soils and rocks and the temporary and permanent support in tunneling,
- procedures for parameter identification, and methods of inverse analysis,
- sensitivity analysis, uncertainty modeling and risk analysis,
- other related topics.

We are pleased to announce that registration for the in-person event "SFB 837 & EuroTun 2022" is now possible. Secure the early bird discount now, which is available until March 29th, 2022. We look forward to welcoming you to Bochum.

More information about the conference and registration at http://eurotun2021.rub.de/.

RD SME & SFB Webinar: Integration of Cad & Computational Analysis - Finite Cells Versus Finite Elements

On November 3rd, 2021 the SFB 837 webinar on " Integration of Cad & Computational Analysis - Finite Cells Versus Finite Elements" will take place.

The webinar consists of 1 keynot and 3 lectures:

Integration Of Geometry and Analysis Re-Designed: The Power of Immersed Boundary Methods
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Ernst Rank (Computation in Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Germany)

Finite Cell Method in Geotechnical Application: Development & Case Studies
Ph.D. Hoang-Giang Bui (Structural Mechanics, RUB, Germany)

Geometric Multigrid Preconditioners for the Finite Cell Method
M. Sc. Poria Saberi (High Performance, Computing in the Engineering Sciences, RUB Germany)

Finite-Cell-Method for the Simulation of Ductile Crack Propagation through Metallic Microstructures of Mining Tools
M. Sc. Dennis Wingender (Continuum Mechanics, RUB, Germany)

A short summary of the presentations and the zoom link can be found in the flyer.

Participation in the webinar is free of charge and possible without registration.
We kindly ask you to use your true name and to switch off your microphone during the lecture. Thank you!

See Flyer for more details!

SFB 837 - Workshop: Herausforderung Tunnelbau 2021

The use of underground space is a key factor for sustainable development of both industrial as well as emerging and developing countries. Underground transalpine transport links, the tendency for larger diameters, difficult geological conditions or high groundwater pressures pose major challenges for tunneling and drilling technologies.

This year's event is under the motto: "Große S- und U-Bahn Projekte in Deutschland" and will once again be dedicated to exciting and up-to-date topics:

Neubau U5 Hamburg - aktueller Stand der Planung
Stefan Schuster (Leiter Ausführung U5 Ost, Hochbahn AG, Hamburg)

Die 2. S-Bahn-Stammstrecke - Tunnelbau im Herzen von München: Tunnelbautechnische Herausforderungen im westlichen Abschnitt von der Donnersberger Brücke bis zum Marienhof
Marc Steinfeld (Senior Projektingenieur Tunnel, Großprojekt 2. S-Bahn-Stammstrecke München, DB Netz AG)

Participation is free of charge. Please use the online registration form.

Please note that this is a "3G event" of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum. Therefore, please bring the appropriate evidence with you.

See Flyer for more details!

RD SME & SFB 837 Webinar: Applications of Machine Learning Processes in Tunnel Construction

On July 20th, 2021 the SFB 837 webinar on "Applications of Machine Learning Processes in Tunnel Construction" will take place.

The webinar consists of 3 lectures:

Why Reinforcement Learning-Based Process Optimisation should be used in Conventional Tunnelling
by Prof. Thomas Marcher, M.Sc. Georg Erharter (Rock Mechanics & Tunneling, TU Graz, Austria)

Innovative Field Monitoring Tools for Big Data Acquisition and Image-Based Deep Learning in Tunnel Engineering
by Dr. Zili Li (Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering, University College Cork, Ireland)

Real-Time Analysis of Soil-Structure Interactions in Mechanized Tunneling using Artificial Neural Networks
by Dr.-Ing. Ba Trung Cao (Structural Mechanics, RUB, Germany)

A short summary of the presentations and the zoom link can be found in the flyer.

Participation in the webinar is free of charge and possible without registration.
We kindly ask you to use your true name and to switch off your microphone during the lecture. Thank you!

See Flyer for more details!

RD SME & SFB 837 Webinar: IFC-Tunnel - Towards the Support of Digital Tunnel Models within the Industry Foundation Classes

The SFB 837 informs about the current status of the buildingSmart International IFC-Tunnel Project. In particular, this webinar will focus on the developments due to the mechanized construction method, which is the key driver for the SFB837. The 'Industry Foundation Classes' (IFC) are a neutral and software independent data format for exchanging building information models. Since 2019, they are also in extension development to support digital tunnel models.

The SFB 837 is co-funding and actively participating with an interdisciplinary team, providing expertise in tunnel engineering, data management, numerical simulations and geostatistics. The contents of the webinar are based on the latest requirements analysis report (RAR), which has been published November 2020. It delivers the results from the first phase of the project and captures the needs and requirements in an international consensus for the definition of a common data model.

Link to the RAR: https://www.buildingsmart.org/the-final-draft-of-the-ifc-tunnel-requirements-analysis-report-is-now-available/

Participation is free!

See Flyer for more details!

3rd May 2021: UPCOMING RDSME Webinar

RDSME Webinar

When: 3rd May, 2021

Where: Online, Webinar

Zoom meeting ID - 886 8698 2747

Password - FR0FBF

16TH APRIL 2021: 3RD COLLOQUIUM FOR YOUNG RESEARCHERS IN UNDERGROUND SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (CRUST 3)

Since 2018, the Research Department organizes a Colloquium for Young Researchers in Underground Science and Technology (CRUST) in the winter semester. This colloquium not only provides networking opportunities but it is also an excellent forum for young researchers to exchange ideas, foster debates, present results and discuss problems and challenges in their research work. CRUST 1 was held on 14 th Dec 2018 with 3 minisymposia (11 presentations in total) and 10 poster presentations. CRUST 2 was held on 10 th January 2020. CRUST 1 and CRUST 2 were event, which were restricted to participants who are members of the RD SME.

