An innovative method to simulate stress-induced velocity changes in anisotropic rocks

Abstract

This contribution proposes a numerical microstructural modelling approach to investigate stress-induced seismic velocity changes on anisotropic rocks. By introducing pre-existing cracks with preferential orientations in bonded-particle assemblies, the transverse isotropic structure of the Whitby mudstone is simulated. Using power-law distributed aperture and calibrated micro-properties, the model successfully reproduced stress-dependent velocity changes on Whitby mudstones with different anisotropic angles in relation to the applied loads. The proposed model also duplicates the directional dependence of wave speed with respect to the bedding plane as expected theoretically. The numerical models show that velocity increase results from the closure of pre-existing cracks due to load increase. Direct relations are established between velocity changes and opened crack density (or crack closure), which displays a similar tendency compared with theoretical predictions. This relation can be used to quantify the micromechanisms behind the velocity changes. The proposed model provides the ability to directly examine the micro-processes underlying velocity changes.