Draft:ALERT Geomaterials
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ALERT Geomaterials
[edit]ALERT Geomaterials (Alliance of Laboratories in Europe for Education, Research, and Technology in Geomaterials) is a European scientific network established in 1989. It promotes research, education, and collaboration in the field of geomaterials, focusing on geomechanics, geotechnical engineering, soil and rock mechanics, and computational methods. The network consists of research institutions and universities, committed to advancing both theoretical and practical aspects of geomaterials.
Mission and Objectives
[edit]ALERT Geomaterials aims to:
- Foster scientific and technological excellence in geomechanics.
- Facilitate the education and professional development of pre- and post-doctoral engineers and scientists and researchers.
- Drive progress in fundamental and applied research across its key themes.
- Strengthen collaborations with industrialized nations and foster partnerships with emerging economies in geomechanics.
- Organize workshops and educational schools addressing pivotal geomechanics topics.
- Endorse and provide visibility to scientific and technological events in the field.
- Contribute to the dissemination of knowledge through the publication of documents and research outputs.
History
[edit]The Association ALERT Geomaterials was officially established in 1989, building upon the foundation laid by the EUROGRECO Geomaterials network. This initiative brought together researchers and institutions across Europe to advance research in the field of geomechanics and foster collaboration. The founders of EUROGRECO Geomaterials were Felix Darve (Grenoble University), Roberto Nova (Politecnico di Milano), Manuel Pastor (Polytechnic University of Madrid), Ian Smith (Manchester University), Peter Vermeer (Delft University of Technology) and Olek Zienkiewicz (Swansea University). EUROGRECO initially focused on five key research areas: geomaterials dynamics, strain localization and failure, thermo-hydro-mechanical coupling, geocomposites, and constitutive modelling.
GRECO Geomaterials was led by Grenoble University (F. Darve) and its early members included Liège University (R. Charlier), Catalunya University (A. Gens), EPFL Lausanne (L. Laloui), Politecnico di Milano (R. Nova), Madrid University and CEDEX (M. Pastor), Padua University (B. Schrefler), Manchester University (I. Smith), NTUA Athens (I. Vardoulakis), Delft University of Technology (P. Vermeer), and Swansea University (O. Zienkiewicz). Initially supported by European funding programs such as "Jumelage" and "Human Capital and Mobility," EUROGRECO established itself as a platform for research collaborations.
Founded in 1989, under the coordination of F. Darve, ALERT Geomaterials aimed to continue the collaborative legacy of EUROGRECO without external funding. Its establishment was secured with strong participation, as its first assembly in Aussois saw about 65 participants, exceeding initial expectations. Educational initiatives were a cornerstone of ALERT’s mission. The first three doctorate schools were held at Politecnico di Milano (1989, 1990, and 1991) and organized by Roberto Nova. Workshops became a key feature of ALERT’s activities, starting with the first held near Grenoble in a monastery and the second at École Centrale Paris, organized by Pierre-Yves Hicher. These events underscored the community’s commitment to collaboration.
Over the years, ALERT Geomaterials has grown significantly, attracting more member institutions and researchers. It remains a cornerstone of geomaterials research, fostering collaboration, innovation, and education within the geomechanics community.
Structure and Membership
[edit]ALERT Geomaterials comprises numerous academic and research institutions, primarily from European countries. The network is governed by the ALERT Bureau and overseen by a Board of Directors, elected by representatives of the member institutions, to ensure its strategic direction aligns with its scientific and educational objectives. A full list of the members of the Board of Directors is available here. Since 2006, ALERT Geomaterials has operated as a non-profit association under the French association law “Loi 1901”.
Activities
[edit]The core activities of ALERT Geomaterials include:
- Annual Workshop: Held in September/October, this three-day event features presentations by researchers from across the globe on the latest developments.
- Doctoral School: A three-day event organized alongside the workshop, providing specialized training and courses to PhD students and young researchers.
- Olek Zienkiewicz Doctoral School: An additional doctoral school typically held in May or June, focusing on more in-depth topics in geomechanics.
- PhD Prize: The Ioannis Vardoulakis PhD Prize is awarded annually to recognize the best PhD thesis in geomechanics. This prestigious award honors contributions to the advancement of geomechanical research.
- Invited Lecturer and ALERT Geomaterials Medal: Each year, an outstanding international scientist is invited to deliver a plenary lecture on a topic of their choice and is awarded the prestigious ALERT Medal.
