Fluid Flow Model Research Articles

Implementation of thermoelectric wall systems for sustainable indoor environment regulation in buildings through numerical and experimental performance analysis

With buildings representing a substantial portion of global energy consumption, exploring alternatives to traditional fossil fuel-based heating and cooling systems is critical. Thermoelectricity offers a promising solution by converting temperature differentials into electrical voltage or vice versa, enabling efficient indoor thermal regulation. This paper presents a comprehensive investigation into the integration of thermoelectric wall systems for sustainable building climate control through numerical simulations and experimental analyses. Numerical simulations using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques were conducted to model fluid flow and heat transfer within the thermoelectric wall systems under various operating conditions. These simulations provided insights into the system’s thermal behavior, which were validated through experimental setups designed to measure temperature differentials, airflow rates, and power consumption. The results showed that power consumption is directly correlated with electrical current, ranging from 0.19 W to 77.4 W as the current increased from 0.1 A to 2 A. Additionally, the heat absorbed by the system increased significantly with electrical current, by 706–1044%, depending on the air velocity. The thermal energy released from the hot side of the thermoelectric modules also rose substantially, ranging from 9850 to 5285% with increasing electrical current, and from 275 to 51% with higher air velocities. Moreover, increasing air velocity led to a 6.78–9.37% reduction in power consumption for currents between 0.1 A and 2 A. The coefficient of performance (COP) analysis revealed that optimizing both electrical current and air velocity is essential for maximizing system efficiency. While fan power consumption reduces COP at higher air velocities, neglecting fan power consumption results in COP improvements ranging from 6.5 × 10⁻⁴ to 49.0%. These findings highlight the potential of thermoelectric wall systems to enhance indoor comfort and energy efficiency in buildings.

Mathematical modeling of electroosmotically driven peristaltic propulsion due to transverse deflections of two periodically deformable curved tubes of unequal wavelengths

The present study aims to investigate the viscid fluid propulsion due to the electroosmosis and transverse deflections of the sinusoidally deformable tubes of unequal wavelengths in the presence of electro-kinetic forces. This situation is estimated from the physical model of physiological fluid flow through a tubular structure in which an artificial flexible tube is being inserted. In this model, both peristaltically deforming tubes are taken in a curved configuration. The flow-governing momentum equations are simplified by the approximation of the long wavelength as compared to the outer tube's radius, whereas the Debye–Hückel approximation is used to simplify the equations that govern the electric potential distribution. Here, the authors have used the DSolve command in the scientific computing software MATHEMATICA 14 to obtain the expressions for electric potential and axial velocity of viscid fluid. In this work, the authors have analyzed the impact of various controlling parameters, such as the electro-physical parameters, curvature parameter, radius ratio, wavelength ratio, and amplitude ratios, on the various flow quantities graphically during the transport of viscid fluid through a curved endoscope. Here, contour plots are also drawn to visualize the streamlines and to observe the impacts of the control parameters on fluid trapping. During the analysis of the results, a noteworthy outcome extracted from the present model is that an increment in electro-physical parameters, such as Helmholtz–Smoluchowski velocity and the Debye–Hückel parameter, are responsible for enhancement in the shear stress at the inner tube's wall and the axial velocity under the influence of electro-kinetic forces. This is because of the electric double layer (EDL) thickness, which gets reduced on strengthening the Debye–Hückel parameter. This reduced EDL thickness is responsible for the enhancement in the axial velocity of the transporting viscid fluid. The present model also suggests that the axial velocity of viscid fluid can be reduced by enhancing the ratio of wavelengths of waves that travel down the walls of the outer curved tube and the inner curved tube. The above-mentioned results can play a significant role in developing and advancing the endoscopes that will be useful in many biomedical processes, such as gastroscopy, colonoscopy, and laparoscopy.

