Advances in Water–Rock Interactions and Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Processes

Dear Colleagues,

Water–rock interactions and coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) processes play a crucial role in processes such as groundwater formation, circulation, storage, and contamination propagation. These intricate processes involve the permeation, diffusion, and reactions of water within geological formations, while being influenced by temperature, fluid flow, and stress. Understanding these coupled interaction holds paramount importance in various fields, including groundwater resource management, geothermal energy utilization, rock engineering, and geological hazard assessment.

Within geological formations, water interacts with rocks through processes such as infiltration, diffusion, dissolution, precipitation, and mineral exchange, resulting in various geological phenomena. These processes significantly influence groundwater formation, erosion effects, and rock metamorphism. Furthermore, the impact of temperature, fluid flow, and stress on water–rock interactions further alters the permeability, diffusion characteristics, and reaction rates within geological formations, resulting in complex THM coupling effects.

Studying water–rock interactions and coupled THM processes provides invaluable insight into the transport behavior of groundwater, the physical and chemical properties of rocks, and the mechanisms underlying geological hazards. Through a comprehensive understanding of this intricate process, we can establish scientific foundations for rational groundwater resource development, the efficient utilization of geothermal energy, the safe design of rock engineering projects, and prevention and mitigation strategies for geological hazards.

As technology advances and innovative research methods emerge, we have the opportunity to unravel the mechanisms and laws governing water–rock interactions and coupled THM processes more comprehensively. This will help to provide more accurate and reliable scientific support for applications in the field of Earth sciences.

Dr. Yi Xue
Dr. Jianyong Han
Dr. Zhizhen Zhang
Prof. Dr. Hailing Kong
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.