An IFS-based fractal discrete fracture network for hydraulic fracture behavior of rock mass

verfasst von: Qingxiang Meng, Haoyu Xue, Xiaoying Zhuang, Qiang Zhang, Chun Zhu, Benguo He, Gan Feng, Timon Rabczuk
Abstract: The discrete fracture network (DFN) model is applied for fluid flow and transport simulations in fractured rock masses. In this study, a novel two-dimensional fractal DFN generation method was proposed based on the iterative function system (IFS). To achieve the fine mesh for the DFN model, a refinement technique was presented to remove the short edges and small gaps. Subsequently, the zero-thickness flow cohesive element was inserted at the adjacent edge of elements for the hydraulic fracture modeling. The results indicated that the injection pressure of hydraulic fracture had three phases: Sudden increase, rapid drop-off, and stabilization. Compared with the traditional linear DFN model, the injection pressure evolution and fracture propagation of fractal DFN were significantly affected. In addition, the fracture aperture variation was an important factor influencing hydraulic fracturing in the rock mass. Considering the complexity of the hydraulic fracturing process, the effects of mesh sensitivity and fracture aperture size were also analyzed based on two-dimensional simulation results. This study presents a novel 2D DFN model for an accurate description of fracturing and provides a valuable simulation method for hydraulic fracturing.
Organisationseinheit(en): Institut für Kontinuumsmechanik
Externe Organisation(en): Hohai University
Tongji University
China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research
Universität Nordostchinas (NEU)
Sichuan University
Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
Typ: Artikel
Journal: Engineering geology
Band: 324
ISSN: 0013-7952
Publikationsdatum: 10.2023
Publikationsstatus: Veröffentlicht
Peer-reviewed: Ja
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete: Geotechnik und Ingenieurgeologie, Geologie
Elektronische Version(en): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2023.107247 (Zugang: Geschlossen)
: Details im Forschungsportal „Research@Leibniz University“

BibTeX

@article{630f2d40c20346088cc87acaa013aeb1,
title = "An IFS-based fractal discrete fracture network for hydraulic fracture behavior of rock mass",
abstract = "The discrete fracture network (DFN) model is applied for fluid flow and transport simulations in fractured rock masses. In this study, a novel two-dimensional fractal DFN generation method was proposed based on the iterative function system (IFS). To achieve the fine mesh for the DFN model, a refinement technique was presented to remove the short edges and small gaps. Subsequently, the zero-thickness flow cohesive element was inserted at the adjacent edge of elements for the hydraulic fracture modeling. The results indicated that the injection pressure of hydraulic fracture had three phases: Sudden increase, rapid drop-off, and stabilization. Compared with the traditional linear DFN model, the injection pressure evolution and fracture propagation of fractal DFN were significantly affected. In addition, the fracture aperture variation was an important factor influencing hydraulic fracturing in the rock mass. Considering the complexity of the hydraulic fracturing process, the effects of mesh sensitivity and fracture aperture size were also analyzed based on two-dimensional simulation results. This study presents a novel 2D DFN model for an accurate description of fracturing and provides a valuable simulation method for hydraulic fracturing.",
keywords = "Discrete fracture network, Fractal fracture, Hydraulic fracture, Iterative function system",
author = "Qingxiang Meng and Haoyu Xue and Xiaoying Zhuang and Qiang Zhang and Chun Zhu and Benguo He and Gan Feng and Timon Rabczuk",
note = "Funding Information: This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51709089 ). The authors would also like to thank the valuable suggestions from anonymous reviewers and the journal editor. ",
year = "2023",
month = oct,
doi = "10.1016/j.enggeo.2023.107247",
language = "English",
volume = "324",
journal = "Engineering geology",
issn = "0013-7952",
publisher = "Elsevier",
}