Micro/macro properties of geomaterials: A homogenization method for viscoelastic problem

Geomaterials such as soil and rock are composed of discrete elements of microstructures with different grains and microcracks. The studies of these microstructures are of increasing interest in geophysics and geotechnical engineering relating to underground space development We first show experimental results undertaken for direct observation of microcrack initiation and propagation by using a newly developed experimental system, and next a homogenization method for treating a viscoelastic behavior of a polycrystalline rock.