The titles of the workshop sessions and doctoral schools are listed in the table below. Lecture notes from the doctoral schools are available online here.
| Year | Doctoral Schools held in Milano |
|---|---|
| 1990 | Recent developments in the rheology of geomaterials with applications to geotechnical engineering (R.Nova) |
| 1991 | Soil Mechanics in Earthquake Engineering (R.Nova, M.Pastor) |
| 1992 | Strain localisation and failure in geomaterials (R.Nova, J.Desrues) |
| 1993 | Mathematical Modelling of Soil Improvement (R.Nova) |
| Year | Recurring annual Workshop themes | Doctoral Schools held in Aussois |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 1. Dynamics of Geomaterials (R.de Borst) 2. Localisation Phenomena in Geomaterials (I.Vardoulakis) 3. Reinforced Geomaterials (R.Nova) 4. Thermo-hydro-mechanical coupling (A.Gens) 5. Benchmarks and constitutive modelling (M.Pastor) |
Constitutive Equations for Geomaterials (R.Chambon) |
| 1995 | Non Linear Modelling of Geomaterials with the Finite Element Method (R.Chambon) | |
| 1996 | Bifurcation and Localisation in Geomaterials (R.Chambon) | |
| 1997 | Dynamic Modelling of Geomaterials (R.Chambon) |
| Year | Workshop 1 | Workshop 2 | Workshop 3 | Doctoral Schools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Failure and risk assessment of geostructures (L.J. Sluys) |
Environmental geomaterial mechanics (B. Schrefler) |
Geomechanics related to energy production (R. Charlier) |
|
| 1999 | Safety and reliability of geostructures (R. Nova, M. Pastor) |
Geoenvironmental engineering (P. Delage, L. Sanavia) |
Mitigation of natural and man-made hazards (L. Vulliet, C. di Prisco) |
Analysis of Failure in Geotechnical Structures with Application to Slope Stability Problems (R. Nova, M. Pastor) |
| 2000 | Environmental geomechanics (S. Wheeler, L. Laloui) |
Soil-Structure interaction (A. Modaressi, C. Viggiani) |
Geomechanics and energy production (R. Charlier, J.F. Shao) |
Constitutive Modelling of Geomaterials (B. Cambou, C. di Prisco) |
| 2001 | Quasi-Brittle Geomaterials (concretes and rocks) (G. Pijaudier-Cabot, A. Huerta) |
Mechanics and physics of granular materials (I. Vardoulakis, F. Calvetti) |
Rate-dependency and thermo-chemo mechanics of geomaterials (P. Delage, C. di Prisco) |
Environmental Geomechanics (R. Charlier, A. Gens) |
| 2002 | Geomechanics for Natural Hazards (G. Viggiani, L. Vulliet) |
Geomechanics for Energy Production (I. Vardoulakis, V. De Gennaro) |
Geomechanics for Cultural Heritage Preservation (R. Nova, J. Sicard) |
Numerical Modelling in Geomechanics (M. Pastor, C. Tamagnini) |
| 2003 | Geomechanics for transportation engineering (D. Kolymbas, M. Hicks) |
Multi-physics coupling (R. Charlier, Y. Cui) |
Post-failure behaviour (J. Sulem, E. Papamichos) |
Geodynamics and Cyclic Modelling (L. Daudeville, C. di Prisco) |
| 2004 | Degradations and Ageing of Geomaterials (B. Sluys, J. Vaunat) |
Gravitational Flows and Structure Vulnerability (F. Calvetti, F. Nicot) |
Multiscale Approachs in Geomechanics (M Jirasek, J.Lewandowska) |
Failure, Degradation and Instabilities in Geomaterials (I. Vardoulakis, P. Mira) |
| 2005 | Solid-liquid phase transition and transport phenomena (I. Vardoulakis, F. Dufour, H. Steeb) |
Geostructural dynamics and waves in geomaterials (J. Mazars, D. Muir Wood) |
Advances in experimental methods (G. Pijaudier-Cabot, E. Romero) |
Coupled multi-physics processes in geomechanics (L. Laloui, R. Charlier, G. Pijaudier-Cabot) |
| 2006 | Multiscale Approaches to Geomaterials (B. Cambou, C. Dascalu) |
Soil-Structure Interaction (L. Vulliet, C. Tamagnini) |
Advanced Computational Geomechanics (M. Pastor, M. Hicks) |
Geomechanical and structural issues in energy production (I. Vardoulakis, E. Papamichos, R. Desmorat) |
| 2007 | Geomechanics of Structured Materials (L. Laloui, V. De Gennaro) |
Inverse and Stochastic Modelling (F. Molenkamp M. Hicks) |
