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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the NSF Geomechanics and Geomaterials (GEOMM) program?

The Geomechanics and Geomaterials (GEOMM) program is an NSF discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PD 12 1634) that supports fundamental research on how geologic materials behave under mechanical and engineering conditions. The focus is on understanding the science behind how soils and rocks deform, fail, strengthen, weaken, or otherwise respond to loading, environmental changes, and coupled physical processes in natural and engineered systems.

2) What types of materials are in scope for GEOMM?

The program centers on soils and rocks across a range of states and conditions, including natural geologic materials and materials that have been mechanically stabilized or altered through biological or chemical modification. In other words, GEOMM is interested in both "as-found" earth materials and geomaterials whose properties have been changed by engineering treatments or by bio/chemical processes.

3) What does GEOMM mean by "fundamental research" in geomaterials?

Within the description provided, "fundamental research" refers to studies that advance the underlying scientific basis for predicting and managing the performance of geologic materials. This includes uncovering mechanisms and relationships that explain observed behavior (for example, how changes in pore pressure influence strength, or how micro-scale fabric controls macro-scale deformation), rather than focusing only on applied design guidance.

4) What is meant by multi-physics behavior in geomaterials?

GEOMM emphasizes that geomaterial performance is often governed by interacting processes rather than mechanics alone. The program explicitly includes hydraulic, biological, chemical, and thermal processes alongside mechanical behavior. The intent is to support research that accounts for these coupled effects, such as water flow affecting pore pressures and strength, chemical reactions altering bonding or cementation, biological activity changing soil fabric and permeability, or temperature changes influencing expansion/contraction and fluid properties.

5) What research topics are explicitly highlighted in the opportunity?

The information provided highlights topical areas including micro-scale research on soil-structure interaction and soil liquefaction. These examples signal particular interest but are presented within a broader geomechanics and geomaterials scope.

6) What is micro-scale research in the context of this program?

Micro-scale research can include investigating soil fabric, particle contacts, bonding, and localized deformation mechanisms. The emphasis is on understanding how small-scale processes and structures ultimately control behavior at larger (macro) scales.

7) What kinds of soil-structure interaction studies fit GEOMM?

Soil-structure interaction research under this program can span how foundations, retaining systems, buried infrastructure, or other structural elements interact with surrounding ground. This includes how loads transfer between structures and soil/rock, and how deformations develop and evolve in the ground-structure system.

8) Is soil liquefaction within the scope of GEOMM?

Yes. Soil liquefaction is explicitly identified as being within scope. The description indicates interest in understanding the conditions and mechanisms that cause certain saturated soils to lose strength and behave like a fluid, as well as improved ways to model, test, and mitigate liquefaction risk.

9) What research approaches and methods are supported?

The program is described as method-agnostic, welcoming a wide range of strategies. Supported approaches include theoretical studies, constitutive modeling (mathematical relationships describing material response), numerical modeling (computational simulation), and experimental work across multiple scales and settings.

10) Does GEOMM support experimental testing?

Yes. The opportunity supports experimental work including laboratory testing, centrifuge testing, and field testing. The description also suggests that proposals can integrate experiments with modeling, validate simulations against physical data, or develop new testing methods that reveal previously unmeasured behaviors.

11) What is centrifuge testing and why is it relevant here?

Centrifuge testing is an experimental approach where scaled physical models are tested under increased gravitational acceleration so they can replicate stress conditions similar to full-scale geotechnical systems. The program includes centrifuge testing among the supported experimental methods, reflecting its usefulness for studying complex soil and soil-structure behavior under realistic stress states.

12) Are purely computational or purely theoretical proposals allowed?

The description indicates that theoretical studies, constitutive modeling, and numerical modeling are all supported. It also notes that the program is method-agnostic, which implies proposals do not have to be experimental, though integrated modeling-and-testing approaches are explicitly welcomed.

13) Are interdisciplinary collaborations encouraged?

Yes. Cross-disciplinary collaborations are strongly encouraged. The opportunity notes that advances in geomaterials often occur at the intersection of fields such as civil engineering, geology, mechanics, materials science, chemistry, biology, hydrology, and computational science.

14) Are international collaborations allowed?

Yes. International collaborations are described as welcome. The provided information notes that international partnerships can be valuable for studying region-specific geologic conditions, leveraging unique facilities, and harmonizing research methods and data.

15) How many awards were anticipated under this opportunity?

The program anticipated approximately 20 awards, based on the information provided.

16) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity states there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.

17) Who was eligible to apply?

The listing indicates unrestricted eligibility, meaning it was open to any type of entity, subject to any clarifications that may have been contained in the full text of the announcement.

18) What CFDA listing and funding activity category applied to this grant?

The opportunity was offered as a grant within NSF's Engineering Grants CFDA listing (47.041) and fell under the Funding Activity Category of Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

19) What were the key dates for the solicitation?

The solicitation was originally posted on November 2, 2011, with an original closing date of February 15, 2012. It also referenced a recurring annual submission window noted as January 15 and February 15 (due by 5 p.m. local time).

20) Is this specific funding opportunity still open?

No. The listing is described as archived, with an archive date of December 11, 2014. That means this specific archived form of the call is no longer active or open, even if the underlying program area may continue through updated NSF solicitations or program descriptions.

21) If the listing is archived, does that mean GEOMM no longer exists?

The provided information only states that this particular listing is archived and notes that the underlying program area may continue under updated NSF solicitations or program descriptions. It does not provide details on any current or replacement solicitation.

22) What time were proposals due on the stated deadlines?

The recurring annual submission window described in the listing indicates proposals were due by 5 p.m. local time on the relevant due date.

23) Where should applicants go for help accessing the full announcement or resolving linking issues?

The contact information provided directs applicants to NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov for difficulties accessing the full announcement electronically or problems linking to the funding announcement.

24) What kinds of real-world conditions does the program want researchers to account for?

The description emphasizes that soils and rocks in both natural settings and engineered systems experience loads, environmental changes, and coupled processes. Examples given include pore pressure changes from water flow, chemical reactions affecting bonding/cementation, biological activity modifying soil fabric and permeability, and temperature variations driving material and fluid property changes.

25) Does the scope include natural hazards and engineered applications?

Yes. The opportunity description connects the multi-physics research emphasis to improving prediction and management of geomaterial performance in both natural hazards (for example, liquefaction as an earthquake-related hazard) and engineered applications (for example, soil-structure interaction involving foundations and buried infrastructure).