Experimental Study of Temperature Distribution and Evolution Law of Fractured Rock Mass During Heat Transfer Process

To investigate the hindering effect of fracture on heat transfer within rock mass, real-time temperature monitoring was conducted on fractured granite heated by different constant-temperature heat sources. The heat transfer characteristics were analyzed based on the temperature field distribution, t...

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Main Authors: Baoping Xi, Keliu Liu, Qiang Fan, Fuzhi Han, Wenzhuo Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/12/6631
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author Baoping Xi
Keliu Liu
Qiang Fan
Fuzhi Han
Wenzhuo Zhao
author_facet Baoping Xi
Keliu Liu
Qiang Fan
Fuzhi Han
Wenzhuo Zhao
author_sort Baoping Xi
collection DOAJ
description To investigate the hindering effect of fracture on heat transfer within rock mass, real-time temperature monitoring was conducted on fractured granite heated by different constant-temperature heat sources. The heat transfer characteristics were analyzed based on the temperature field distribution, temperature variation pattern, heating rate, temperature difference, and temperature gradient evolution within the fractured granite. Additionally, the difference in temperature field distributions of both intact and fractured granite under different heat source temperatures were discussed. The study reveals that fracture exerts significant control over temperature field distribution in granite, with heat transfer governed by the combined effects of rock heterogeneity and fracture presence. During heating, fractured granite exhibits three distinct temperature response stages: rapid heating, slow heating, and temperature stabilization. Steady temperatures decrease nonlinearly and linearly with increasing distance from the heat source on the left and right side of the fracture. All monitoring points display unimodal heating rate trends (rise–peak–decline–stabilization), with peak rates of 20~120 °C/h above the horizontal monitoring line F-F versus 10~20 °C/h below it. The hindering effect of fracture on heat transfer shows spatial heterogeneity; under the condition of the 80 °C heat source, the temperature difference in the central region is the largest (Δ<i>T</i><sub>max</sub> = 10.5 °C), and the top is the smallest (Δ<i>T</i><sub>min</sub> = 4.5 °C). Concentrated isothermal gradient contours form around fractures, with the time-to-peak gradient correlating positively with heat source distance. Maximum and minimum temperature gradients within the fracture reached 825 °C/m and 345 °C/m, respectively, at 90 °C source temperature. The research results can provide a theoretical basis and technical support for HDR geothermal development.
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spelling doaj-art-3a62879de2fb48ceae1fdcccca210fd92025-08-20T03:32:27ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-06-011512663110.3390/app15126631Experimental Study of Temperature Distribution and Evolution Law of Fractured Rock Mass During Heat Transfer ProcessBaoping Xi0Keliu Liu1Qiang Fan2Fuzhi Han3Wenzhuo Zhao4Department of Mining Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, ChinaDepartment of Mining Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, ChinaDepartment of Mining Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, ChinaDepartment of Mining Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, ChinaDepartment of Mining Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, ChinaTo investigate the hindering effect of fracture on heat transfer within rock mass, real-time temperature monitoring was conducted on fractured granite heated by different constant-temperature heat sources. The heat transfer characteristics were analyzed based on the temperature field distribution, temperature variation pattern, heating rate, temperature difference, and temperature gradient evolution within the fractured granite. Additionally, the difference in temperature field distributions of both intact and fractured granite under different heat source temperatures were discussed. The study reveals that fracture exerts significant control over temperature field distribution in granite, with heat transfer governed by the combined effects of rock heterogeneity and fracture presence. During heating, fractured granite exhibits three distinct temperature response stages: rapid heating, slow heating, and temperature stabilization. Steady temperatures decrease nonlinearly and linearly with increasing distance from the heat source on the left and right side of the fracture. All monitoring points display unimodal heating rate trends (rise–peak–decline–stabilization), with peak rates of 20~120 °C/h above the horizontal monitoring line F-F versus 10~20 °C/h below it. The hindering effect of fracture on heat transfer shows spatial heterogeneity; under the condition of the 80 °C heat source, the temperature difference in the central region is the largest (Δ<i>T</i><sub>max</sub> = 10.5 °C), and the top is the smallest (Δ<i>T</i><sub>min</sub> = 4.5 °C). Concentrated isothermal gradient contours form around fractures, with the time-to-peak gradient correlating positively with heat source distance. Maximum and minimum temperature gradients within the fracture reached 825 °C/m and 345 °C/m, respectively, at 90 °C source temperature. The research results can provide a theoretical basis and technical support for HDR geothermal development.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/12/6631fractured granitegeothermal developmentheat transfertemperature fieldtemperature gradient
spellingShingle Baoping Xi
Keliu Liu
Qiang Fan
Fuzhi Han
Wenzhuo Zhao
Experimental Study of Temperature Distribution and Evolution Law of Fractured Rock Mass During Heat Transfer Process
Applied Sciences
fractured granite
geothermal development
heat transfer
temperature field
temperature gradient
title Experimental Study of Temperature Distribution and Evolution Law of Fractured Rock Mass During Heat Transfer Process
title_full Experimental Study of Temperature Distribution and Evolution Law of Fractured Rock Mass During Heat Transfer Process
title_fullStr Experimental Study of Temperature Distribution and Evolution Law of Fractured Rock Mass During Heat Transfer Process
title_full_unstemmed Experimental Study of Temperature Distribution and Evolution Law of Fractured Rock Mass During Heat Transfer Process
title_short Experimental Study of Temperature Distribution and Evolution Law of Fractured Rock Mass During Heat Transfer Process
title_sort experimental study of temperature distribution and evolution law of fractured rock mass during heat transfer process
topic fractured granite
geothermal development
heat transfer
temperature field
temperature gradient
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/12/6631
work_keys_str_mv AT baopingxi experimentalstudyoftemperaturedistributionandevolutionlawoffracturedrockmassduringheattransferprocess
AT keliuliu experimentalstudyoftemperaturedistributionandevolutionlawoffracturedrockmassduringheattransferprocess
AT qiangfan experimentalstudyoftemperaturedistributionandevolutionlawoffracturedrockmassduringheattransferprocess
AT fuzhihan experimentalstudyoftemperaturedistributionandevolutionlawoffracturedrockmassduringheattransferprocess
AT wenzhuozhao experimentalstudyoftemperaturedistributionandevolutionlawoffracturedrockmassduringheattransferprocess