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Rock mechanics - Characterization of rock masses

This article presents the classic tools and methods of rock mechanics, used by engineers to characterize rock masses in the context of development or infrastructure projects involving these environments. In particular, it highlighted the importance of discontinuities and scale effects in rock mechanics.

Rock mechanics plays a central role in projects of societal and environmental importance: storage of radioactive waste in deep clay rocks, CO₂ storage, geothermal energy, extraction of mineral resources, etc. All these applications highlight the importance in particular of multiphysical coupling processes, whether in saturated or partially saturated conditions: couplings with hydric, thermal, chemical, electrical and even biological processes. In the context of radioactive waste disposal, for example, clayey rocks are the focus of particular attention, especially given their low...