Registration and participation is free!
For registration, please send an email to sme-crust@rub.de.
see Newsletter for more details.

RDSME NEWSLETTER-2020

We are pleased to present to you today the first issue of the newsletter of the Research Department Subsurface Modeling and Engineering (RD SME). Aim of the Research Department Subsurface Modeling and Engineering is the interdisciplinary networking of of scientists at the RUB (and beyond) in connection with the exploration and use of subsurface space.The newsletter is intended as a forum for a regular exchange of information on current developments and activities within the RD and for the presentation of selected current research results.

Download Newsletter

16th June 2020: UPCOMING Webinar: "BIM IM TUNNELBAU – VON DER IDEE BIS ZUR AUSFÜHRUNG"

within the series of guest lectures, we organize the next lecture as an online webinar by Dr.-Ing. Felix Nagel, ZPP Ingenieure AG, Berlin, on Tuesday, June 16th, with the title:

"BIM IM TUNNELBAU – VON DER IDEE BIS ZUR AUSFÜHRUNG".

The zoom-video lecture will start on June 16th at 16:00 (duration app. 1 hour). Zoom Link
see Final Program for more details ! (Photo Credits: Jürgen Sauer, www.fotograf-sauer.de)

10th January 2020: UPCOMING RDSME EVENT: 2nd Colloquium for Young Researchers in Underground Science and Technology (CRUST 2)

The 2nd Colloquium for young Researchers in Underground Science and Technology (CRUST 2) will be held in Bochum. This colloquium intends to bring together PhD Students and young early stage researchers associated with every member of RDSME. It aims to provide a forum for them to exchange ideas, foster debate, offer networking opportunities, present results and discuss problems and challenges in their research work. We are looking forward to receiving atleast one talk or poster presentation from your group whose topic is within the framework of RDSME. Registration and participation is free.

Date: 10.01.2020
Time: 10:00 - 16:00
Room: ID 03 / 653 (RUB)

see Final Program for more details !

2019.07.10: UPCOMING RDSME EVENT: RUB Underground Space Day

Der “RUB Underground Space Day” wird im Rahmen des Research Departments „Subsurface Modeling and Engineering“ der Ruhr-Universität Bochum und des Sonderforschungsbereichs SFB 837 „Interaktionsmodelle für den maschinellen Tunnelbau“ alljährlich veranstaltet. Ziel dieser Veranstaltung ist es, ein Forum für den Austausch von Ideen bereitzustellen, Debatte zu fördern und die Zusammenarbeit innerhalb des RDs sowie mit externen Forschungseinrichtungen und Unternehmen zu stärken. Dieses Jahr findet der Workshop am 10.07.2019 an der Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Seminarraum ID 03/653) statt. Das Thema des diesjährigen Workshops lautet „Neue Techniken und Modellierungsmethoden der Herstellung von Bohrungen, Schächten und Tunneln“. Der Fokus dieser Veranstaltung liegt dabei auf den Herausforderungen für Vortriebs- und Abbaumethoden, Materialien und numerischen Simulationsmethoden. Im Anschluss an die Veranstaltung findet die Mitgliederversammlung des RDs SME statt.
see Workshop Flyer for more details

2018.12.14: UPCOMING RDSME EVENT: 1st Colloquium for Young Researchers in Underground Science and Technology (CRUST 1)

The 1st Colloquium for young Researchers in Underground Science and Technology (CRUST 1) will be held in Bochum This colloquium intends to bring together PhD Students and young early stage researchers associated with every member of RDSME. It aims to provide a forum for them to exchange ideas, foster debate, offer networking opportunities, present results and discuss problems and challenges in their research work. We are looking forward to receiving atleast one talk or poster presentation from your group whose topic is within the framework of RDSME. Please send us your abstracts (in .docx, max. 300 words) and register before 10th November with preference for a talk or a poster presentation. Registration and participation is free.

Date: 14.12.2018
Time: 9:30 - 17:00
Room: IC 03 / 610 (RUB)

see Workshop Program for more details

2018.10.26 SFB 837 Workshop - Challenges in Tunneling - 2018: Lectures by Prof. Konrad Bergmeister and Dipl.-Ing. Felix Amberg

The use of underground space is a key factor for sustainable development of both industrial as well as emerging and developing countries. Underground transalpine transport links, the tendency for larger diameters, difficult geological conditions or high groundwater pressures pose major challenges for tunneling and drilling technologies. The workshop series ,Herausforderung Tunnelbau 2018' will once again be dedicated to an exciting and up-to-date topic this year. Prof. Konrad Bergmeister will talk about the Brenner Base Tunnel and its geotechnical and tunnel engineering challenges in the construction of an emergency stop in Innsbruck. The lecture by Dipl.-Ing. Felix Amberg focuses on a 100 km long tunnel between Helsinki and Tallin, whose structural and economic aspects represent the next generation of long tunnels.

Guest lecturers: Prof. Konrad Bergmeister (BBT SE, Austria) & Dipl.-Ing. Felix Amberg (Amberg Group, Switzerland)
Date: 26.10.2018
Time: 15:00 - 20:00
Room: Conference Center, Room 3 (RUB)

see Flyer for more details
More information on SFB 837 webpage

2018.02.2016: SFB 837 - Rock mechanical investigations of Opalinus Clay shale in the new TBM-excavated Belchen highway tunnel (Switzerland)

Dr. Martin Ziegler form the ETH Zurich, will hold a guest lecture in the framework of SFB 837 about 'Rock mechanical investigations of Opalinus Clay shale in the new TBM-excavated Belchen highway tunnel (Switzerland)'.

