Failure of Geomaterials

Inelasticity in most geomaterials under sufficiently low pressure and temperature (shallow crustal conditions) is caused by damage due a variety of microscale mechanisms, including, microcrack initiation, interaction and link-up, pore collapse, and particle fracture and rearrangement. Volume changes (which may be either dilation or compaction) that accompany damage can couple mechanical deformation to the flow of ground water or other fluids. Applications include the mechanics of earthquakes, seismicity induced by fluid injection or withdrawal, energy recovery and storage and sequestration of CO2 to mitigate adverse effects on climate.