The Porous Media Research Laboratory within the Geotechnical Research Group focuses on i) energy geotechnics, ii) the fundamental pore scale understanding of soil behaviour and geo-related phenomena, along with other porous materials, and iii) near surface geophysics.
In particular, the PMRL at the University of Melbourne, addresses shallow geothermal energy research (ground heat exchangers), coupled phenomena in porous media, including the electro-chemo-mechanical aspects of fine grained soils, and the thermo-hydro-mechanical aspects of coarse-grained soils and porous rocks, and the use of electromagnetic and mechanical waves for soil characterisation, including IoT, machine learning and robotic automation.
We develop engineering solutions anchored on clear and deep understanding of the governing physics, usually underlined by deciphering the links between the particle-level scale and the macroscale behaviour.
While anchored on analytical models and numerical experiments that capture the governing physical principles, we complement those studies with experimental approaches using full scale field testing, and distinct laboratory devices and techniques, often times in collaboration with overseas researchers. All this knowledge naturally lead to the development of new tools, procedures and advanced technology for geotechnical engineering in the new century.
Our findings are significant to civil, mining and petroleum engineering, environmental engineering, soil science and geo-technology applications.
In particular, the PMRL at the University of Melbourne, addresses shallow geothermal energy research (ground heat exchangers), coupled phenomena in porous media, including the electro-chemo-mechanical aspects of fine grained soils, and the thermo-hydro-mechanical aspects of coarse-grained soils and porous rocks, and the use of electromagnetic and mechanical waves for soil characterisation, including IoT, machine learning and robotic automation.
We develop engineering solutions anchored on clear and deep understanding of the governing physics, usually underlined by deciphering the links between the particle-level scale and the macroscale behaviour.
While anchored on analytical models and numerical experiments that capture the governing physical principles, we complement those studies with experimental approaches using full scale field testing, and distinct laboratory devices and techniques, often times in collaboration with overseas researchers. All this knowledge naturally lead to the development of new tools, procedures and advanced technology for geotechnical engineering in the new century.
Our findings are significant to civil, mining and petroleum engineering, environmental engineering, soil science and geo-technology applications.