The Swiss high-level nuclear waste repository concept requires access and ventilation tunnels or shafts, repository drifts, and underground laboratory space. The great length of repository drifts and tunnels at repository depth on the order of 24 km, together with the constraint to limit the damage of the geological barrier, among other factors, may suggest the use of tunnel-boring machines (TBMs). The new 3.2 km long Belchen N2 highway tunnel tube (Sanierungstunnel Belchen, STB) between Basel and Egerkingen, Switzerland, crosses the folded Jura mountains including about 570 m of Opalinus Clay shale (OPA), i.e., the designated target rock formation for the future deep nuclear waste repository. The new Belchen tunnel is being constructed with enormous technical effort, because the old tunnel tubes have been damaged by swelling processes in long sections with Gipskeuper and OPA. The new tunnel offers the great opportunity to study fundamental and practical aspects of TBM excavation in OPA. Our project′s focus is on the rock mass behaviour of OPA during TBM tunnelling (short-term) and after tunnel completion (long-term). Investigations include structural geology, rock mechanical and mineralogical properties of the OPA in the Belchen area, fault hydrogeology, rock mass deformations, in-situ and laboratory OPA swelling behaviour, and short- and long-term changes and interactions (e.g., radial pressure changes) of the rock mass with the tunnel support, i.e., precast, outer steel-reinforced concrete tubbing rings and inner, cast-in-place concrete lining. In-situ monitoring systems were installed in a section where the tunnel has its maximum overburden of about 325 m, close to a cross-passage.

Guest lecturer: Dr. Martin Ziegler (Department of Earth Sciences, ETH Zürich)
Date: 16.02.2018
Time: 14:00 - 15:00
Room: IC 03 / 604 (RUB)

see Flyer for more details
More information on SFB 837 webpage

2017.11.29: SFB 837 - Multiscale Modeling And Simulation Of Fracture And Fragmentation – Application To Fused Silica Glass

Prof. Michael Ortiz form the California Institute of Technology, USA and Hausdorff Center for Mathematics, Germany will hold a guest lecture in the framework of SFB 837 about 'Multiscale Modeling And Simulation Of Fracture And Fragmentation – Application To Fused Silica Glass'.

The anomalous shear modulus behavior of fused silica glass has been a long-standing topic of investigation. Likewise, the anomalous pressure dependence of the strength of amorphous silica has also received considerable attention. In order to formulate a model of material behavior, we perform molecular dynamics (MD) calculations designed to data-mine information regarding the permanent deformation, both volumetric and in shear, of amorphous silica. Based on these observations, we formulate a critical-state constitutive model for fused silica and fit material parameters to the MD data. Remarkably, the MD data reveals that the limit yield surface is non-convex. The treatment of this non-convexity necessitates a fundamental extension of classical plasticity. We consider the implications of this extension and utilize tools from the Direct Methods in the Calculus of Variation to characterize explicitly the effective behavior at the macro-scale. The resulting effective model of plasticity, together with consideration of brittle fracture of fragmentation, provide the basis for the simulation of failure waves in glass rods impacting a rigid target. The calculations are carried out using the Optimal-Transportation Meshfree (OTM) method combined with the eigenerosion approach to fracture. This computational approach proves effective at predicting the experimentally observed failure wave speeds and complex fracture and fragmentation patterns, while simultaneously allowing for complex material behavior.

Guest lecturer: Prof. Michael Ortiz (California Institute of Technology, USA; Hausdorff Center for Mathematics, Germany)
Date: 29.11.2017
Time: 13:30 - 16:00
Room: ID 03 / 606 (RUB)

see Flyer for more details
More information on SFB 837 webpage

2017.11.07: SFB 837 - INVERSE ANALYSES AND QUASI-NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTS FOR IDENTIFICATION OF BOTH MATERIAL PARAMETERS AND RESIDUAL STRESSES

Dr. Aram Cornaggia form the Politecnico di Milano, Italy, will hold a guest lecture in the framework of SFB 837 about 'Inverse Analyses and Quasi-Non-Destructive Tests for Identification of both Material Parameters and Residual Stresses'.

Mechanical characterization of materials and assessment of residual stresses are, at present, subjects of growing interest in engineering for the diagnosis of structural components and structures.

In this talk, some research results will be presented about diagnostic analyses, on the basis of experimental data collected from quasi-non-destructive tests, providing practical advantages, with respect to the present practice, such as reduced damages, times and costs and, possibly, execution in situ. The methodologies presented herein for identifications of parameters are centred, from computational point of view, on inverse analyses based on mechanical and mathematical procedures apt to provide more accurate and reliable parameter estimates. Moreover, stochastic inverse analysis procedures are proposed, based on Kalman filters, for quantification of estimates uncertainty.

The presented practical applications concern metallic structural components and the following combined experiments: Small Punch tests (SP) and specimen extraction (preSP); Hole Drilling (HD) and instrumented Indentation tests (IND). In both cases, an innovative procedure is developed; novelties consist of combined identifications of both material parameters (elastic-plastic, with possible extensions to creep and anisotropic behaviours) and residual stresses, possibly in situ. Consequent reductions of computing times, costs and damages may provide remarkable advantages with respect to the present standardized practices and are evidenced by numerical examples.

