Summer School on Phase-Field Modeling for Hydraulic Fracturing 

When: June 23-26, 2025

Where: The summer school will take place in person, with all sessions held on-site at Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria. Participants will be able to download lecture materials and real-time Q&A sessions.

What: Elevate your expertise in hydraulic fracturing with our intensive summer school, designed to immerse participants in the theory and practice of phase-field modeling for complex hydraulic fracture propagation. This course provides a comprehensive foundation in fracture mechanics and hands-on simulation techniques tailored to the demands of subsurface fracture modeling.

For: Whether a researcher, PhD student, or industry professional in geomechanics or fracture mechanics, this program equips you with the latest techniques to solve real-world geoscientific challenges through phase-field modeling.
 

Key highlights:
 

• Core Foundations: Begin with essential concepts in fracture mechanics and phase-field approximation using the variational approach.
• In-Depth Coverage: Explore critical topics like energy decomposition, extensions to poro-elastic media, and coupled multiphysics applications (e.g. poro-thermo-elasticity) in geomaterials.
• Advanced Topics: Tackle dynamic hydraulic fracture and plasticity modeling.
• Hands-On Learning with OpenGeoSys (OGS): Gain real-world implementation experience with open-source tools guided by expert-led exercises.

Practical Sessions:
 

Participants will gain practical experience through hands-on sessions covering:

• Phase-Field Energy Decomposition
• Hydraulic Fracture Mechanics
• Poroelasticity in Geomaterials and Fluid Flow in Fractures
• OGSModeling Setup and Applications

Day 1

Monday, June 23, 2025

• 15:00 - 17:00: OpenGeoSys installation
• 18:30: Socializing Dinner

Day 2

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

• 09:00 - 10:30: Introduction to Fracture Mechanics
• 10:30 - 11:00: coffee break
• 11:00 - 12:30: Phase-field fracture (hands-on)
• 12:30 - 13:30: lunch break
• 13:30 - 15:00: Phase-field energy decomposition
• 15:00 - 15:30: coffee break
• 15:30 - 17:00: Energy decomposition (hands-on)

Day 3

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

• 09:00 - 10:30: Hydromechanical coupling
• 10:30 - 11:00: coffee break
• 11:00 - 12:30: Hydromechanics (hands-on)
• 12:30 - 13:30: lunch break
• 13:30 - 15:00: Fluid flow in fracture
• 15:00 - 15:30: coffee break
• 15:30 - 17:00: Hydraulic fracture mechanics
• 18:30: Socializing Dinner

Day 4

Thursday, June 26, 2025

• 09:00 - 10:30: Hydraulic fracture (hands-on)
• 10:30 - 11:00: coffee break
• 11:00 - 12:30: Weak interface
• 12:30 - 13:30: lunch break
• 13:30 - 15:00: Weak interface (hands-on)
• 15:00 - 15:30: coffee break
• 15:30 - 17:00: Dynamic fracture (hands-on)
• 18:30: Excursion to Gösseum (local beer brewery)

Registration

➔ Register now

Registration Deadline: June 6, 2025

Limited number of participants. You'll receive an answer within 2 business days with payment instructions to secure your spot.

Questions? Ask our office manager Ms. Marlies Helbl: marlies.helblunileoben.acat