Speaker
Description
In this study, a large number of synthetic 2D and 3D fracture networks are constructed based on the power-law length model, spanning a wide range of length exponents and fracture intensities. The 3D fracture networks are generated by FracLab, with optimized mesh quality to achieve high computational efficiency. Geomechanical modeling is employed to capture the mechanical responses of fractured media under different stress loads, such as nonlinear normal closure, shear slip, and dilatancy. Based on stress-dependent aperture distributions, we systematically investigate the combined effects of geomechanical deformation and geometric distribution on the flow and transport behaviors in fractured media. The results show that anisotropic loading induces non-uniform fracture closure and localized shear dilation, which generates a highly heterogeneous permeability field and further triggers flow channeling and anomalous transport phenomena. Such stress-induced anomalous transport is more pronounced in well-connected fracture networks. In contrast, flow channeling and anomalous transport in critically connected fracture networks are dominated by the geometric topology of fracture networks, with normal closure and shear dilation as secondary effects. Using percolation theory, we further establish analytical models for predicting rock mass equivalent permeability and median transport time, correlated with fracture network geometric parameters. This study deepens understanding of stress-flow-transport coupling processes in subsurface fractured media and provides important implications for engineering practices such as geothermal development, subsurface contaminant migration, and nuclear waste geological disposal.
| Country | Sweden |
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