A hybrid multiscale model for fluid flow in fractured rocks using homogenization method with discrete fracture networks

Fluid flow in subsurface tight reservoirs containing pores, microcracks and macrocracks is notably influenced by the characteristics of macro/micro-cracks. A novel hybrid multiscale model is proposed to address the response of macrocracks and pores/microcracks in different spatial scales. Specifically, an equivalent macroscopic model (EMM) deduced from locally periodic representative element volume (REV) is developed using the asymptotic homogenization method to represent the poroelastic behavior of porous medium with microcracks. Simultaneously, the macrocracks are modeled explicitly using the discrete fracture model (DFM), where the hydraulic properties of cracks influenced by fluid pressure gradient is represented by the nonlinear opening/closure behavior. The obtained hybrid model takes into account the heterogeneous nature of fractured rock masses containing pores, micro/macro-cracks, which is fundamental to describe fluid flow behavior in fracture-matrix system. Specialized finite elements, regular meshing technique and adaptive time stepping algorithm are adopted to improve the computational efficiency. The hybrid multiscale model is firstly validated step by step to demonstrate the accuracy and then used to simulate fluid flow in fractured rock reservoir, shedding light on the underlying mechanisms of the enhanced flow capacity resulting from microcrack distribution, connectivity, and macrocrack stimulation.

A globally divergence-free weak Galerkin finite element method with IMEX-SAV scheme for the Kelvin-Voigt viscoelastic fluid flow model with high Reynolds number

A globally divergence-free weak Galerkin finite element method with IMEX-SAV scheme for the Kelvin-Voigt viscoelastic fluid flow model with high Reynolds number

A conceptual and numerical model of fluid flow and heat transport in the Topusko hydrothermal system

Comprehensive understanding of hydrothermal systems is often obtained through the integration of conceptual and numerical modelling. This integrated approach provides a structured framework for the reconstruction and quantification of fluid dynamics in the reservoir, thereby facilitating informed decision-making for sustainable utilisation and environmental protection of the hydrothermal system. In this study, an updated conceptual model of the Topusko hydrothermal system (THS; central Croatia) is proposed based on structural, geochemical, and hydrogeological analyses. The stratigraphic sequence and the structural framework of the THS were defined based on geological maps and field investigations. As depicted by hydrochemical and isotope analyses, thermal waters in Topusko (temperatures of up to 65 °C) are of meteoric origin and circulate in a carbonate aquifer. The THS receives diffuse recharge approximately 13 km S from Topusko, where Triassic carbonates crop out. Gravity-driven regional groundwater circulation is favoured by regional thrusts that tectonically uplifted Palaeozoic low permeable rocks. These structures confine the fluid flow in the permeable, fractured and karstified, Triassic carbonates favouring the northward circulation of the water. A regional anticline lifts the aquifer closer to the surface in Topusko. Open fractures in the anticline hinge zone increase the fracturing and permeability field of the aquifer promoting the quick upwelling of the thermal water resulting in the Topusko thermal springs. Numerical simulations of fluid flow and heat transport corroborate the proposed conceptual model. In particular, a thermal anomaly was modelled in the Topusko subsurface with temperature values of 31.3 °C and 59.5 °C at the surface and at the base of the thermal aquifer, respectively, approaching the field observations. These findings showed that the circulation of Topusko thermal water is influenced by regional and local geological structures suggesting that the enhanced permeability field in the discharge area enables the formation of the natural thermal springs.

Modelling of cracking during beam oscillation laser welding of a creep-resistant nickel alloy

During high power laser welding of Inconel 740H, horizontal solidification cracks form at locations between approximately 70–80% of the weld depth. With the integration of circular beam oscillation, the laser energy density distribution and underlying thermo-mechanical conditions were altered. By coupling three-dimensional heat transfer, fluid flow, and stress modelling tools, the role that circular beam oscillation plays in the formation of the strain rates and stresses driving this cracking phenomenon was identified. While the addition of a circular oscillation pattern appeared to lower the stress levels along the solidification front, it did not eliminate the appearance of horizontal cracking. Only when the beam amplitudes reached 1.6 mm did solidification cracking disappear, but the weld depths were also significantly reduced.

