Nanoscale X-ray Tomography of Earth Materials: Linking Microstructure Evolution to Bulk Hydro-Mechanical Behavior

This study quantifies the 3D microstructure of clay- and rock-forming materials and to directly link microstructural evolution to bulk properties. Using phase-contrast tomography at <100 nm voxel size we will image platelet orientation, interlayer spacing proxies, pore-throat networks, and microcrack initiation/propagation for samples exposed to external factors (effective stress, suction/humidity, temperature, salinity). These results will be upscaled via homogenization and pore-network modeling to predict permeability, stiffness, and strength evolution. The outcome will be a validated microstructure–property map that explains how environmental and loading histories control macroscopic behavior in clays and representative rocks, informing models of subsurface storage, geo-hazards, and resource recovery.