ASCE/EMD Committee on Poromechanics

Annual Activity Report

2002-2003

 

Submitted by: Alex Cheng, Chair

July, 2003

 

1.       The Poromechanics Committee was established on October 1, 2003. Currently there are 27 committee members.

2.       Total 9 sessions were organized in the EM 2003 conference:

·         3 sessions were organized by the Poromechanics Committee

§         Poromechanics: Wave propagation and ocean acoustics

§         Poromechanics: Rock mechanics

§         Poromechanics: Rock mechanics and petroleum engineering applications

·         3 sessions were co-organized with the Properties of Materials Committee:

§         Biologically inspired materials I, II & III

·         3 sessions were co-organized with the Inelastic Behavior Committee:

§         Saturated and partially saturated porous media (Soils, rocks and bones) I, II & III

3.       Journal of Engineering Mechanics submissions:         4 manuscripts were received during the last 9 months.

·         Final acceptance: 1

·         Tentative acceptance (pending modification): 2

·         Rejected: 1

The number of manuscripts received was low as compared to other committees. However, both the Inelastic Behavior and the Properties of Materials Committee chairs stated that they continued to receive papers that should be re-directed to Poromechanics Committee. The reason of low submission might be caused by authors’ unawareness to the existence of this new committee. Situation should improve in the future.

4.       Journal Special Issue: Approval was obtained from the Editor of the Journal of Engineering Mechanics to organize a special issue for JEM. Title of the issue will be “Porodynamics, with Tribute to Yacov Frenkel”. Abstracts are being accepted. Paper deadline is around October 2003. About 15 papers will be published in this issue.

5.       Biot Medal: The Maurice A. Biot Medal was established through an endowment by Madame Biot to award research accomplishment in Poromechanics. Some members of the committee participated in the nomination. The selection committee was the Advisory Board of the Engineering Mechanics Division. Dr. Olivier Coussy was selected as the first winner of the Medal.