The course Structural Mechanics/Reservoir Geomechanics aims at providing the fundamental principles of Continuum Mechanics, necessary for understanding the mechanical response of a system subject to external actions. Structural Mechanics The course presents the fundamental theoretical principles that allow to analyse the mechanical behaviour of elastic solids and in particular of beam systems. Reservoir Geomechanics The course provides the fundamentals of rock behaviour in relation to field operations. The main objective of the course is to teach students: 1) how rocks respond to the modification of the underground state of stress in relation to oil and gas operations 2) the models and methods used to solve practical problems. To reach this objective the following subjects are explained during the course: fundamentals of continuum mechanics, the role of fluids in rock behaviour, drained and undrained conditions, interpretation of laboratory tests, elasto-plastic models for predicting rock behaviour and methods of stability analysis for evaluating rock failure in oil and gas reservoirs.

Structural Mechanics The student must be able to determine the reactions forces, the diagrams of bending moment, axial force and shear force for statically determinate and indeterminate beam systems; to calculate the stresses in the beams based on the De Saint Venant principle; to apply the strength criteria and to verify the strength of a beam system. Reservoir Geomechanics Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to: 1) Identify the appropriate rock mechanical parameters and select the tests necessary to characterize the rock material with reference to a given field problem; 2) Predict the hydro-mechanical response of porous rocks in oil and gas field operations; 3) Solve practical problems: wellbore stability, hydraulic fracturing, reservoir compaction and subsidence, solids production.

Structural Mechanics The student must know the kinematics and statics of the material point, the operations on the vectors (sum, multiplication by a scalar, scalar product and cross product) and on the matrices, the basic topics of linear algebra and geometry. Furthermore, he must know the rules of derivation and integration for functions with one or more variables. Reservoir Geomechanics The student must know the fundamental principles of Linear Algebra, Physics I, Fluid Mechanics and Geology

Structural Mechanics Classification of the structural elements based on the number of prevalent dimensions, introduction to the various structural typologies, illustration of the external loading that can act on the structures and the reactions forces that oppose them. Matrix formulation of the geometry of the areas and examples of calculation. Methods for determining the reaction forces. Characteristics of internal reactions of the beams. Main types of statically determinate beam systems in construction practice: Gerber beams, truss structures, three-hinged arches. Summary of analysis of strain and stress and of the Elasticity theory. De Saint Venant solid (cylindrical solid loaded on the bases) and elementary and compound loading cases: centered and eccentric axial force, shearing force, uni- and bi-axial flexure. The Principle of virtual work for deformable beams: calculation of elastic displacements and solution of statically indeterminate beam systems. Reservoir Geomechanics 1) Continuum mechanics. >The state of stress and strain >Constitutive laws: Theory of elasticity and plasticity; Creep 2) Failure mechanics: Mohr-Coulomb, Hoek & Brown, Griffith, Jaeger strength criteria 3) Mechanical properties of rocks from lab tests 4) Elements of Critical state Soil Mechanics. Modified Cam Clay Model 5) In situ state of stress: geostatic and in fault regime 6) Compaction and subsidence of reservoirs during depletion 7) Stresses around boreholes. Stability during drilling: geomechanical aspects 8) Principles of hydraulic fracturing 9) Solids production

The course is organized in theoretical and practical lessons. During the practical lessons the students have to solve exercises by applying the theory explained in lectures. The interpretation of lab tests and the solution of practical problems are developed in the Informatic Lab About 6 hours are devoted to seminars with the additional presence of expert instructors from industry.

Reference Books: Fjaer, Holt, Horsrud, Raaen & Risnes, Petroleum related Rock Mechanics, 2nd edition, Elsevier, Oxford, 2008. Brady & Brown Rock Mechanics, 3rd edition, Kluwer Academic Publisher, Dordrecht, 2004 Lancellotta, 2009. Geotechnical Engineering, 2nd edition, Taylor & Francis, New York The slides presented during lectures will be periodically uploaded on the web site of the course.

Modalità di esame: Prova orale obbligatoria;

The oral exam comprises 3 main questions. Questions are related to the topics explained in class. Questions consist of a discussion and/or the solution of a practical exercise.

Modalità di esame: Prova orale obbligatoria;

The oral exam comprises 3 main questions. Questions are related to the topics explained in class. Questions consist of a discussion and/or the solution of a practical exercise.