X-ray Insights into Fluid Flow During Rock Failures: Nonlinear Modeling of Fluid Flow Through Fractures with Varied Roughness

• Published in: Geotechnical and geological engineering Vol. 42; no. 5; pp. 4049 - 4067
• Main Authors: Sun, Huan, Long, Qijian, Ye, Zhenni, Liu, Hao, Meng, Zimin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.07.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Behavior; Carbon dioxide; Carbon sequestration; Civil Engineering; Compressive strength; Digital imaging; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Engineering geology; Exploitation; Flow equations; Flow stability; Fluid flow; Fluids; Fractures; Geological hazards; Geology; Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences; Geothermal resources; Hydraulics; Hydrogeology; Image processing; Influence; Jointed rock; Modelling; Original Paper; Permeability; Radiography; Resource exploitation; Rock; Rock masses; Rocks; Roughness; Roughness coefficient; Shear strength; Terrestrial Pollution; Waste Management/Waste Technology; X ray absorption; X ray imagery; X rays; Fractured rock mass; Joint roughness coefficient; ); Hydraulic gradient; Multilevel stress loading; Non-linear flow model
• ISSN: 0960-3182; 1573-1529
• DOI: 10.1007/s10706-024-02771-y

Fluid flow and evolution mechanisms in fractured rocks are fundamental tasks in engineering fields such as geohazards prediction, geothermal resource exploitation, oil and gas exploitation, and geological sequestration of carbon dioxide. This study employed an enhanced X-ray imaging digital radiography to investigate nonlinear flow model of fluid through different roughness fractures. The X-ray images of fluid flow during rock failure were analyzed using a multi-threshold segmentation method applied to the X-ray absorption dose. The result show that a proposed nonlinear flow equation considers the joint roughness coefficient and the uniaxial compressive strength of the jointed rock, enabling a better understanding of the nonlinear flow behavior in fractured rock masses. This modeling approach has important theoretical and practical implications. By accounting for key factors influencing fluid flow behavior, it can help guide monitoring efforts to support early warning of fractured rock mass instability. Additionally, a more mechanistic understanding of flow processes may inform strategies to prevent engineering geological hazards.