Guest lecturer: Dr. Aram Cornaggia (Politecnico di Milano, Italy)
Date: 07.11.2017
Time: 15:00
Room: ID 04 / 471+459 (RUB)

see Flyer for more details
More information on SFB 837 webpage

2017.10.25: RD SME Workshop "Bochum Underground Space Day - Subsurface and Energy"

The “Bochum Underground Space Day” is dedicated to the memory of Prof. Tom Schanz, who deceased on October 12th 2017 unexpectedly.

This workshop is organized by the Research Department Subsurface Modeling and Engineering (RD SME) at Ruhr University Bochum as an annual workshop to exchange results of pertinent research and to foster cooperation within the RD as well as with external research institutions and companies.

This year the workshop will be devoted to the general topic “Subsurface and Energy”. It starts with two invited keynote lectures (Dr.-Ing. Diethard König, Ruhr University Bochum and Prof. Lyesse Laloui, EPFL Lausanne), followed by presentations from members of the RD and external institutions. During lunch break there will be a poster session open for all members of the RD to share their recent research.

Date: 25.10.2017
Time: 10:00
Room: IC 03 / 604 (RUB)

see Workshop Program for more details

2017.10.24: SFB 837 - TUNNELING IN SOFT SOILS IN URBAN ENVIRONMENT

Dr. Wout Broere form the TU Delft, The Netherlands, will hold a guest lecture in the framework of SFB 837 about 'Tunneling In Soft Soils In Urban Environment – Impact Of Tunneling Process On Overlying Buildings'.

One possible way to reduce the impact on buildings is to locate the tunnels below the street pattern as much as possible, such that the main settlements occur well away from the buildings and their foundations. In the case of the North-South Line in Amsterdam, with sensitive buildings founded on piles, this resulted in relatively deep tunnels, however.

Therefore, the station boxes were deep and expensive, and risky. The alternative would be to tunnel above the pile tip level in soft holocene soils as a consequence. A theoretical study has been undertaken to investigate to what extent this is feasible and what the resulting impact on nearby buildings would be.

A second project looks into the interaction between the TBM shield and the surrounding soil. Most projects attempt to derive the impact of tunneling on the surrounding soil from measurements either at surface or below surface, but distanced somewhat from the actual TBM.Here the behavior of the TBM and the directly surrounding soil is obtained by data mining the process data collected during a TBM project in The Hague, the Netherlands. Based on these models, the interaction between the TBM driving process and the soil is derived, as a step towards minimizing the stress change due to tunneling on the soil and the resulting settlements.

Guest lecturer: Dr. Wout Broere (TU Delft, Netherlands)
Date: 24.10.2017
Time: 15:00
Room: ID 04 / 471+459 (RUB)

see Flyer for more details
More information on SFB 837 webpage

2017.04.24: Signing celemony with Chiba Institue of Technology, Japan

On 24th April, President Prof. Kuzuhito Komiya (left 2nd in the above photos, copyright ©RUB, Marquard) from the Chiba Institute of Technology, Japan (CIT) visited RUB, and signed the Cooperation Agreement and Memorandum for Student Change Program between CIT and RUB (including mainly the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the RD SME). On behalf of the RUB side, our Vice-Rector Prof. Andreas Ostendorf (left 1st), faculty dean Prof. Peter Mark (right 1st) and speaker of RD SME Prof. Günther Meschke (right 2nd) were presented in this signing celemony.

Link to Chiba Institute of Technology, Japan
Link to Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering (RUB)

2017.06.20: SFB 837 - Geotechnics and Energy

Prof. Richard Jardine from Imperial College London, United Kingdom, will hold a guest lecture in the framework of SFB 837 about 'Geotechnics and Energy'.

In March 2016 Prof. Richard Jardine delivered the 56th Rankine Lecture, which considers the pressing problem of geotechnical engineering as one of the society’s grand challenges. This announced lecture focuses on the main three main sections of the Rankine lecture: reporting recent geotechnical research considers the pressing problem of ensuring vital energy supplies while also recognising, mitigating and dealing with the climate consequences of fossil fuel consumption.

The Lecture’s three main sections report recent geotechnical research relating to these wide ranging topics, illustrating some aspects of each with specific examples from the Speaker’s portfolio. The first focuses on research to support offshore hydrocarbon production, considering platform foundations on the continental shelf and large landslide geohazards in deeper water. The second considers research into climate change impacts in warming permafrost regions and engineering to raise flood defences founded on difficult organic soils. The final section reports on current research that is having a major impact on offshore wind turbine foundations and hence renewable energy economics.

The Lecture emphasises that integrating geology and rigorous analysis with advanced laboratory and field experiments is the key to resolving the complex geotechnical problems raised; careful full-scale field monitoring is also essential to checking reliability in practice.

Guest lecturer: Prof. Richard Jardine (Imperial College London, United Kingdom)
Date: 20.06.2017
Time: 16:00
Room: IC 03 / 606 (RUB)

see Flyer for more details
More information on SFB 837 webpage

2017.04.27: SFB 837 - Structural diagnosis and material model calibration through inverse analysis: some innovative procedures and applications

Prof. Vladimir Buljak from the University of Belgrade, Serbia, will hold a guest lecture in the framework of SFB 837 about 'Structural diagnosis and material model calibration through inverse analysis: some innovative procedures and applications'.

