Geomaterials, Structures and Risks

Research related to the "Geomaterials, Structures and Risks" theme centres for the most part on understanding the physical processes that govern the behaviour of geomaterials, structures and rock masses interpreted as systems, with a view to identifying and assessing the hazards or risks of which they are the source or target.

The types of structure studied by the team comprise both surface structures (such as houses, buildings, networks or other installations) and underground structures (e.g., excavations, mines, boreholes and wells). The terrains studied comprise fractured rock masses, sloping or flat, that may eventually be excavated. The hazards investigated by the team mostly comprise displacements or deformations that exceed certain thresholds (eventually leading to complete failure), but we also study the uncontrolled migration of fluids.

Finally, the risks studied include damage to structures, infrastructures or human activity that is generated by the hazards described above or by contamination of water and soils.