Time-dependent processes in geomechanics (P.Y. Hicher M. Karstunen) |
Damage and Fracture in Geomaterials (G Viggiani, M.Jirasek, D.Kondo) |
| 2008 | Multiphisycs of multiphase materials (E. Papamichos, L. Sanavia) |
Field and laboratory testing (P. Delage, M. Arroyo) |
Localisation in Geomaterials (J. Desrues, A. Zervos) |
Discrete modelling of Geomaterials (H.J. Herrmann, F. Calvetti) |
| 2009 | Modelling of natural hazard and vulnerability of structures in Geomechanics (M. Pastor, P. Kotronis) |
Geomechanics at small scale (D. Muir Wood, P. Delage) |
Erosion in Geomaterials (I.Vardoulakis, S.Bonelli) |
Failure in multiphase materials (L. Laloui, F. Collin, V. De Gennaro) |
| 2010 | Engineering geostructures (A. Gens, I. Herle) |
Mechanics of clay rocks (R. Charlier, P. Bésuelle) |
Chemo and bio mechanical couplings (J. Fu, B. Garitte) |
Mathematical modelling in geomechanics - in memory of Prof. Ioannis Vardoulakis (J. Sulem, E. Papamichos) |
| 2011 | Multi-Scale Geomechanics: From Fabric to Material Properties (G. Couples, B. Chareyre) |
Geomechanical issues in CO2 storage (G. Pijaudier-Cabot, J.-M. Pereira) |
Localized versus diffuse failure in geomaterials (M. Hicks, G. Viggiani) |
Prevention and protection against hazard: some issues on seismic and gravitational risk (C. di Prisco, Y. Malècot) |
| 2012 | Micromechanics and critical steady states in geomaterials (Y. Dafalias, B. Chareyre) |
Geomechanics of underground structures (D. Mašín, C. Tamagnini) |
Geomechanics for Energy Production (L. Laloui, H. Lewis) |
Advanced experimental techniques in geomechanics (C. Viggiani, S. Hall, E. Romero) |
| 2013 | Geomechanics of slopes (C. di Prisco, L. Cascini) |
Contact problems in geomechanics (E. Papamichos, J. Sulem) |
Degradation in geomaterials (E. Bauer, A. Daouadji, C. Dano) |
Soil-Structure Interaction (P. Kotronis, C. Tamagnini, S. Grange) |
| 2014 | Constitutive modelling: what’s new? (C. di Prisco, R. Nova) |
Railway Geomechanics (A. Zervos, F. Radjai) |
Multiphysics coupling (R. Charlier, L. Sanavia, J. Vaunat) |
Stochastic Analysis and Inverse Modelling (M. A. Hicks, C. Jommi) |
| 2015 | From discrete methods to continuum methods (Y. Dafalias, L. Sibille, E. Andò) |
How should we teach geomechanics? (C. Viggiani, I. Herle) |
Fracturing and fractured reservoirs (E. Papamichos, H. Lewis, G. Couples) |
Coupled and Multiphysics Phenomena (B. Schrefler, L. Sanavia, F. Collin) |
| 2016 | New trends in micromechanical approaches of Particulate Materials (M. Karstunen, N. Benahmed, M. Hattab) |
Mechanics of multiphase porous media in modelling cementitious materials (L. Sanavia, F. Pesavento, M. Briffaut) |
Geomechanics of faults, from earthquake nucleation to landslides (M. Veveakis, K. Regenauer-Lieb, I. Stefanou, J. Sulem) |
Modelling of instabilities and bifurcation in Geomechanics (J. Sulem, I. Stefanou, E. Papamichos, M. Veveakis) |
| 2017 | Porous Media Mechanics from geomaterials to non-geological media (W. G. Gray, B. Schrefler, C. Tamagnini) |
Must Critical State Theory for Granular Mechanics be Revisited? (Y. F. Dafalias, C. Viggiani) |
Advanced numerical modelling of geomaterials with emphasis on large deformation and flow problems (M. A. Hicks, P. Mira, L. Sanavia) |
Discrete Element Modeling (G. Combe, S. Luding) |
| 2018 | Fluid flow and strain localization: fingering and fracture processes in partially saturated materials (F. Casini, G. Sciarra, J. Vaunat) |
Geomaterials under the nanoscope (R. Pellenq, F. Radjai, F. Josef Ulm) |
Offshore Geotechnics (K. Gavin, F. Pisanò, G. Eiksund) |
Energetical methods in geomechanics (I. Einav, E. Gerolymatou) |
| 2019 | Upscaling in Geotechnical Engineering - 70th anniversary of Roberto Nova (C. di Prisco, C. Jommi, C. Tamagnini) |
The mechanics of root-soil systems: from microscopic to macroscopic approaches (E. Kolb, L. Sibille) |
Computational methods in snow and avalanche release mechanics (J. Gaume, P. Hagenmuller, F. Nicot, G. Chambon) |