The purpose of this lecture is to show some recent research contributions, achieved by our team, to the methodology of inverse analysis apt for diagnosis of possibly damaged structures and for mechanical characterization of materials in diverse industrial environments. Research results are presented with reference to the real life engineering problems. First group of results considers diagnostic analysis of structures, with following industrial applications briefly presented: (a) diagnosis of pipelines and platforms by instrumented indentation test and fast simulations; (b) assessment of inelastic properties of large shafts through inverse analysis and experimental data collected from small punch test; (c) in-depth diagnostic analysis of aged concrete dams affected by diffusive mechanical deterioration by alkali-silicon reaction through flat-jack tests and inverse analysis. Second group of results concerns calibration of complex constitutive models, described by large number of parameters, with reference to the following problems: (a) assessment of parameters entering into constitutive models employed for simulation of mechanical compaction of ceramic powders; (b) modeling damage in fiber reinforced concrete.

Presented examples demonstrate practical advantages in terms of time and resource savings that may be achieved by the employment of inverse analysis methodology. Heterogeneity in engineering application evidences the flexibility of methodology, suggesting that the applications in some other engineering fields can be easily accomplished by marginal modifications of presented techniques.

Guest lecturer: Prof. Vladimir Buljak (University of Belgrade, Serbia)
Date: 27.04.2017
Time: 16:00
Room: IC 03 / 604 (RUB)

see Flyer for more details
More information on SFB 837 webpage

2017.02.24: SFB Workshop "Monitoring and Sensoring in Underground Engineering"

Current researches as well as engineering practice heavily rely on theoretical assumptions regarding the analyses conducted in the field of tunneling. Numerical models are more sophisticated than ever and enable engineers to simulate complicated interactions between the tunnel boring machine (TBM), soil, grouting materials and the lining. Although in good agreement with theoretical assumptions and results reported in literature a verification and consequently a critical view of such is difficult due to a lack of real life data.

Although the extent of available data is increasing, it is mostly related to the TBM and therefore not sufficient for a holistic assessment of theoretical models. To facilitate a more general view on interaction mechanisms, comprehensive data regarding the tunnel lining, grouting materials, soil and the effect of tunneling on its environment are of importance.

The workshops main goal is to introduce new monitoring and sensoring techniques to generate the required data, up to date methods of pre and post processing and to present current tunneling projects with exemplary application of such.

Date: Friday, 24.02.2017
Time: 10:00-17:30
Room: Veranstaltungszentrum, Room 1 (RUB)



see Flyer for more details
More information on SFB 837 webpage

2017: Dr. Steffen Freitag becomes the speaker of the Junges Kolleg

Dr. Steffen Freitag has been elected as the speaker of the Junges Kolleg of the North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences, Humanities and Arts. The junior researcher from the Institute for Structural Mechanics and PI of the Collaborative Research Centre SFB 837 has been appointed in 2015 to be a member of the Junges Kolleg. He already was a deputy spokesman in the last two years.

The Junges Kolleg of the North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences, Humanities and Arts consist of 30 young researchers of all scientific disciplines. They are working together for a duration of four years in several interdisciplinary groups. The Junges Kolleg has been established in 2006 with financial support from the Mercator foundation to promote young researchers in North Rhine-Westphalia. Since 2014, the Science Ministry of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia took over the financial support. The young researchers get professional, financial, and ideational support. They are awarded with a scholarship of 10.000 EUR per year during their four year membership. In addition to a PhD, the members must have achieved outstanding scientific performance at a university or research institution in North Rhine-Westphalia. New members can be 36 years maximum and must not have a permanent professorship. The members of the Junges Kolleg get the possibility to discuss their research projects in interdisciplinary working groups within the Academy of Sciences, Humanities and Arts and to get in contact with established elite researchers. Also they can showcased their results at workshops and at the Science Day of the Academy.

More information on Junges Kolleg
More information on SFB 837 webpage

2016.04.07: RD SME Workshop "Subsurface Modeling and Engineering"

On April 7th the RD-SME Workshop „Subsurface Modeling and Engineering“ will take place. The workshop starts with two invited presentation:

"Background and status of the In-situ Stimulation and Circulation Experiment"
Dr. Florian Amann (ETH Zürich Switzerland)

"Numerical Methods in Geoenergy Applications"
Prof. Dr. Olaf Kolditz (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH, Germany)

Afterwards an overview on three existing collaborative research centers within the RD-SME will be given.


Date: 07.04.2016
Time: 10:00
Room: seminar room IC 03/606 (RUB)

2015.11.06: SFB 837 - Workshop "Herausforderung Tunnelbau"

The use of subsurface structures is one of the key factors in the sustainable development of both industrial and emerging/developing nations. Subsurface transalpine traffic routes, the tendency towards larger diameters, difficult geological conditions and high groundwater pressures pose new challenges to tunneling and excavation technologies.

This year's workshop will feature the following presentations (held in German):
"Tunnel Rastatt - Herausforderungen für den maschinellen Tunnelbau und für modernes Building Information Management"
by Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Grundhoff, Dipl.-Ing. Sascha Klar (ABS/NBS Karlsruhe-Basel - Projekt Tunnel Rastatt, DB Netz AG, Karlsruhe)
"2. S-Bahn Stammstrecke in München - Herausforderungen für den Tunnelbau im schwierigen Umfeld von Bestandsbauwerken in der Innenstadt"
by Dipl.-Ing. Albert Schneller (Großprojekt 2. S-Bahn-Stammstrecke München, DB Netz AG, München)

Date: 06.11.2015
Time: 15:00
Room: Beckmanns Hof (RUB)

Participation is free of charge. Please register HERE.

see Flyer for more details
More information on SFB 837 webpage

2015.10.12: SFB 837 - Reliability analysis of Geotechnical Systems

Prof. G. L. Sivakumar Babu from Indian Institute of Science, India will hold a guest lecture in the framework of SFB 837 about 'Reliability analysis of Geotechnical Systems'.