Investigation on metal vapor characteristics and keyhole/melt pool dynamics in high-power laser welding with side gas flow

High-power laser welding processes involve intense interactions between the laser beam and the base material, resulting in severe welding defects such as humping, spattering, and undercutting. Utilizing side gas flow may provide an effective approach for minimizing these defects. However, the effects of side gas flow on the dynamic behavior and weld formation necessitate further investigation. In this study, an innovative analysis of metal vapor characteristics and keyhole/melt pool dynamics in high-power laser welding with side gas flow is presented, combining experimental and simulation results. A three-dimensional transient fluid flow model was developed, uniquely integrating an adaptive heat source, evaporation-condensation processes, and metal vapor energy attenuation to provide a novel perspective on the effects of side gas flow in high-power laser welding. The results display that side gas flow could suppress plasma, increase thermal input to the melt pool, and intensify the flow of liquid metal toward the pool bottom during high power laser welding, thereby enhancing weld seam penetration. The numerical results indicate that variations in flow rate significantly impact metal vapor morphology, with higher flow rates reducing both the average area and height of the metal vapor and effectively suppressing the size of metal vapor/plasma. When the side gas flow rate is 20 l/min, with the gas flow impact point located at the keyhole opening and the nozzle height set to 3 mm, the side gas flow significantly enhances the depth-to-width ratio of the weld seam in 316L stainless steel laser welding. This work can provide guidance for suppression of weld defects in high-power laser welding of medium-thick steel components, which has important theoretical significance and application value.

Couette flow of micropolar fluid in a channel filled with anisotropic porous medium

This paper presents a mathematical model for the flow of micropolar fluid in a horizontal channel filled with an anisotropic porous medium, bounded by two parallel plates—where the upper plate is stationary, and the lower plate moves at a constant velocity. The flow, driven by both a constant pressure gradient and the movement of the lower plate, is governed by the Darcy-Brinkman equation. Using no-slip and no-spin boundary conditions, we analytically derive expressions for the velocity, microrotational velocity, and stress distributions. The study provides a graphical analysis of the flow behavior influenced by key parameters such as the Darcy number, porous medium anisotropy, anisotropy angle, and the micropolar fluid’s material parameters. Furthermore, the effects of the material parameters and Darcy number on shear stress and couple stress are thoroughly investigated. The findings have applications in modeling fluid flow in striated or fractured rock formations.

Pore-scale modeling of wettability alteration coupled two-phase flow in carbonate porous media

The Middle East marine carbonate reservoirs are the primary targets for global crude oil exploration and production. In contrast to the clastic rock reservoirs, the marine carbonate reservoirs have undergone more complicated deposition, diagenesis and transformation, and the rock surface tends to be oil-wet or mixed-wet. One of the most effective methods for enhancing oil recovery in marine carbonate reservoirs is the use of an ion matched (IM)-surfactant (S) system to alter the wettability of rock surfaces. In this paper, we propose a microscale mathematical model of wettability alteration-coupled fluid flow by considering oil–water two-phase flow, wettability alteration, solute advection- diffusion and surfactant adsorption. The proposed microscale mathematical model is solved using the multi-component lattice Boltzmann model, and its accuracy is further verified. Finally, the effects of displacing fluid, ion-matched water concentration and surfactant concentration on oil mobilization at pore-scale are studied. Results show that, ion-matched water has a positive effect on wettability alteration, and typically shifts the cross-point of oil–water relative permeability curve to the right. The concentration of ion-matched water primarily affects fluid morphology of the wetting-phase and has little effect on phase permeability. After adding surfactant to the ion-matched water, the Euler coefficient of oil-phase gradually increases as the displacement continues, a large amount of remaining oil is gradually dispersed into scattered oil droplets and the oil-phase relative permeability is further improved.

