Abstract Summary
A mathematical description of heat and moisture transport and the associated mechanical deformations is critical for understanding freezing and thawing soil. The strong nonlinearity of the phase change cannot be easily and accurately described by local (differential) mathematical methods. In this study, a nonlocal formulation is developed within the framework of peridynamics. It is the first model that combines the flow of water with heat transfer and mechanical deformations in the presence of a change in the water phase state in unsaturated soils. It is demonstrated that this approach effectively describes the change in water content and predicts soil deformation.
