Multiscale and Multiphysics Modeling of Soils

This chapter addresses the multiscale and multiphysics modeling of soils explicitly. The presentation revolves around three main paradigms: continuum, discrete, and multiscale. The advantages and disadvantages of each of the paradigms are discussed and their particular developments are addressed. We show that continuum models are the backbone of current analysis at the engineering scale and furnish an appropriate framework to implement multiphysics couplings including thermal, hydraulic, mechanical, and chemical (THMC) effects. On the other side of the spectrum, discrete models have emerged and they are capable of capturing explicitly the discrete nature of granular soils. Progress has been made to make discrete models accurate. More recent developments include multiscale methods connecting continuum and discrete approaches. Multiscale methods show much promise and have been able to reproduce material behavior in the laboratory. We anticipate that future applications will demand more multi-scale and analysis of geologic materials.