A Review of Critical Conditions for the Onset of Nonlinear Fluid Flow in Rock Fractures

Selecting appropriate governing equations for fluid flow in fractured rock masses is of special importance for estimating the permeability of rock fracture networks. When the flow velocity is small, the flow is in the linear regime and obeys the cubic law, whereas when the flow velocity is large, th...

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Main Authors: Liyuan Yu, Richeng Liu, Yujing Jiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-01-01
Series:Geofluids
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/2176932
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author Liyuan Yu
Richeng Liu
Yujing Jiang
author_facet Liyuan Yu
Richeng Liu
Yujing Jiang
author_sort Liyuan Yu
collection DOAJ
description Selecting appropriate governing equations for fluid flow in fractured rock masses is of special importance for estimating the permeability of rock fracture networks. When the flow velocity is small, the flow is in the linear regime and obeys the cubic law, whereas when the flow velocity is large, the flow is in the nonlinear regime and should be simulated by solving the complex Navier-Stokes equations. The critical conditions such as critical Reynolds number and critical hydraulic gradient are commonly defined in the previous works to quantify the onset of nonlinear fluid flow. This study reviews the simplifications of governing equations from the Navier-Stokes equations, Stokes equation, and Reynold equation to the cubic law and reviews the evolutions of critical Reynolds number and critical hydraulic gradient for fluid flow in rock fractures and fracture networks, considering the influences of shear displacement, normal stress and/or confining pressure, fracture surface roughness, aperture, and number of intersections. This review provides a reference for the engineers and hydrogeologists especially the beginners to thoroughly understand the nonlinear flow regimes/mechanisms within complex fractured rock masses.
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publishDate 2017-01-01
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series Geofluids
spelling doaj-art-016dbce1f1d74b6884b158e63bf7ef582025-08-20T03:55:27ZengWileyGeofluids1468-81151468-81232017-01-01201710.1155/2017/21769322176932A Review of Critical Conditions for the Onset of Nonlinear Fluid Flow in Rock FracturesLiyuan Yu0Richeng Liu1Yujing Jiang2State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Mining Disaster Prevention and Control Co-Founded by Shandong Province and the Ministry of Science and Technology, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, ChinaSelecting appropriate governing equations for fluid flow in fractured rock masses is of special importance for estimating the permeability of rock fracture networks. When the flow velocity is small, the flow is in the linear regime and obeys the cubic law, whereas when the flow velocity is large, the flow is in the nonlinear regime and should be simulated by solving the complex Navier-Stokes equations. The critical conditions such as critical Reynolds number and critical hydraulic gradient are commonly defined in the previous works to quantify the onset of nonlinear fluid flow. This study reviews the simplifications of governing equations from the Navier-Stokes equations, Stokes equation, and Reynold equation to the cubic law and reviews the evolutions of critical Reynolds number and critical hydraulic gradient for fluid flow in rock fractures and fracture networks, considering the influences of shear displacement, normal stress and/or confining pressure, fracture surface roughness, aperture, and number of intersections. This review provides a reference for the engineers and hydrogeologists especially the beginners to thoroughly understand the nonlinear flow regimes/mechanisms within complex fractured rock masses.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/2176932
spellingShingle Liyuan Yu
Richeng Liu
Yujing Jiang
A Review of Critical Conditions for the Onset of Nonlinear Fluid Flow in Rock Fractures
Geofluids
title A Review of Critical Conditions for the Onset of Nonlinear Fluid Flow in Rock Fractures
title_full A Review of Critical Conditions for the Onset of Nonlinear Fluid Flow in Rock Fractures
title_fullStr A Review of Critical Conditions for the Onset of Nonlinear Fluid Flow in Rock Fractures
title_full_unstemmed A Review of Critical Conditions for the Onset of Nonlinear Fluid Flow in Rock Fractures
title_short A Review of Critical Conditions for the Onset of Nonlinear Fluid Flow in Rock Fractures
title_sort review of critical conditions for the onset of nonlinear fluid flow in rock fractures
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/2176932
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