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Applications of fracture mechanics numerical modelling in rock engineering
- Source: First Break, Volume 28, Issue 3, Mar 2010,
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- 01 Mar 2010
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Abstract
Discontinuities are an important feature of rock and rock mass. They control the hydraulic properties by connected fracture networks and also govern the mechanical behaviour. Rock fracture mechanics is the explicit analysis of fracture propagation. Fracture mechanics is based on physical principles, rather than empirical relationships as employed in classical rock mechanics. Here the basic relations and laboratory techniques in rock fracture mechanics are summarized and applications of fracture-mechanics-based numerical codes on rock mechanics issues are highlighted, such as borehole stability and hydraulic fracturing. Nowadays, the propagation of fractures and generation of fracture networks can be simulated satisfactorily in two dimensions. Outstanding difficulties which are not yet resolved are anisotropic behaviour, extension to three spatial dimensions, and inclusion of realistic fracture sets in the models. The potential of fracture-mechanics-based numerical modelling for meeting challenges in different industries is outlined. Such software tools might help, for example, in analysing the risk of a thermo/hydraulic short circuit in geothermal projects, in identifying the factors influencing borehole instability or sand production in reservoir geomechanics, or in improving hydraulic stimulation campaigns to optimize the connection of an existing fracture network to the wellbore.