THE EFFECT OF PARTIAL SLIP ON THE SURFACE PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION IN A SLIGHTLY COMPRESIBLE FLOW DEVELOPMENT REGION IN THE BOUNDARY LAYER

The study of laminar incompressible fluid flow in the boundary layer revealed, even earlier, that the condition of complete adhesion of fluid particles to the surface (non-slip condition) of the moving body (half-plane) is not met in the flow development (formation) region. The assumption of constancy of the fluid velocity on the surface of a moving body, hence non-slip, leads, in the flow development region, to the complete absence of the normal component of the velocity field. And this contradicts the very concept of the flow development region, where there should be two velocity components - longitudinal (primary) and normal (secondary) ones. In the previous works of the authors, analytical solutions were obtained for the velocity field in the region of development of incompressible fluid flow in the boundary layer. Since the use of the incompressible fluid flow model is restricted by the Mach number, to further expand the speed range, the problem of the of slightly compressible fluid flow development region in the boundary layer was considered. It is analytically proven that all considerations regarding the impossibility of complete non-slip in the flow development region can be applied to a slightly compressible flow. Slight compressibility at the same time means the subsonic nature of the flow and the neglect of temperature effects due to friction. On the basis of a critical analysis of the existing approaches, which consider the flow of a fluid around a immobile plate in the framework of non-gradient flow (which is just impossible due to the lack of a mechanism for creating the motion of the fluid), it is shown that the system of equations is actually non-closed. For the region of flow development, where the longitudinal pressure gradient is not a constant value, one equation is missing. This equation, as in previous works, is obtained from the necessary condition for the extreme of the fluid rate functional. And although the complete solution for the longitudinal component of the velocity contains four constants of integration, to obtain the asymptotics near the solid surface it is sufficient to know only two quantities - the velocity and its first derivative (gradient). These values, as it turns out from the asymptotic solution, coincide with the case of incompressible flow, which allows us to expand the scope of the previously obtained results for a wider domain of Mach numbers, for example . And such values already correspond to the speeds of modern civil aircraft. The dimensionless distribution of pressure in the slightly compressible flow development region is presented and its significant heterogeneity is shown, which, in turn, indicates the importance of the obtained results.

Numerical simulation of co-firing LRC and ammonia in Pangkalan Susu 3 & 4 coal-fired steam power plant (CFSPP) capacity 210 megawatts

The effort to reduce CO2 and NOx emissions plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change, improving air quality, complying with environmental regulations, and promoting clean technology innovation. Ammonia, as an emission-free fuel, shows significant potential as a co-firing agent with Coal in coal-fired steam power plants (CFSPP). Previous studies have demonstrated promising results in emission reduction through ammonia co-firing. This research presents a numerical analysis based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to investigate the co-firing of ammonia with low-calorific Coal (LRC) in the CFSPP Pangkalan Susu Units 3 and 4, with a capacity of 210 MW. The study employs fluid flow modelling and chemical reaction analysis using the Discrete Phase Model (DPM) to provide accurate predictions of temperature distribution and pollutant concentrations in pulverized coal boilers. Cofiring simulations were conducted with ammonia additions of 5 % and 15 % on a calorific basis. Injection experiments from each burner (A-D) were performed to identify the optimal injection location. The simulation results indicate changes in combustion characteristics, particularly in temperature distribution. The main finding reveals a temperature decrease when ammonia is added as a co-firing material, attributed to the higher H2O content, which leads to increased moisture losses. In terms of efficiency, co-firing showed a decline compared to the baseline combustion of 100 % LRC coal due to the more significant moisture losses. The highest reduction in CO2 emissions was observed when 15 % ammonia was injected from burner B in case #6, with a mass fraction value of 0.171 at the boiler outlet. Similarly, the most significant reduction in NOx emissions occurred with a 15 % ammonia co-firing from burner B, yielding a mass fraction value of 8.81E-04 at the boiler outlet. This co-firing technology is expected to enhance decarbonization efforts and optimize the use of renewable energy in the future.

