4. Mechanical justification of geostructures

4.1 Description of mechanical interactions

Temperature variations in thermal geostructures and the surrounding terrain can have a number of different effects:

• the first concerns parasitic displacements of the structure, which are likely to generate disorders. The challenge lies in estimating these parasitic displacements, on the one hand, and, on the other, the capacity of the structures concerned to adapt to them;

• the second concerns additional internal structural stresses, both in the thermal geostructure itself and in the supported structure where applicable. Indeed, under the effect of heating and cooling cycles, the thermal geostructure will contract or expand in an unrestrained manner, due to the...