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Predicting hydraulic fracture propagation in fractured porous media using an extended phase-field model towards multiphasic materials
This project aims to investigate the influence of preexisting fractures on the propagation of hydraulic fractures in porous media. The phase-field model embedded in the Theory of Porous Media (TPM) will be used and further explored.
Keywords: FEM, computational mechanics, phase-field model
Pressure-driven fracturing processes in porous media are commonly found in nature and engineering practice, such as hydraulic fracturing. The process involves complex physical phenomena including interactions between solid and fluid, fracturing in solid, and transformation of fluid state. Particularly, experiments have shown different patterns of newly generated fractures interacting with pre-existing fractures (which are common in natural materials) in the hydraulic fracturing process, as shown in Figure A. In order to explain and predict these patterns, multiphysics models can be used to build insights into this coupled and interacting process.
Pressure-driven fracturing processes in porous media are commonly found in nature and engineering practice, such as hydraulic fracturing. The process involves complex physical phenomena including interactions between solid and fluid, fracturing in solid, and transformation of fluid state. Particularly, experiments have shown different patterns of newly generated fractures interacting with pre-existing fractures (which are common in natural materials) in the hydraulic fracturing process, as shown in Figure A. In order to explain and predict these patterns, multiphysics models can be used to build insights into this coupled and interacting process.
This project aims to investigate the influence of preexisting fractures on the propagation of hydraulic fractures in porous media. The phase-field model embedded in the Theory of Porous Media (TPM) will be used and further explored. Preliminary numerical results (Figure B) have reproduced the fracturing patterns observed in the experiments. The effects of the angle of the preexisting fracture and the stress state of the material among other critical parameters will be investigated in detail. Ultimately, a practical criterion governing the hydraulic fracturing pattern of porous media with preexisting fractures will be proposed.
This project aims to investigate the influence of preexisting fractures on the propagation of hydraulic fractures in porous media. The phase-field model embedded in the Theory of Porous Media (TPM) will be used and further explored. Preliminary numerical results (Figure B) have reproduced the fracturing patterns observed in the experiments. The effects of the angle of the preexisting fracture and the stress state of the material among other critical parameters will be investigated in detail. Ultimately, a practical criterion governing the hydraulic fracturing pattern of porous media with preexisting fractures will be proposed.
Dr. Chenyi Luo
Computational Mechanics Group
Tannenstrasse 3, CLA J 17.1
E-mail: chenluo@ethz.ch
Dr. Chenyi Luo Computational Mechanics Group Tannenstrasse 3, CLA J 17.1 E-mail: chenluo@ethz.ch