On the development of a THM model to include higher temperature effects

This paper explores the inclusion of higher temperature effects within a coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical formulation. Two aspects are considered, a modification of the formulation to accommodate more intense drying due to the transfer of water vapour by pore gas pressure gradients, and high performance computing algorithms so that the behaviour may be simulated at field scale. Experimental work by CEA, France, examining both temperature and hydraulic gradients, including temperatures of up to 150°C, on a column of highly-compacted bentonite clay was utilised to compare experimental results with numerical simulation.