On a coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical problem based on the thermo-visco-plastic rheology

Abstract

In the paper the thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) model problem is investigated and analysed. The investigated THM problem will involve coupling processes considering heat, water and mechanical aspects from the global point of view. For a description of these aspects the coupled thermo-visco-plastic Bingham rheology will be applied. The problem leads to solving variational inequality problem. The semi-implicit scheme in time, conforming finite elements for the heat equation and non-conforming finite elements for the Bingham fluid equation are used. The solvability conditions are discussed. Numerical experiments are presented. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003.