Description

This theme investigates the fundamental and advanced interactions among groundwater, pore-water pressure, moisture migration, hydraulic gradients, and the mechanical behaviour of soils, rocks, and engineered geotechnical systems. It encompasses saturated and unsaturated soil mechanics, groundwater flow, hydraulic conductivity, seepage forces, effective stress, capillary pressure, matric suction, soil–water characteristic curves (SWCC), permeability anisotropy, and drainage boundary conditions. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding how hydraulic processes influence deformation, shear strength, consolidation, progressive damage, and instability in foundations, slopes, embankments, underground structures, and fractured geological formations.