Dynamic fluid flow model for phosphate slurry pipeline: OCP main pipeline as case study

The transportation of phosphate slurry through large-scale pipelines presents significant challenges due to the complex behavior of multiphase flows, particularly with varying solid content, density, and dynamic viscosity. Efficient and accurate prediction of flow behavior is critical for optimizing the operation of such pipelines. This work aims to develop a dynamic computational model to simulate phosphate slurry flow in pipelines. The case study focuses on the OCP Group’s main slurry pipeline, which links the mining sites at Khouribga to the industrial plants at Jorf Lasfar, Morocco. This pipeline system spans a total length of 187.124 km, consisting of 5237 pipes with an inner diameter ranging from 0.8546 m to 0.8578 m, and features several elevation changes along its ground level. Using a section-averaged, dynamic approach and the Finite Volume scheme, the model computes essential flow parameters, including density, dynamic viscosity, and pressure, for the incompressible and non-Newtonian slurry and process water flows. The model’s accuracy is validated against on-site measured data, showing an average deviation of ±0.32% for outlet density, and below 10% for pressure along the pipeline, underscoring the model’s reliability. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to illustrate the impact of key parameters on the predicted head losses and pressures along the pipeline. This analysis shows that the slurry viscosity is the most critical parameter, significantly influencing these predictions. This model provides high accuracy and reasonable CPU time for real-time simulation and monitoring, while also offering significant potential for optimizing pipeline operations and ensuring the reliability of phosphate transport.

Experimental Analysis and CFD Simulation of Photovoltaic/Thermal System with Nanofluids for Sustainable Energy Solution

The integration of photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) systems with nanofluids presents a promising avenue for enhancing sustainable energy solution. This study investigates the performance of such systems through experimental analysis and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Nanofluids, engineered colloidal suspensions of nanoparticles in base fluids, are employed to enhance heat transfer within the PV/T system. The experimental setup involves measuring electrical output, thermal efficiency, and overall system performance under varying conditions. Additionally, CFD simulations are conducted to model fluid flow and heat transfer dynamics within the PV/T collector integrated with nanofluids. The results from both experimental and simulation studies provide insights into the synergitic effects of nanofluids on enhancing energy conversion efficiency and thermal management of the PV/T system. The research contributes to the development of sustainable energy solutions by demonstrating the potential of nanofluid-enhanced PV/T systems in improving energy conversion efficiency and thermal management for various environmental conditions.

Coupled heat and fluid transport in pulled extrusion of optical fiber preforms

In the fabrication of optical fibers, the viscosity of the glass varies dramatically with temperature so that heat transfer plays an important role in the deformation of the fiber geometry. To date, models of fiber drawing processes have either assumed isothermal conditions or that advection is the dominant heat-transfer mechanism, with conduction therefore neglected. While advective heat transfer and neglect of conduction are valid in the fast process of drawing a preform to a fiber, heat conduction is also important in the slow process of extruding a fiber preform. In this paper, we derive and solve, in the context of pulled extrusion, a coupled heat and fluid flow model that incorporates heat conduction. The dramatic variation of viscosity with temperature means that this problem is extremely challenging to solve via standard numerical techniques and we therefore develop a novel finite-difference numerical solution method that proves to be highly robust. We use this method to show that conduction significantly affects the size of internal holes at the exit of the device and hence has important consequences for the process of manufacturing optical fibers.

