Thermal cycling effects on the properties of coarse-grained soils: numerical and experimental investigation

The intellectual merit of this short-term innovative research (STIR) is to provide, for the first time, fundamental knowledge about the thermal cycling effects on the properties of coarse-grained soils via an integrated experimental and theoretical investigation across scales. To address the aforementioned challenge, this study will perform integrated experimental oedometric laboratory tests with temperature control and numerical discrete element simulations of coarse-grained soils subjected to cyclic temperature variations. At the macroscopic scale, the experimental tests and numerical simulations will address the variations of selected material properties (i.e., stiffness, hydraulic conductivity and thermal conductivity) that are caused by repeated heating and cooling cycles applied to coarse-grained soils. At the microscopic scale of the particles that constitute coarse-grained soils, the numerical simulations will address the associated variations in the fabric of such materials. While developing top notch competence on these subjects and expanding the current limited knowledge about thermal cycling effects on the behavior of coarse-grained soils, this research will assess the merit of using thermal cycles as a novel means to engineer the properties and behavior of coarse-grained soils and other granular materials.