Complex Processes in Geomaterials and Cementitious Materials used as Subsurface Engineered Barriers
A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Clays and Engineered Mineral Materials".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2024 | Viewed by 220
Special Issue Editors
Interests: engineered barrier systems; subsurface engineering; cementitious and geomaterial performance in subsurface environments
Interests: soil mechanics; unsaturated soils; expansive clays; numerical modeling in geomechanics; constitutive modeling of soils & rocks
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Subsurface operations (e.g., nuclear waste disposal, hydrogen storage, geologic storage of carbon dioxide) rely heavily upon engineered barriers, especially subsurface seals. These seals and barriers must be designed to function with the natural rock formations, and geotechnical engineered components must complement the rock in order to form a coherent and predictable system of isolating stored/disposed energy waste products and/or resources. The system needs to be predictable so that stakeholders and regulators can ensure that stored/disposed subsurface materials remain isolated in their intended disposal horizon and present no risk to the environment or human health and safety.
In order to provide the modelling tools that are critical to the design and implementation of subsurface operations, the relevant physical and chemical processes in the subsurface system must be understood and represented at the appropriate level of fidelity. Characterization via experiments and modelling plays a crucial role in understanding the complex processes in barriers and at interfaces. These complex phenomena include: (1) coupled processes, (2) multi-scale phenomena (from nano-, to meso- to continuum-scale), and (3) non-linear processes. Often, these complex processes occur in both rocks and engineered barriers. These are especially prevalent at the interfaces between the different engineered barrier components, as well as between engineered materials and rock. High-temperature processes often play significant roles in understanding the performance and durability of subsurface barriers and geotechnical seals.
This Special Issue will be organized into the following three sections:
(1) Clay minerals as backfill/buffer in engineered barriers
(2) Cementitious materials as liners, seals, and plugs
(3) Processes at rock/engineered material interfaces
Dr. Edward N. Matteo
Prof. Dr. Marcelo Sanchez
Dr. Amber Zandanel
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- clay and bentonite backfill and buffer
- subsurface plugs and seals
- engineered barriers
- cementitious subsurface seal materials
- excavation damage zone
- interfaces between engineered and natural systems
- geologic disposal of nuclear waste
- hydrogen storage
- geologic storage of carbon dioxide
