A 2D, fully-coupled, hydro-mechanical, FDEM formulation for modelling fracturing processes in discontinuous, porous rock masses. (January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lisjak, A.; Kaifosh, P.; He, L.; Tatone, B.S.A.; Mahabadi, O.K.; Grasselli, G.
• Is Part Of: Computers and geotechnics. Volume 81(2017)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 18
• Publication Date: 2017-01
• Subjects: Hydro-mechanical (HM) coupling -- Numerical modelling -- Finite-discrete element method (FDEM) -- Rock fractures -- Hydraulic fracturing -- Fluid flow; Engineering geology -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Soil mechanics -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Rock mechanics -- Data processing -- Periodicals; 624.1510285
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compgeo.2016.07.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-352X

Abstract

Abstract: This paper presents a new, fully-coupled, hydro-mechanical (HM) formulation for a finite-discrete element method computer code. In the newly-developed, hydraulic solver, fluid flow is assumed to occur through the same triangular mesh used for the mechanical calculations. The flow of a viscous, compressible fluid is explicitly solved based on a cubic law approximation. The implementation is verified against closed-form solutions for several flow problems. The approach is then applied to a field-scale simulation of fluid injection in a jointed, porous rock mass. Results show that the proposed method can be used to obtain unique geomechanical insights into coupled HM phenomena.