Fracture processes in rock material
Description: During the failure process of rock material numerous micro-cracks are formed. These micro-cracks evolve towards macro-fractures and failure of the rock material. Different aspects of this complex process have been investigated within the research unit Mining, e.g. effect of stress gradients, effect of the presence of planar heterogeneities, cyclic loading and unloading, and the study of transversal isotropic rock. In a next step, the spatial distribution of weak elements (e.g. micro-fractures, soft material, cavities) within the rock on the failure process will be studied and quantified. The research will be a combination of specifically designed laboratory experiments and numerical simulations using discontinuous models.
Key words: Rock mechanics, fracture mechanics
Latest application date: 2009-12-15
Financing: available
Type of Position: scholarship or salary
Source of Funding: K.U.Leuven, Dept of Civil Eng.
Duration of the Project : 4 years
Research group: Department of Civil Engineering
Remarks: 1) Depending on earlier qualifications, the candidate has first to do a pre-doc of 6 to 12 mionths, after which an evaluation takes place.
2) Part of his/her time (e.g. 10%) will be dedicated to didactical tasks; hence, knowledge of Dutch is a benefit.
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