This book develops a new vision in geomechanics which will be of interest to researchers and engineers. It begins with the key theoretical features of dissipative structures induced by elementary contact friction within geomaterials in slow motion, their multi-scale expression in key tensor relations and associated features including strain localization and shear banding.

Etienne Frossard is a widely experienced dam engineering expert, formerly Technical Director at Coyne & Bellier, and a lecturer at École Centrale Paris in France. His academic work, building on his PhD at Mines ParisTech, explores the behavior of granular geomaterials mechanics, with the intention of renewing its theorization in depth.