Abstract
This paper presents a novel approach for hydromechanical modelling of fractured rocks by linking a finite-discrete element solid model with a control volume-finite element fluid model based on an immersed-body approach. The adaptive meshing capability permits flow within/near fractures to be accurately captured by locally-refined mesh. The model is validated against analytical solutions for single-phase flow through a smooth/rough fracture and reported numerical solutions for multi-phase flow through intersecting fractures. Examples of modelling single- and multi-phase flows through fracture networks under in situ stresses are further presented, illustrating the important geomechanical effects on the hydrological behaviour of fractured porous media.
Highlights
Discontinuities are ubiquitous in crustal rocks as a result of geological processes such as faulting and jointing
The methods and validation results shown for single fractures and idealised networks together with examples of complex natural fracture networks suggest that this generic framework for combining fracture and matrix flow calculations has the potential to improve flow prediction accuracy over more traditional methods used to account for in situ stress effects
The linkage of the solid and fluid domains through a conservative field projection via the ring mesh combined with the adaptive mesh refinement permits very accurate simulation of fluid flow through the high aspect ratio natural fractures associated with stress-dependent variable apertures
Summary
Discontinuities are ubiquitous in crustal rocks as a result of geological processes such as faulting and jointing. Fractures often dominate the strength [1] and deformation properties [2] of geological formations. Interconnected fractures can serve as conduits or barriers for fluid and chemical migration in the subsurface [3,4]. Understanding the important role of fractures in the hydromechanical processes of geological media is a challenging issue which is relevant to a variety of engineering applications, including oil and gas exploitation, mining operation, geothermal production, CO2 sequestration, and geological disposal of radioactive waste. More efforts are required to investigate the fluid flow behaviour in subsurface fractured rocks subjected to complex geomechanical effects (e.g. in situ stresses and tectonic deformation). It is considered to be necessary to understand the properties and mechanisms that govern this problem at different scales, e.g. the scale of individual fractures and that of the fracture network
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