Hydraulic fracturing modeling using the discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) method. (June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Choo, Ling Qian; Zhao, Zhiye; Chen, Huimei; Tian, Qian
• Is Part Of: Computers and geotechnics. Volume 76(2016)
• Page Start: 12
• Page End: 22
• Publication Date: 2016-06
• Subjects: Discontinuous deformation analysis method -- Hydraulic fracturing -- Coupled hydro-mechanical analysis; Engineering geology -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Soil mechanics -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Rock mechanics -- Data processing -- Periodicals; 624.1510285
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compgeo.2016.02.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-352X

Abstract

Abstract: Recent attempts to couple discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) blocks with finite element meshes have been regarded as fruitful. The hybrid model has been proven to be reliable in modeling continuum–discontinuum problems. In this paper, a hydraulic crack initiation–propagation extension complete with a coupled hydro-mechanical analysis algorithm is introduced to the hybrid model for the simulation of fracturing problems initiated by hydraulic pressure. Several simulation cases, of which the results appear to be consistent with existing theories of hydraulic fracturing mechanisms, are presented to demonstrate the capability of the proposed algorithm in modeling hydraulic fracturing processes.