Analysis of boundary layer flow of a Jeffrey fluid over a stretching or shrinking sheet immersed in a porous medium

Heat transfer optimization is critical in many applications, such as heat exchangers, electric coolers, solar collectors, and nuclear reactors. The current work looks at the thermohydraulic behavior of Jeffery fluid flow along a plane containing a magnetic field, a non-uniform heat source/sink, and a porous media. Numerical solutions are derived using the Runge-Kutta 4th-order approach and the shooting method. Graphs show how Prandtl number (Pr), thermal stratification (e1), Jeffery parameter (λ1), porous parameter (λ2), magnetic field (M), and heat generation/absorption (γ, a, b) affect velocity and temperature profiles. The results show that thermal stratification increases fluid velocity and temperature, whereas heat source/sink parameters have the reverse effect on heat transfer, and raising the Jeffrey parameter reduces velocity and increases boundary layer thickness. There is extremely high agreement with experimental data from the literature. This work illustrates the utility of hydromagnetic properties in modelling fluid flow over stretching/shrinking sheets in porous media.

Nonlinear parametric models of viscoelastic fluid flows.

Reduced-order models (ROMs) have been widely adopted in fluid mechanics, particularly in the context of Newtonian fluid flows. These models offer the ability to predict complex dynamics, such as instabilities and oscillations, at a considerably reduced computational cost. In contrast, the reduced-order modelling of non-Newtonian viscoelastic fluid flows remains relatively unexplored. This work leverages the sparse identification of nonlinear dynamics (SINDy) algorithm to develop interpretable ROMs for viscoelastic flows. In particular, we explore a benchmark oscillatory viscoelastic flow on the four-roll mill geometry using the classical Oldroyd-B fluid. This flow exemplifies many canonical challenges associated with non-Newtonian flows, including transitions, asymmetries, instabilities, and bifurcations arising from the interplay of viscous and elastic forces, all of which require expensive computations in order to resolve the fast timescales and long transients characteristic of such flows. First, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our data-driven surrogate model to predict the transient evolution and accurately reconstruct the spatial flow field for fixed flow parameters. We then develop a fully parametric, nonlinear model capable of capturing the dynamic variations as a function of the Weissenberg number. While the training data are predominantly concentrated on a limit cycle regime for moderate , we show that the parametrized model can be used to extrapolate, accurately predicting the dominant dynamics in the case of high Weissenberg numbers. The proposed methodology represents an initial step in applying machine learning and reduced-order modelling techniques to viscoelastic flows.

Visualized analysis of microscale rock mechanism research: A bibliometric data mining approach

Rock mechanics is an indispensable discipline in diverse sectors, from resource retrieval to disaster mitigation. Diving deeper into this field, particularly into microscale rock mechanics, offers strategic insights and potential advancements for rock engineering practice. The objective of this research is to map the scientific production tied to microscale rock mechanics to date. In doing so, we perform a bibliometric analysis to look over and discuss the performance of the related literature. The conceptual fabric of microscale rock mechanics research, constituted by four central themes, was revealed and visualized through a text mining analysis. These areas include (1) modeling and simulation of fluid flow and transport within porous media, (2) characterizing fracture and failure in rocks, (3) understanding the deformation mechanism in response to geological processes, and (4) studying the mechanical properties of rocks subjected to extreme conditions. Lastly, an upcoming research agenda for microscale rock mechanics was proposed, centered on addressing three identified research gaps: (I) the integration of geological processes to characterize mineral properties, (II) the augmentation of fracture predictions achieved through multiscale modeling of rock heterogeneity, and (III) the exploitation of Artificial Intelligence technologies for anticipating complex fracturing scenarios. This comprehensive approach promises to enrich our understanding of rock mechanics and its applications.