The properties of natural soil are inherently variable and influence design decisionsin geotechnical engineering. Apart from the inherent variability of the soil, the variability may arise due to measurement of soil properties in the field or laboratory tests and model errors. These wide ranges of variability in soil are expressed in terms of mean, variance and autocorrelation function using probability/reliability based models. The most common term used in reliability based design is the reliability index, which is a probabilistic measure of assurance of performance of structure. The main objective of the reliability based design is to quantify probability of failure/reliability of a geotechnical system considering variability in the design parameters and associated safety. The presentation highlights the importance of reliability based design methodologies of different geotechnical systems such as shallow foundations, pile foundations,retaining walls, unsaturated slopes, piping in dams as well as pavements, municipal solid waste landfills. A number of techniques and concepts such as random fields, inverse reliability based optimization; response surface methods, time dependent reliability etc have been used to bring out the significance of consideration of variability in soil parameters in the design and analysis of geotechnical systems.

Guest lecturer: Prof. G. L. Sivakumar Babu (Indian Institute of Science, India)
Date: 12.10.2015
Time: 17:00
Room: IC 03 / 604 (RUB)

see Flyer for more details
More information on SFB 837 webpage

2015.09.16: SFB 837 - Analysis of Slurry (Mix shield) TBM Ground Deformation Control during the Queens bored tunnels project in New York City

Prof. Mike Mooney from Colorado School of Mines, USA will hold a guest lecture in the framework of SFB 837 about 'Analysis of Slurry (Mix shield) TBM Ground Deformation Control during the Queens bored tunnels project in New York City'.

The first part of the presentation will give an overview of the Colorado School of Mines. A summary of the research projects currently being conducted is also included.

The second part of the presentation will focus on recent research into slurry TBM control of ground deformation observed on the Queens bored tunnel project in New York City. Four closely spaced and near surface transit tun-nels were excavated using two me-chanically identical Herrenknecht mix shield TBMs. The talk will describe the Queens bored tunnels and obser-ved deformation, present the observed TBM behaviors and the results of com-putational modeling.

Guest lecturer: Prof. Mike Mooney (Colorado School of Mines, USA)
Date: 16.09.2015
Time: 16:00
Room: IC 03 / 604 (RUB)

see Flyer for more details
More information on SFB 837 webpage

2015.07.07: Prof. Meschke has been appointed to the austrian science board

The Council of Ministers of the Austrian Federal Government has decided to appoint Prof. Dr. Günther Meschke, Head of the Institute for Structural Mechanics at Ruhr University Bochum, to be a member of the Austrian Science Board as of 01.01.2016 for six years.

According to the press release of the Austrian Science Board, "Prof. Günther Meschke, as an excellent exponent of modern engineering sciences, enjoys high international reputation. He is an expert for scientific policy, especially for comparing the situation in Austria with other countries."

At the turn of the year 2015/2016, the Austrian Science Board will be faced with far-reaching changes. At that time, the term of the current prominent chairmanship will end, which is very active concerning governmental policy on higher education. After the decision of the Austrian Council of Ministers July 7, 2015, the Austrian Science Board is pleased to announce, that the characteristics of his advisory activity, i.e. independence and scientific substantiality, will be guaranteed also in the future due to the appointment of excellent successors.

The new members of the Austrian Science Board, which have been suggested and nominated by the Austrian Council of Ministers, fulfill all mandatory requirements: high scientific reputation, political independence, long-term experience in science and matters concerning the universities and scientific policy, reliable readiness to contribute to the working groups of the Austrian Science Board.

The Austrian Science Board advises both the Federal Minister and the universities, as well as advising the National Assembly and the regional assemblies about matters concerning the universities and generally on special questions of scientific policy and the arts. Taking into consideration European and international developments, the Science Board observes and analyses the Austrian university system and as well as the related academic systems and prepares recommendations for their further development.

Vienna, July, 7th 2015

2015.07.07: SFB 837 - Highly-Scalable Methods for Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation

Prof. Riccardo Rossi from International Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE), Barcelona will hold a guest lecture in the framework of SFB 837 about "Highly-Scalable Methods for Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation".

The simulation of engineering problems in CFD and other disciplines requires handling increasingly complex geometries. This in turn puts an increasing burden on all the aspects of a simulation pipeline, from the pre processing to the solution stage. The use of “Immersed CFD” techniques represents an appealing alternative in addressing such scenario, providing a completely automatic path toward the solution of complex CFD problems. A cornerstone of such technique is the capability of efficiently running extremely large problems, since the use of fine meshes is mandatory both in capturing the geometrical features of interest and in providing the required accuracy.

The focus of the talk will be thus on highly scalable solver technologies for CFD, with special emphasis on the use of modern HPC hardware. The talk will include a brief discussion of deflation approaches to scalable sparse preconditioning as well as the discussion of real world benchmark examples.

Guest lecturer: Prof. Riccardo Rossi (International Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE), Barcelona)
Date: 07.07.2015
Time: 16:00
Room: ID 03 / 445 (RUB)

see Flyer for more details
More information on SFB 837 webpage

2015.07.02-03: Evaluation of The SHynergie-Project

On 2nd July, the SHynergie-project was reviewed by 3 external referees (Mr. Ralph Weidler, Dr. Torsten Tischner, Dr. Gunter Siddiqi) and a representative of the funding agency at Ruhr-University, Bochum. The attendees from the SHynergie-project side included the PI's (Prof. G. Meschke, Prof. W. Friederich, Prof. H. Steeb and Prof. J. Renner) and the PhD-students within the 6 sub-projects. At the beginning Prof. J. Renner gave an introduction on the progress of the project, and during the rest of the day the PhD-students presented their research work and results concurrently followed by questions and discussions. On 3rd July, the meeting was moved to the Hotel Oekey, Bochum. The referees presented the evaluation report and provided also suggestions to the project. The meeting was followed by moderated discussion along a set of questions formulated by members of SHynergie-project.