The legacy of Ioannis Vardoulakis to Geomechanics (J. Sulem, C. Viggiani) |
| 2020 | Because of the pandemic, no workshops took place in 2020. The doctoral school was online. | Particle based continuum methods in geomechanics (M. Pastor, W. Wu) | ||
| 2021 | Forecasting landslide displacement (S. Cuomo, J. Vaunat, N. M. Pinyol) |
Machine learning and Geomechanics (I. Stefanou, F. Darve) |
Bridging the gap between experiments and modelling: from laboratory testing to material models prediction
(B. Baudet, F. Cotecchia, C. Jommi) |
Constitutive Modelling in Geomaterials (C. Tamagnini, D. Mašín) |
| 2022 | Mechanics of Hard Soils –Soft Rocks (N. Benahmed, E. Charalampidou, C. Vitone) |
Robot-Ground Interaction (R. Fuentes, I. Einav) |
Multi-field approach of gravity-driven disasters in a global climate change context (F. Nicot, F. Magnin, S. Lambert, F. Calvetti) |
Advanced Experimental Geomechanics (E. Andò, B. Marks, R. Hurley, J. A. Dijksman) |
| 2023 | Energy Geomechanics (J.-M. Pereira, D. Manzanal) |
Extraterrestrial geomechanics (P. Delage, F. Prada) |
Anisotropy in geomaterials: theory, experiments and modelling (E. Gerolymatou, C. Viggiani, A. Amorosi) |
Machine Learning in Geomechanics (I. Stefanou, F. Darve) |
| 2024 | Emerging properties in geomaterials across the Scales (A. Wautier, F. Radjai, F. Froiio) |
Geomechanics in the submicron scale (K. Ioannidou, G. Pijaudier-Cabot) |
Continuum-based particle methods (C. Tamagnini, L. Sanavia, M. Ciantia, A. Larese) |
Numerical methods in Geomechanics (C. Tamagnini, L. Sanavia, M. Pastor) |
| 2025 -planned | It is about time – time-dependent response of geomaterials
(J. Dijkstra, E. Gerolymatou, J.-M. Pereira) |
Ice in porous media
(A. Tengattini, J.-M. Pereira, G. Viggiani) |
Nature-inspired geotechnical engineering
(N. Benahmed, A.-C. Dieudonne, L. van Paassen) |
The role of geomechanics in the energy transition
(M. Lesueur, J.-M. Pereira, H. Rattez, M. Veveakis and A.-C. Dieudonne) |
Research Areas
[edit]ALERT Geomaterials' research focuses on various aspects of geomaterials and geomechanics, including:
Constitutive Modeling and Micromechanics: Advanced constitutive modeling of geomaterials, including micromechanical approaches and the development of mathematical models to capture material behavior.
Failure Mechanisms and Instabilities: Investigation into strain localization, failure, and instabilities in geomaterials, including bifurcation phenomena and post-failure behavior.
Environmental Geomechanics: Study of environmental impacts on geomaterials, including geomechanics related to energy production, CO2 storage, nuclear waste disposal and climate change.
Multi-Physics Coupling: Research on coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical processes, such as those involved in geostructures and environmental systems.
Granular and Particulate Media: Mechanics and physics of granular materials and discrete element modeling.
Geostructural Integrity: Focus on safety, reliability, and risk assessment of geostructures, including geotechnical applications like slope stability and earthquake engineering.
Energy Geomechanics: Addressing geomechanical challenges in energy production, such as geothermal, oil, and gas extraction.
Innovative Experimental Techniques: Development of advanced experimental methods for studying geomaterial behavior, including laboratory and field testing.
Numerical and Computational Modeling: Emphasis on computational methods, such as finite element analysis and particle-based continuum methods, for geomechanical applications.
Emerging Topics: Exploration of new and interdisciplinary areas, including extraterrestrial geomechanics, nanomechanics, and robotics-ground interaction.
Members
[edit]ALERT Geomaterials includes a wide array of research institutions from across Europe. A full list of member institutions is available on here.
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