Master projects

The following 3 topics are proposed by Dr. Ravera.

1. Modeling, Analysis, and Optimization of a Hydronic System Coaxial Borehole Heat Exchanger. Documentation
2. Development of a Machine Learning Approach to Facilitate the Design of Borehole Heat Exchangers. Documentation
3. Thermo Hydro Mechanical Analysis of a Novel Offset Pipe Configuration within a Helical Steel Energy Pile. Documentation
   

Tasks

• Literature review Conduct a comprehensive literature review related to the technical aspects of each project, such as borehole heat exchangers, machine learning techniques, or thermo hydro mechanical behavior in energy systems
• Numerical model development and validation: Develop and validate numerical models tailored to each project’s requirements, allowing for detailed analyses of the respective energy systems
• Advanced analysis techniques Depending on the selected project, perform
  numerical sensitivity analyses, devise machine learning techniques, or carry out thermo hydro mechanical analyses to identify key performance parameters.

Contact:
Dr. Elena Ravera ( [email protected] )

Tasks

• Experimental setup: Prepare bentonite samples and place them into Microcells. Submerge these samples in solutions with varying concentrations of salt, which is known to affect the quantity of adsorbed water.
• Data collection: Perform two primary measurements – suction using the WP 4 C device and the mass of adsorbed water using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). These measurements will provide key data on the influence of different salt concentrations on water adsorption in bentonite.
• Chemical state analysis: Evaluate the characteristics of adsorbed water in various chemical states This analysis will help us understand the nature of “solid” water and how it is influenced by the presence of salts.
• Data analysis and modeling: Analyze the collected data and develop models to represent the obtained curves This modeling part is crucial for interpreting the experimental data and for understanding the mechanisms of water adsorption in bentonite.

Documentation

Contact: Svetlana Babiy ( [email protected] )

• Literature review: Delve into the context of radioactive waste storage in Callovo Oxfordian COx claystone through an extensive literature review.
• Thermo-mechanical testing: Conduct heating-cooling tests at constant stress on claystone samples to understand the volumetric deformation behavior under varying temperature conditions and different loading orientations.
• Model validation analysis: Validate the developed model using available experimental data and perform comprehensive analysis of model results to better understand the implications of temperature changes on the claystone’s volumetric deformation.
• Incorporation of anisotropic features: Incorporate the anisotropic features of the claystone deviatoric behavior into the model, considering their significant impact in the context of nuclear waste storage.

Documentation

Contact: Héloïse Fuselier ( [email protected] )

Among the abilities of a geotechnical engineers is the capacity to create geomaterials with tailored properties, able to respond to demanding functional requirements while integrating economic and environmental considerations.

A new material must be developed that will seal the dozens of kilometers of tunnels to be excavated to build the Swiss Nuclear Waste Repository. The repository will be built at a depth of around 800 m and will host spent uranium fuel from the Swiss nuclear plants. To isolate the nuclear waste from the biosphere until its radioactivity decays to harmless levels (after tens of thousands of years!), an appropriate sealing material is required. Interestingly, the tons of clays that will be excavated to create the tunnels are potentially good ingredients for the mix design of the geomaterial to be conceived for the seal. The opportunity to reuse the excavated clays enhances the sustainability of the repository’s build.

The master project focuses on optimizing the mix design of this new sealing material and combining the excavated clay with other materials such as sands and bentonites. The aim is to create an engineered material with favorable hydro-mechanical properties in terms of stiffness, strength, retention capacity, and permeability to gas and water. The student will run advanced geomechanical experiments to test those properties under extreme conditions and will work on a constitutive model of the behavior of the new geomaterial. 