More information on SHynergie webpage

2015.06.29-30: SFB 837 Status Seminar 2015

On 29th and 30 June, the Annual Status Seminar of SFB 837 "Interaction Modeling in Mechanized Tunneling" took place at the Hotel Burg Schnellenberg in Attendorn. PI's and PhD-students of each subproject reported their current research status, and disscussed the existing and new internal interactions among subprojects as well as external cooperations. In addition, future perspectives, especially detailed research plans of each subproject for next year were explored.

More information on SFB 837 webpage

2015.04.28: SFB 837 - Modelling of anisotropy, creep and destructuration in clay

Prof. Gustav Grimstad from Norwegian University of Science and Technology will hold a guest lecture in the framework of SFB 837 about "Modelling of anisotropy, creep and destructuration in clay".

Natural soft soils exhibit bonding between particles. During straining, some of these bonds can be progressively destroyed by a process called "destructuration". In recent years, a number of constitutive models incorporating bonding and destructuration have been proposed. The various models differ in the precise form of the destructuration law and in the form of the underlying reference model used for the "unbounded" material. A model for soft clay, including rate dependency by utilizing the time resistance concept, is presented. The model is primarily meant for soft clays and the calibration of the model is performed with focus on the "wet" side. However, the conceptual basis can be applied to higher degree of over-consolidation which will produce similar results as high strain rates will for "normal-consolidated" clay. More details on the model can be found in e.g. Grimstad and Degago (2010). Recently NTNU has been administrating an EU project called "Creep of Geomaterials", www.ntnu.edu/creep. The aim of the project is partly to get to a consensus on creep modelling in the engineering practice. The reasonable modelling of creep deformation in the soft clays in e.g. Norway and Sweden for engineering practice is important to ensure a good design that reduces e.g. maintenance costs or ensures the integrity of the construction. The presentation will also touch upon the work that has been done in the "CREEP" project.

Guest lecturer: Prof. Gustav Grimstad (Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway)
Date: 28.04.2015
Time: 16:30
Room: ID 03 / 653 (RUB)

see Flyer for more details
More information on SFB 837 webpage

2015.04.28: SFB 837 - Numerical Simulation of a Progressive Slide Mechanism in a Sensitive Clay - The Smaaroed Case from Sweeden December 2006

Prof. Steinar Nordal from Norwegian University of Science and Technology will hold a guest lecture in the framework of SFB 837 about „Numerical Simulation of a Progressive Slide Mechanism in a Sensitive Clay - The Smaaroed Case from Sweeden December 2006„.

The lecture introduces porepressure based strength softening, as observed in Scandinavian soft, sensitive clays. The softening implies that, strictly speaking, a conventional limit equilibrium based slope stability analysis is not appropriate for a highly sensitive clay. A slide may develop in a progressive manner, passing peak strength at different times along a potential, long sliding surface. A traditional limit state based design may provide a safety factor larger than one for a slope that actually will fail.

The progressive failure mechanism is believed to play an important role for the quick clay slide that took place in Smaaroed in Sweden in December 2006. An investigation committee concluded that the slide was triggered by the construction of an embankment overloading the upper part of the slope. The slide then progressively developed 200 meter downslope. The constitutive model „NGI_ADPsoft„ is used in a finite element simulation order to incorporate the anisotropic strain hardening/softening behavior of the sensitive clay. A regularization method is implemented in order to remediate mesh dependency. The method involves non-local strains controlling the shear band thickness through an internal length. The FEM analysis of the Smaaroed slide is presented and demonstrates how local failure first develop under the embankment before the failure mechanism is then seen to gradually progress downslope, finally covering the area that actually failed in 2006. The results shed light on a discussion, currently going on in Norway, on how much safety factors must be increased to account for the effect of softening in a practical design if traditional limit equilibrium analysis is used for calculating the slope stability.

Guest lecturer: Prof. Steinar Nordal (Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway)
Date: 28.04.2015
Time: 16:00
Room: ID 03 / 653 (RUB)

see Flyer for more details
More information on SFB 837 webpage

2015.03.31: SFB 837 - Methodology for Real-Time Adaptation of Tunnels Support using the Observational Method

Prof. Daniel Dias from Polytech Grenoble, France will hold a guest lecture in the framework of SFB 837 about “Methodology for Real-Time Adaptation of Tunnels Support using the Observational Method”.

The observational method in tunnel engineering allows the evaluation in real time of the actual conditions of the ground and to take measures if its behavior deviates considerably from predictions.

However, it lacks a consistent and structured methodology to use the monitoring data to adapt the support system in real time. The definition of limit criteria above which adaptation is required are not defined and complex inverse analysis procedures may be needed to consistently analyze the problem. A methodology for the real time adaptation of the support systems during tunneling will be presented. In a first step, limit criteria for displacements and stresses will be proposed. The methodology uses graphics that are constructed during the project stage based on parametric calculations to assist in the process and when these graphics are not available, since it is not possible to predict every possible scenario, inverse analysis calculations are carried out. The methodology will be applied to the “Bois de Peu” tunnel which is composed by two tubes with over 500 m long.

