An experimental investigation on the mechanism of fluid flow through single rough fracture of rock

• Published in: Science China. Technological sciences Vol. 56; no. 8; pp. 2070 - 2080
• Main Authors: Ju, Yang, Zhang, QinGang, Yang, YongMing, Xie, HePing, Gao, Feng, Wang, HuiJie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.08.2013
• Subjects: Computational fluid dynamics; Engineering; Fluid flow; Fluids; Fractal analysis; Fractals; Fracture mechanics; Rock; Roughness; 分形函数; 实验室测试; 岩石裂缝; 岩石裂隙; 机制; 流体流动; 粗糙度; 维尔斯特拉斯; fractal description; single fracture; rough morphology; rock fractures; seepage flow
• ISSN: 1674-7321; 1869-1900
• DOI: 10.1007/s11431-013-5274-6

The structure of fractures in nature rock appears irregular and induces complicated seepage flow behavior.The mechanism and quantitative description of fluid flow through rock fractures is a difficult subject that has been greatly concerned in the fields of geotechnical,mining,geological,and petroleum engineering.In order to probe the mechanism of fluid flow and the effects of rough structures,we conducted a few laboratory tests of fluid flow through single rough fractures,in which the Weierstrass-Mandelbrot fractal function and PMMA material were employed to produce the fracture models with various fractal roughnesses.A high-speed video camera was employed to record the fluid flow through the entire single rough fracture with a constant hydraulic pressure.The properties of fluid flow varying with the fracture roughness and the influences of the rough structure were analyzed.The components of flow resistance of a single rough fracture were discussed.A fractal model was proposed to relate the fluid resistance to the fracture roughness.A fractal equivalent permeability coefficient of a single rough fracture was formulated.This study aims to provide an experimental basis and reference for better understanding and quantitatively relating the fluid flow properties to the structures of rock fractures.