Experimental Investigation of Coupled Flow, Transport, and Freeze–Thaw Processes in Variably Saturated Porous Media

The dissertation will focus on the experimental investigation of coupled multiphysics processes in variably saturated porous media, with particular emphasis on non-isothermal flow, solute transport, freeze–thaw transitions, and associated structural changes. The main objective will be to improve understanding of the influence of frozen soil layers on water infiltration, groundwater recharge, and pollutant transport. The work will be centered primarily on laboratory experiments performed on samples of different scales using nuclear magnetic resonance, time domain reflectometry, X-ray computed tomography, stable isotope analysis, and detailed measurements of flow, temperature, and volume changes. The experimental data will be used to quantify the interactions among hydraulic, thermal, and mechanical processes and to support the parameterization and validation of mathematical models. The expected outcomes will contribute to a better understanding of the interaction between ice and subsurface flow, to the optimization of water resource management, and to the prevention of pollutant transport in porous media.