It will be showed that the methodology has potential to be applied in real cases contributing for a consistent approach of a real timeadaptation of the support system and highlight the importance of the existence of good quality and specific monitoring data to improve the inverse analysis procedure.

Guest lecturer: Prof. Daniel Dias (Polytech Grenoble, France)
Date: 31.03.2015
Time: 16:00
Room: ID 03 / 653 (RUB)

see Flyer for more details
More information on SFB 837 webpage

2015.03.03: SFB 837 - Introduction of X-Earth Center and Its Application of Rock Mechanics

Prof. Akira Sato from Kumamoto University, Japan will hold a guest lecture in the framework of SFB 837 about "Introduction of X-Earth Center and Its Application of Rock Mechanics".

Geo-mechanics group including rock and soil mechanics group of Kumamoto University are organizing research group "X-Earth Center". The organization introduced industrial and μ-focus X-ray CT scanner systems, and has been operating and applying the systems to the Geo-mechanics field. At the beginning of the presentation, X-Earth Center and its activities are introduced.

Main research field of Prof. Sato is the rock mechanics, and also applying CT system to the analysis of water flow, water saturation process, CO² migration process, diffusion phenomena in the porous media and so on. Results of these analyses are mainly introduced in the presentation. He also studies DEM analysis to understand the blockage phenomena in the vertical shaft of open pit mines and water-vapor flow simulation by finite volume method are also studied. Outlines of these research topics are also introduced.

Guest lecturer: Prof. Akira Sato (Kumamoto University, Japan)
Date: 03.03.2015
Time: 16:00
Room: ID 03 / 653 (RUB)

see Flyer for more details
More information on SFB 837 webpage

2015.02.17: SFB 837 GUEST LECTURE - DAMAGE IN PRESSURIZED INTERFACES OF HYDROCARBON WELLS

Prof Carlo Callari from University of Molise, Italy will hold a guest lecture in the framework of SFB 837 about "Damage in pressurized interfaces of hydrocarbon wells".

In oil/gas wells, circumferential cracks are often observed at the two contacts of cement sheath with the casing and the rock, respectively. The corresponding formation of an annular gap at these interfaces (the so-called "micro-annulus") can be the main reason for upward leakage of fluids. In sites of CO2 storage or shale gas production, such a leakage can be an environmental issue of major concern, especially in presence of several abandoned wells. The upward propagation of debonding at well interfaces is often driven by the same fluid pressure, thus indicating the crucial role of the coupling between fluid flow and mechanical damage in the problem at hand. In view of these considerations, we present an interface poroelastic law to model fluid-induced damage. The new model is obtained from a penalized thermodynamic potential for porous interfaces, defined in terms of displacement jump and fluid pressure, and employing generalized poroelastic coefficients which depend on a damage internal variable. The coupled laws for traction and fluid content obtained from this potential are fully consistent with arguments using surface fractions and partial stresses. The rate of energy release resulting from differentiation of the interface potential with respect to damage is realistically dependent on fluid pressure. The considered damage criterion and the corresponding evolution law employ an available expression of damage resistance for dry interfaces. We assess the model ability in reproducing the main behavioural features of fluid-pressurized fractures in concrete. Furthermore, the proposed poroelastic damage model is contrasted with other laws for pressurized interfaces. The model is implemented in a formulation of the problem consisting of a well with displacement discontinuities and fluid pressures at interfaces. The semi-numerical solution of this problem is employed to simulate the effects on well integrity due to the combined action of fluid pressure, cement shrinkage, temperature variations and rock strain.

Guest lecturer: Prof. Carlo Callari (University of Molise, Italy)
Date: 17.02.2015
Time: 16:00
Room: ID 03 / 653 (RUB)

see Flyer for more details
More information on SFB 837 webpage

2012.10.31: SFB 837 GUEST LECTURE - CHALLENGES IN TUNNELING

For 31 October 2012, 3:30 p.m., SFB 837 has organized two guest lectures at Beckmannshof, Ruhr University Bochum. The two lectures form a part of a series of guest lectures and seminars organized by SFB 837. The goal of the series is to form the basis for a lively dialogue between SFB members, internationally renowned researchers and experts from industry. All topics of SFB 837 - from the numerical multiscale method to machine technology - will be addressed.

Guest lecturers:
Prof. Dr. Bergmeister, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
Dr.-Ing. E.h. Martin Herrenknecht, Herrenknecht AG, Germany

see Flyer for more details
More information on SFB 837 webpage

2014-11-26: 1ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF RD SME

We are glad to announce that the RD Subsurface Modeling and Engineering has been officially established since its 1st General Assembly on Nov. 26th 2014. During this meeting, Prof. G. Meschke (Speaker), Prof. W. Friederich (Deputy Speaker), Prof. H. Steeb, Prof. J. Renner and Prof. E. Saenger were elected as the five Board members of RD SME.

Slides of 1st General Assembly RD SME (3.1 MB)

2012-03-20: SFB 837 MEETS IKC CAMBRIDGE

On 20 and 21 March 2012 a delegation from the SFB 837 consisting of 10 researchers will travel to the University of Cambridge to participate in a workshop hosted by the "Innovation and Knowledge Centre" (IKC) on Smart Infrastructure and Construction. The workshop aims at consolidating the close research cooperation between SFB 837 and the University of Cambridge / IKC, and furthermore, at exchanging the latest research results in the field of smart infrastructure. Within the frame of the workshop five projects will be presented by both research partners.




More information on SFB 837 webpage