Nuclear waste disposal and landfill engineering usually involve thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) coupled issues. This paper reviews the current advancements of the thermo-hydro-mechanical coupled behaviors of clays from both experimental and theoretical aspects

which include the heat transferring behavior

the effects of temperature on seepage

Young‘s Modulus

strength

creep behavior

clay structural characteristic

and so on. Within this context

the applicability of the current moisture and heat transfer models and the coupled thermo-mechanical constitutive models is analyzed. Based on the review

an experimental study on the effect of temperature on strength

permeability

and creep behavior of Boom clay was conducted. The results show that as temperature increases

the strength of Boom clay decreases while its creep rate and hydraulic conductivity significantly increase. Then a coupled thermo-elasto-plastic-damage constitutive model for clay is developed. Finally

the weakness in the study of THM coupling problems is discussed

and the direction for the future research is identified.