Effect of anisotropy of fracture surface on fluid flow

Masoud Torkan, AMIR Hosseini Khorasgani , Lauri Uotinen, Alireza Baghbanan, Mikael Rinne

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articleScientificpeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)
54 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Characterization of fluid flow through rough fractures is an important issue in designing underground excavations, such as nuclear repositories or geothermal applications. Fluid flow could be influenced by several parameters such as contact areas, aperture, hydraulic and mechanical conditions. Contact area and aperture could be two crucial geometrical factors which control hydraulic and mechanical behaviors of fractures. These factors are rarely isotropic, and anisotropy is observed in different directions. In this research, photogrammetry, as a high precision method, was used to analyze morphology of a tensile fracture induced in granite. Experimental and numerical stress-flow tests on rock fracture were conducted in two different directions with diverse normal stresses and water pressures. Analyzing the regenerated 3D model of the fracture and hydromechanical tests predicts the anisotropy in flow rates in different directions. Numerical and experimental results are well fitted particularly in low-stress conditions. The obtained results show that anisotropy affects permeability since outlet flow rates in the different directions with the same initial water pressures differ by 7 % in experiments and 4% in numerical modeling.
Original languageEnglish
Article number012036
Number of pages8
JournalIOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science
Volume1124
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Jan 2023
MoE publication typeA4 Conference publication
EventISRM European Rock Mechanics Symposium: Rock and Fracture Mechanics in Rock Engineering and Mining: Rock and Fracture Mechanics in Rock Engineering and Mining - Dipoli, Otakaari 24, Espoo, Finland
Duration: 11 Sept 202215 Sept 2022
https://www.ril.fi/en/events/eurock-2022.html

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