Coupled fields in a deformable unsaturated medium

This paper considers several problems involving coupled heat moisture air ~ow in deformable unsatu! rated media[ A set of coupled non!linear governing equations expressed in terms of displacements\ capillary pressure\ air pressure and temperature are used in the analysis[ The mathematical model accounts for fully coupled heat and moisture ~ow\ volume strain e}ects on water!air!heat ~ow\ stress and temperature dependence of the water retention curve\ heat sink due to thermal expansion\ phase change between liquid water and vapour water\ and compressibility of liquid water[ Numerical solutions are obtained by using the _nite element method[ Comparisons with existing analytical and experimental results for problems involving in_ltration\ drying rewetting "hysteresis e}ects# and heating con_rm the general validity of the present mathematical model[ Coupled _elds in a con_ned clay cylinder are also examined[ It is found that con! sideration of absorbed liquid ~ow due to thermal gradients "thermo!osmosis e}ect# results in increased drying and shrinkage near the heated boundary[ The case of a con_ned clay cylinder under combined heating and in_ltration is also studied[ Important features of coupled _elds are discussed