Contact : Dr. Alessio Ferrari ( [email protected] )

Tasks:

• Understanding the role of the precipitation kinetic constant use literature evaluation, numerical modeling, and/or potential experimental work to better comprehend the influence of the
  precipitation kinetic constant on model results.
• Understanding the link between calcite content and dynamic tip resistance establishes a link between calcite content and dynamic tip resistance using literature evaluation and numerical modeling.
• Performance evaluation of modeling framework using results from previous experiments and numerical models to comprehensively assess the modeling framework’s performance, capabilities, and limitations.
• Assessment and integration of large-scale experimental results incorporate and assess the results from a new large-scale experiment to further refine the modeling framework and understand its
  capabilities and constraints in practical applications.

Documentation

Contact: Sofie ten Bosch ( [email protected] )

Wang et al. (2019)

Tasks:

• Experimental analysis of calcite distribution impact: conduct laboratory experiments to evaluate the effect of calcite distribution pattern on the thermal conductivity of samples This includes assessment of untreated, treated intact, and treated remolded samples, focusing on the role of bonding and densification effects.
• Correlation of calcite distribution and thermal conductivity. determine the relationship between thermal conductivity and calcite distribution in the soil using shear wave velocity and 3-D scanning of samples The goal is to identify how calcite distribution affects thermal conductivity, potentially providing a quick indicator for efficiency in field applications.
• Development of a thermo hydrochemical modeling framework: extends a current modeling framework that links the thermal aspects of MICP with existing hydrochemical models This integrated model will simulate the effects of MICP treatment on heat transfer processes in energy geostructures.
• Assessment of MICP Influence on energy pile efficiency: use the developed modeling strategy and a 3-D model to evaluate the impact of MICP injections on the efficiency of an energy pile.

Documentation

Contact: Ziad Sahlab ([email protected] ), Sofie ten Bosch ( [email protected] )

Two projects are offered:

1. Numerical study of the influence of geological heterogeneities during fluid injection in the subsurface. Documentation
2. Optimization of injection strategies for CO2 sequestration in deep geological formations. Documentation

Tasks

• Comprehensive literature review: Conduct an extensive study on geological sequestration of CO2 site characterization and injection management methodologies.
• Versatile case study proposal Develop diverse case studies either focusing on CO2 sequestration strategies or heterogeneous reservoirs, depending on the project focus.
• Thorough numerical simulations Perform simulations for proposed cases, whether assessing CO2 sequestration effectiveness or the impact of geological heterogeneities.
• Analysis, comparison, and methodology development: Analyze simulation outcomes, compare strategies, and either propose advanced injection management methodologies or provide optimized injection guidelines based on the project’s specific objectives.

Contact: Dr. Jose A. Bosch ( [email protected] )

Climate change is causing soils to experience unprecedented cycles of wet and dry states. Little is known about the impact of these variations on the hydraulic state of soil-structure interactions, particularly on possible changes in the lateral thrust on retaining structures.

The master project focuses on developing modeling tools to anticipate the evolution of the stability of structures that retain soils under variable environmental conditions.

The work will include an experimental component in which the student will use a physical model of a retaining structure already available in our laboratory, which can measure the lateral earth thrust exerted by soil. The soil can be artificially dried or wetted by rainfall to reproduce environmental fluctuations such as degree of saturation. The profile of pore water pressure (positive or suction) can be monitored thanks to an advanced system of tensiometers integrated into the physical model.

The results from the experimental work will serve as a basis for developing analytical solutions to compute the lateral thrust on retaining structures based on current and future trends of rainfall patterns. The developed solutions will serve to assess if existing structures can be considered safe or not, now and in the future.

Contact : Dr. Alessio Ferrari ( [email protected] )

• Design and analysis of thermal piles in building foundations
• Assessment of energy potential in tunnels

More information is available at: https://geoeg.net/
Contact: Dr. Elena Ravera ( [email protected] )

Tasks

• Novel methodology development: Formulate a new theoretical approach for applying loads on retaining walls considering soil elasto-plasticity.
• Script development for loading scenarios: Develop scripts tailored for each loading scenario, enhancing the versatility of the analysis.
• Elasto-plastic methodology design: Devise a unique elasto-plastic methodology to supplement the theoretical approach.
• Calculation tool creation: Build a comprehensive tool that integrates the novel methodology for efficient and accurate analysis of retaining walls under external loads.

