A Novel Numerical Model for Fluid Flow in 3D Fractured Porous Media Based on an Equivalent Matrix-Fracture Network
An original 3D numerical approach for fluid flow in fractured porous media is proposed. The whole research domain is discretized by the Delaunay tetrahedron based on the concept of node saturation. Tetrahedral blocks are impermeable, and fluid only flows through the interconnected interfaces between...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Geofluids |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/9736729 |
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| author | Chi Yao Chen He Jianhua Yang Qinghui Jiang Jinsong Huang Chuangbing Zhou |
| author_facet | Chi Yao Chen He Jianhua Yang Qinghui Jiang Jinsong Huang Chuangbing Zhou |
| author_sort | Chi Yao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | An original 3D numerical approach for fluid flow in fractured porous media is proposed. The whole research domain is discretized by the Delaunay tetrahedron based on the concept of node saturation. Tetrahedral blocks are impermeable, and fluid only flows through the interconnected interfaces between blocks. Fractures and the porous matrix are replaced by the triangular interface network, which is the so-called equivalent matrix-fracture network (EMFN). In this way, the three-dimensional seepage problem becomes a two-dimensional problem. The finite element method is used to solve the steady-state flow problem. The big finding is that the ratio of the macroconductivity of the whole interface network to the local conductivity of an interface is linearly related to the cubic root of the number of nodes used for mesh generation. A formula is presented to describe this relationship. With this formula, we can make sure that the EMFN produces the same macroscopic hydraulic conductivity as the intact rock. The approach is applied in a series of numerical tests to demonstrate its efficiency. Effects of the hydraulic aperture of fracture and connectivity of the fracture network on the effective hydraulic conductivity of fractured rock masses are systematically investigated. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0ebed8d8de884aa8ba03c15300cad22a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1468-8115 1468-8123 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geofluids |
| spelling | doaj-art-0ebed8d8de884aa8ba03c15300cad22a2025-02-03T05:54:07ZengWileyGeofluids1468-81151468-81232019-01-01201910.1155/2019/97367299736729A Novel Numerical Model for Fluid Flow in 3D Fractured Porous Media Based on an Equivalent Matrix-Fracture NetworkChi Yao0Chen He1Jianhua Yang2Qinghui Jiang3Jinsong Huang4Chuangbing Zhou5School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330033, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330033, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330033, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330033, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330033, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330033, ChinaAn original 3D numerical approach for fluid flow in fractured porous media is proposed. The whole research domain is discretized by the Delaunay tetrahedron based on the concept of node saturation. Tetrahedral blocks are impermeable, and fluid only flows through the interconnected interfaces between blocks. Fractures and the porous matrix are replaced by the triangular interface network, which is the so-called equivalent matrix-fracture network (EMFN). In this way, the three-dimensional seepage problem becomes a two-dimensional problem. The finite element method is used to solve the steady-state flow problem. The big finding is that the ratio of the macroconductivity of the whole interface network to the local conductivity of an interface is linearly related to the cubic root of the number of nodes used for mesh generation. A formula is presented to describe this relationship. With this formula, we can make sure that the EMFN produces the same macroscopic hydraulic conductivity as the intact rock. The approach is applied in a series of numerical tests to demonstrate its efficiency. Effects of the hydraulic aperture of fracture and connectivity of the fracture network on the effective hydraulic conductivity of fractured rock masses are systematically investigated.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/9736729 |
| spellingShingle | Chi Yao Chen He Jianhua Yang Qinghui Jiang Jinsong Huang Chuangbing Zhou A Novel Numerical Model for Fluid Flow in 3D Fractured Porous Media Based on an Equivalent Matrix-Fracture Network Geofluids |
| title | A Novel Numerical Model for Fluid Flow in 3D Fractured Porous Media Based on an Equivalent Matrix-Fracture Network |
| title_full | A Novel Numerical Model for Fluid Flow in 3D Fractured Porous Media Based on an Equivalent Matrix-Fracture Network |
| title_fullStr | A Novel Numerical Model for Fluid Flow in 3D Fractured Porous Media Based on an Equivalent Matrix-Fracture Network |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Novel Numerical Model for Fluid Flow in 3D Fractured Porous Media Based on an Equivalent Matrix-Fracture Network |
| title_short | A Novel Numerical Model for Fluid Flow in 3D Fractured Porous Media Based on an Equivalent Matrix-Fracture Network |
| title_sort | novel numerical model for fluid flow in 3d fractured porous media based on an equivalent matrix fracture network |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/9736729 |
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