Development of an innovative THM fully coupled three-dimensional finite element program and its applications

A thermal–hydraulic-mechanical (THM) field coupling three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) program is developed for complex THM coupled problems in engineering practice. This 3D program incorporates a thermo-mechanical coupled constitutive model known as Tsinghua-Thermo-Soil. The program solves...

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Main Authors: Ziqi Liu, Xiaohui Cheng, Jie Xiao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-04-01
Series:Underground Space
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2467967424001223
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author Ziqi Liu
Xiaohui Cheng
Jie Xiao
author_facet Ziqi Liu
Xiaohui Cheng
Jie Xiao
author_sort Ziqi Liu
collection DOAJ
description A thermal–hydraulic-mechanical (THM) field coupling three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) program is developed for complex THM coupled problems in engineering practice. This 3D program incorporates a thermo-mechanical coupled constitutive model known as Tsinghua-Thermo-Soil. The program solves the hydraulic and mechanical fields together and the thermal field separately (i.e., the T-HM scheme). Validation is done against the analytical solutions of one-dimensional (1D) steady-state forced convection-conduction and 1D thermo-elastic consolidation processes. Additionally, effects of the dynamic viscosity coefficient and thermal expansion coefficient of water are analyzed for 1D thermo-elastic consolidation coupled problem. It is revealed that for soils in long-term consolidation and under high loading levels, convective effect is significant and the temperature distribution differs from that obtained by considering only heat conduction. A coupled THM problem of foundations involving an actual engineering energy raft is analyzed. The response of a linear elastic foundation under the combined effect of assumed long-term cyclic thermal loading and mechanical loading process is studied. The results demonstrate that heating leads to the locally accumulation of excess pore pressure and reduces settlement and differential settlement, while cooling has the opposite effects. Due to the heat injected into the foundation exceeding the heat extracted, the ground temperature within several meters of burial depth gradually increases over time, meanwhile the average differential settlement decreases.
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language English
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publisher KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
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series Underground Space
spelling doaj-art-1c3ceec324df4858a666a3ea5d2a59672025-08-20T02:57:32ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Underground Space2467-96742025-04-012135236910.1016/j.undsp.2024.08.006Development of an innovative THM fully coupled three-dimensional finite element program and its applicationsZiqi Liu0Xiaohui Cheng1Jie Xiao2School of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Corresponding author.Yunlu Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing 100071, ChinaA thermal–hydraulic-mechanical (THM) field coupling three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) program is developed for complex THM coupled problems in engineering practice. This 3D program incorporates a thermo-mechanical coupled constitutive model known as Tsinghua-Thermo-Soil. The program solves the hydraulic and mechanical fields together and the thermal field separately (i.e., the T-HM scheme). Validation is done against the analytical solutions of one-dimensional (1D) steady-state forced convection-conduction and 1D thermo-elastic consolidation processes. Additionally, effects of the dynamic viscosity coefficient and thermal expansion coefficient of water are analyzed for 1D thermo-elastic consolidation coupled problem. It is revealed that for soils in long-term consolidation and under high loading levels, convective effect is significant and the temperature distribution differs from that obtained by considering only heat conduction. A coupled THM problem of foundations involving an actual engineering energy raft is analyzed. The response of a linear elastic foundation under the combined effect of assumed long-term cyclic thermal loading and mechanical loading process is studied. The results demonstrate that heating leads to the locally accumulation of excess pore pressure and reduces settlement and differential settlement, while cooling has the opposite effects. Due to the heat injected into the foundation exceeding the heat extracted, the ground temperature within several meters of burial depth gradually increases over time, meanwhile the average differential settlement decreases.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S24679674240012233D FEMTHM processThermal convectionEnergy raft foundationServiceability state
spellingShingle Ziqi Liu
Xiaohui Cheng
Jie Xiao
Development of an innovative THM fully coupled three-dimensional finite element program and its applications
Underground Space
3D FEM
THM process
Thermal convection
Energy raft foundation
Serviceability state
title Development of an innovative THM fully coupled three-dimensional finite element program and its applications
title_full Development of an innovative THM fully coupled three-dimensional finite element program and its applications
title_fullStr Development of an innovative THM fully coupled three-dimensional finite element program and its applications
title_full_unstemmed Development of an innovative THM fully coupled three-dimensional finite element program and its applications
title_short Development of an innovative THM fully coupled three-dimensional finite element program and its applications
title_sort development of an innovative thm fully coupled three dimensional finite element program and its applications
topic 3D FEM
THM process
Thermal convection
Energy raft foundation
Serviceability state
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2467967424001223
work_keys_str_mv AT ziqiliu developmentofaninnovativethmfullycoupledthreedimensionalfiniteelementprogramanditsapplications
AT xiaohuicheng developmentofaninnovativethmfullycoupledthreedimensionalfiniteelementprogramanditsapplications
AT jiexiao developmentofaninnovativethmfullycoupledthreedimensionalfiniteelementprogramanditsapplications