Effect of Shear Displacement on the Directivity of Permeability in 3D Self-Affine Fractal Fractures

The effect of shear displacement on the directivity of permeability in fractures is studied in this paper. The studied fracture surface has 3D self-affine fractal characteristics that are created using the modified successive random addition (SRA) method. Fluid flow through the fracture is simulated using the COMSOL Multiphysics code based on the finite element method (FEM) by changing the angle between the shear direction and macroscopic flow direction. The evolutions of the aperture distribution and flow paths with changes in shear displacement are investigated, and the change in the equivalent permeability is evaluated. The results show that the mean aperture and its deviation for rough fractures increase as the shear displacement increases, and this change is accompanied by an increase in void spaces and decreasing contact areas between the upper and lower fracture surfaces. The flow paths become more tortuous, and the channeling flow effect occurs during the shear process. The equivalent permeability of the fractures varies as the inclination between the shear direction and macroscopic flow direction changes. The permeability with the largest magnitude exists in the direction perpendicular to the shear direction, and the permeability with the smallest magnitude exists in the direction parallel to the shear direction. The equivalent permeability of the fractures at other inclinations varies between the smallest and greatest values. Notably, larger inclinations correspond to higher permeability magnitudes. The ratio of the directional permeability to the permeability in the direction parallel to the shear direction varies between 1.03 and 2.71. This ratio tends to decrease as the shear displacement and JRC increase, which indicates that the directivity of the permeability is more obvious for fractures with smaller JRCs and smaller shear displacement.

On the Upstream Track Deflection of Tropical Cyclones Past a Mountain Range: Idealized Experiments

Upstream track deflection of a propagating cyclonic vortex past an isolated mountain range is investigated by using idealized simulations with both boundary layer turbulent mixing and cloud effects. The westbound vortex past a shorter mountain range may experience an earlier northward deflection prior to landfall. The vortex then takes a sudden southward turn as it gets closer to the mountain range, in response to the effects of the stronger northerly wind over the mountain due to the effects of channeling flow. The vortex may deflect southward when approaching a longer mountain range and then rebound northward upstream of the mountain ridge. The southward deflection is primarily induced by the convergence (stretching) effect due to the combination of the speedy core at the southwestern flank of the vortex and a northerly jet between the vortex and the mountain. The vortex then rebounds northward to pass over the mountain as the speedy core rotates counterclockwise to the eastern flank of the vortex. The track deflection near the mountain is also affected as either of both physics is deactivated. Sensitivity experiments show that for a given steering flow and mountain height, a linear relationship exists between the maximum upstream deflection distance and the nondimensional parameter Rmw/Ly, where Rmw is the vortex size (represented by the radius of the maximum wind) and Ly is the north–south length scale of the mountain. The southward deflection distance increases with smaller Rmw/Ly and higher mountains for both weaker and stronger steering flow. When the steering-flow intensity is doubled, the southward deflection is roughly reduced by 50%.

Channeling Flow and Solute Transport in a Single Fracture

Groundwater in fractured media plays an important role in drinking water supply, and the understanding of its principle mechanisms is essential for securing the groundwater exploring and utilization. In this paper, a novel conceptual fracture model was presented on the basis of the reality of channeling flow in natural fractures and laboratory experiments were conducted for the purpose of getting a better understanding of the step-like breakthrough curve (BTC). Experimental results were fitted with convective dispersive equation (CDE) and compared with those of the finite element method (FEM) models. Results showed that the traditional one-dimensional CDE was invalid in the fitting of a step-like BTC and needed to be improved.

Research Advance in Fluid Flow through a Single Rock Fracture

Flow properties through a single rock fracture are the foundation of researching fluid flow in fractured rock masses. Many researchers at home and abroad are engaging in this subject for the urgent need of engineering practice. This article mainly introduces concepts of roughness, aperture, tortuosity, channeling flow, and influencing factors of stress, temperature, anisotropic, inlet head, scale effect, solution etc. Finally, some research work should be done in future are given.

Parametric Study of Channeling Flow in Low Permeability Reservoir with Mudstone Interlayer

Channeling flow frequently occurs during the high pressure water injection of low permeability reservoir. The injection process is complex and covers so many parameters of which the contribution to channeling flow is necessarily to be studied. In this paper, numerical simulation is combined with sensitivity analysis method to calculate the significance of the weight of parameters to the channeling flow. First the values of different parameters are produced by using Latin hypercube method; second, by using these parameters, finite element model have been established and simulated, and the quantity of channeling flow has been calculated; then Spearman rank relation is applied to measure the relation of parameters and channeling flow. The results states that, in 10 years continuous injection, the well spacing and injection pressure have significant impact on the channeling flow. This states that during the application of high pressure water injection, the pressure and well spacing should be controlled especially.