Computational thermomechanics of crystalline rock, Part I: A combined multi-phase-field/crystal plasticity approach for single crystal simulations

Rock salt is one of the major materials used for nuclear waste geological disposal. The desired characteristics of rock salt, i.e., high thermal conductivity, low permeability, and self-healing are highly related to its crystalline microstructure. Conventionally, this microstructural effect is often incorporated phenomenologically in macroscopic damage models. Nevertheless, the thermo-mechanical behavior of a crystalline material is dictated by …