Documentation

Contact: Angelica Tuttolomondo ( [email protected] ), John Eichenberger ( [email protected] )

• Road and rail tunnels in urban and rural areas.
• Complex geotechnical infrastructure.

More information is available at: https://bg 21.com

Contact: Prof. Lyesse Laloui ( [email protected] )

• Students are also encouraged to propose their own projects in the context of the laboratory activities.

More information is available at: https://www.epfl.ch/labs/lms/
Contact: Prof. Lyesse Laloui ( [email protected] )

• Benjamin Schenk : Etude géotechnique et géotermique de la station et du tunnel de Beaulieu pour le M3.
• Nicolas Richard : Thermo-hydro-mechanical behavior of energy barrettes (in collaboration with NU, Chicago).
  
• Thomas Wüthrich : District scale prediction and monitoring of subsurface waste heat flows (in collaboration with NU, Chicago).
• Youssouf Lebbar : Thermo-hydro-mechanical behavior of energy barrettes. Case study : Testimonio II Tower, Monaco (in collaboration with NU, Chicago). 
• Silvestro Massaro : Numerical modelling of energy piles. Assessment of the thermal resistance of different piles and soil configurations (in collaboration with Grenoble University).
• Mohamad Zaarour : Engineered Geothermal Systems-Hydraulic Fracturing and Induced Seismicity.
• Heloïse Fuselier : Experimental study on density of shales for engineering applications (Minnesota).
• Gaetan Gindrat : Risk analysis in natura hazards.
• Stephane Hartmann : City-scale application of energy geostructures (Chicago).
• Katinka Meyer : Geotechnical analysis in the area of Istanbul (Turquie).
• Matthias Wojnarowicz : Thermo-hydro-mechanical behavior of energy tunnels (Chicago).
• Fikret Can Yilmaz : Entreprise Risk Management & Civil Engineering Consulting Firms in Switzerland.
• Michela Casanova : Essais triaxiaux cycliques thermo-mécaniques (MIT).
• Michela Lagioia : Thermal efficiency of energy piles: validation of a new finite element for non-isothermal pipe-flow simulations.
• Mohamed Nadeem : Analyse et gestion des risques dans la planification d’un projet de Génie Civil – Approche par BIM 5D.
• Qazim Llabjani : Soil-structure interaction of energy walls based on spring models.
• Simon Caldi : Nouveau port de plaisance à Yverdon-les-Bains.
• Yannick Fessler : Tunnel en terrain meuble – métro m3 de Lausanne entre le Flon et la Blécherette.
• Arabelle Calliope De Saussure: A comparison of induced seismic events caused by hydraulic fracturing in engineered geothermal systems (EGS) and shale reservoir exploitation (MIT).
• Stefano Giovanni Pierre Cingari: Etude de faisabilité de géostructures énergétiques dans les gares – Application au grand Paris express.
• Benoît Claude Henri Cousin: Etude de faisabilité de géostructures énergétiques dans des tunnels.
• Grégoire Marie Maxime Aguettant: Etude du washboard – Etude des interactions roue-sol.
• Nicola Matias Schmid: Etude géotechnique de l’extension de l’aménagement hydroélectrique de Lavey.
• Margaux Marie Valérie Peltier: GSHP Application for Heating and Cooling at “City Scale”.
• Nicolas Delessert: Tranchée couverte d’une ligne de chemin de fer à Monthey et dans l’agglomeration.
• Ray Harran: Decision Aids for Tunneling: A Catalogue for Application to Small Tunnels (MIT).
• Andrea Caldirola: Characterization of unsaturated soil parameters for soil-structure interaction.
• Mattia Dell’Acqua: Numerical modelling of the seismic response of earth dams.
• Annik Schaufelberger: Design of an energy tunnel
• Christopher Tomcik: Caractérisation thermique d’un système de captage et valorisation de chaleur fatale en milieu souterrain