SRO

The SRO laboratory (Soils, Rocks and Geotechnical structures) brings together several professions in the field of geotechnics with 3 approaches, i.e. a naturalistic approach with observations at different scales, from the nanometre to the kilometre, an experimental approach with tests and measurements on sites/laboratories and on in situ structures, and a theoretical and numerical approach (rheology of materials, multiphase approach, numerical modelling). One of the laboratory’s topic focuses on the “durability of geomaterials and structures, as well as the development of innovative (bio)-geosourced materials”. Studies on excavated soils (soil from excavated foundation, from tunneling, moved earth with or without treatment in earthworks, etc.) aim to save the resource, promote the circular economy and propose new recovery methods after a technical and environmental characterisation. The objective is to reduce the quantities of materials deposited in storage centres (proposed solutions: no excavation with deep soil mixing, test of soil aptitude for treatment and the compliance of environmental thresholds (urban soils, sulphated soils or pyrite-rich soils), earth-based formulation of geopolymer or pozzolan type materials, clay swelling inhibitor (surfactant), raw earth material…). Numerous developments concern treated compacted earth structures such as dikes/levees (or road pavement layers) as well as their long-term behaviour (study of the material with or without treatment with lime and/or hydraulic binders, innovative/low-carbon treatments (hydrated lime, enzyme, bio-cementation, etc.). Finally, in addition to the soil properties, the laboratory develops bio-sourced solutions in terms of foundations by testing wooden pile-type foundations and their durability (degradation in unsaturated zones and under groundwater movement)