Inertial migration of cylindrical micelles formed by comb-like copolymer in Poiseuille flow

By combining the lattice Boltzmann model of fluid flow with the molecular dynamics model of copolymers, we investigate the inertial migration of cylindrical micelles, which is obtained by controlling the length ratios of hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments in a comb-like copolymer. Our results demonstrate that cylindrical micelles gradually deviate from the center of the nanochannel with increasing Reynolds number (Re). For the same Re, the larger the cylindrical micelle is, the closer it is to the center of the nanochannel. Importantly, we find that the change in the equilibrium position is particularly pronounced at Re less than 0.1, while the trend becomes smoother at Re greater than 0.1, which is because of the transition of micelles from cylindrical to disk-like shapes when Re is smaller than 0.1, and does not change as Re further increases. This work provides an understanding of cylindrical micelles' inertial migration, particularly in identifying the effect of morphological changes on the equilibrium position, which could lead to significant advancements in the inertial migration of polymer micelles.

Molten pool behaviors and printability of tungsten anti-scattering grids with extremely thin wall thickness fabricated via laser powder bed fusion

It is challenging for laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technique to fabricate metal parts with a wall thickness below 100 μm. This work investigated the critical conditions for achieving extremely thin wall thickness in tungsten grids fabricated via LPBF. Specifically, the impact of low energy density on the printability of tungsten single tracks and grids via LPBF was comprehensively examined. A computational fluid dynamics approach was employed to develop a thermal fluid flow model for single tracks with multilayers in LPBF. The findings demonstrate that at low energy densities, single tracks exhibit four different morphologies, i.e., balling, discontinuity and winding, discontinuity but straightness, as well as continuity and straightness. The simulation model effectively elucidates the continuity of single tracks and provides insights into the governing mechanism of molten pool defects. Due to high thermal diffusion properties of tungsten, the continuity of its track relies on the connection of neighboring molten pools and is sensitive to scanning speed. The tungsten molten pools with low energy density can be categorized into shallow flows affected by surface morphology and deep flows influenced by internal voids of the powder bed. After multi-layer stacking, the track fluctuations and defects in single tracks accumulated into greater surface roughness and deteriorate thin-walled morphology. The critical conditions required for printing extremely thin walls were achieved, ensuring minimal merging of tracks between two layers by maintaining the energy density of 57J/mm3. Based on these findings, an ultra-thin-walled anti-scattering tungsten grid with a wall thickness of 86 μm and a wall roughness below 3.3 μm (Ra) was fabricated by LPBF. This work provides valuable theoretical insights and presents a viable methodology for determining the minimum energy density threshold and wall thickness essential for LPBF processing of thin-walled components.

Very‐Near‐Field Coseismic Fault Pressure Drop and Delayed Postseismic Cross‐Fault Flow Induced by Fault Damage From the 2018 M6.3 Hualien, Taiwan Earthquake

AbstractEarthquakes can produce rock damage, poroelastic deformation, and ground shaking that modify fault zone hydrogeologic properties. Coseismic and postseismic hydrologic response to the ruptured fault can serve as constraints on hydrogeologic property changes. Here, we document fluid pressure responses to the 2018 M6.3 Hualien, Taiwan earthquake and model the postseismic fault zone hydrology inferred from very‐near‐fault data. Two groundwater wells located ∼180–250 m from the fault damage zone experienced 10–15 m of groundwater level decline followed by a prolonged (>6 months) recovery. Poroelastic models indicate that strain dilation in the fault's hanging wall can produce water level reductions of several meters. However, the model cannot explain groundwater level change in the footwall nor the delayed postseismic recovery, suggesting fault zone damage played a primary role in both the coseismic and postseismic water level reductions. Fluid flow models incorporating the effects of coseismic fault damage on the temporal evolution of hydrologic fault properties show enhanced hydraulic anisotropy after the earthquake. The best‐fit models show that while both vertical hydraulic conductivity and specific storage likely increased within the fault zone, the horizontal hydraulic conductivity is low, suggesting the fault zone behaves as a hydraulic barrier to cross‐fault flow with modeled diffusivities as low as ∼10−3 m2/s. High‐fidelity hydrologic measurements in the very‐near‐field of fault zones (e.g., within a few hundred meters) may be a useful tool to constrain the spatial and temporal evolution of fault zone properties before, during, and after rupture.