In the recent years, modeling approaches have become one of the principal means by which the gaps between current basic process knowledge and predictions in environmental sciences can be bridged. The scientific challenges that must be addressed in these modeling approaches include the multi-scale description of highly heterogeneous systems with discontinuities in physical and chemical properties, and coupling of thermal, hydrological, chemical, mechanical and biological processes. Pores are the location where these couplings take place.
The objective of our group “Porous media” is the development of integrated predictive reactive transport modeling approaches that cover a large range of pressure, temperature and salinity conditions, in order to encompass supergene to hydrothermal conditions, in the presence of fresh water as well as brine. To this end, our team explore mechanistic couplings of basic processes with experimental and numerical modeling approaches.
Axis 1 : Surfaces and interfaces
Structure of lamellar phases
Interfacial mineral/water properties
Interfacial air/water properties
Osmotic processes
Axis 2 : Structure of porous media
Multiscale characterization of porous media
Connectivity
Porosity / permeability / diffusivity
Microfractures
Single and multi-phase flow
Axis 3 : Pore scale reactivity
Crystallization pressure
Swelling pressure
Porosity reactivity feedback
Water activity
Capillary forces
Wettability
Axis 4 : Reactive transport
Reactive fronts
Mass balance in the continuum between saturated and unsaturated zone
Redox disequilibrium
Axis 5 : Multi-scale numerical modeling of coupled processes