Unsaturated expansive soil fissure characteristics combined with engineering behaviors

The relationship among the surface fissure ratio, moisture content, seepage coefficient and deformation modulus of field unsaturated expansive soil in Nanning, Guangxi Province, China, was obtained by a direct or indirect method. Digital images of expansive soil of the surface fissure with different moisture contents were analyzed with the binarization statistic method. In addition, the fissure fractal dimension was computed with a self-compiled program. Combined with in situ seepage and loading plate tests, the relationship among the surface fissure ratio, moisture content, seepage coefficient and deformation modulus was initially established. The surface fissure ratio and moisture content show a linear relation, ＂y=-0.019 1x＋1.028 5＂ for rufous expansive soil and ＂y=-0.07 1x＋2.610 5＂ for grey expansive soil. Soil initial seepage coefficient and surface fissure ratio show a power function relation, ＂y=1× 10^-9exp（15.472x）＂ for rufous expansive soil and ＂y=5× 10^-7exp（4.209 6x）＂ for grey expansive soil. Grey expansive soil deformation modulus and surface fissure ratio show a power fimction relation of ＂y=3.935 7exp（0.993 6x）＂. Based on the binarization and fractal dimension methods, the results show that the surface fissure statistics can depict the fissure distribution in the view of two dimensions. And the evolvement behaviors of permeability and the deformation modulus can indirectly describe the developing state of the fissure. The analysis reflects that the engineering behaviors of unsaturated expansive soil are objectively influenced by fissure.

The effect of the fracture distribution on CO_2 injection into a coal seam

The effect of the fracture distribution on CO 2 injection into coal seams was studied with a heterogeneous model having dual porosity to represent both the primary medium (the coal matrix) and the secondary medium (the fractures) under variable stress conditions. A numerical generation method and a digital image processing method were used to model the heterogeneous fracture distribution in the coal. The model solutions demonstrate that: (1) the fractures are the main channel for gas flow and their distribution has an important impact on the gas injection rate; (2) the fractures only affect the injection rate of CO 2 into the coal but not the final storage amount; (3) when gas is injected into coal the fractures will first expand and then close due to the changing effective stresses and the adsorption induced swelling of coal grains. This fully coupled dual-porosity model with a heterogeneous fracture distribution provides a way to predict the CO 2 injection into a coal seam.

Experimental study of seepage characteristics of single rock fracture based on stress states and stress history

Through seepage tests under different loading and unloading confining pressures and different hydraulic gradients,the authors studied the effects of stress states and stress history on fracture permeability evolution for single granite fracture and sandstone fracture. The results show that there exists a linear relationship between the seepage discharge and osmotic pressure in sandstone fissure under each level of confining pressure. With the increasing in the confining pressure,the permeability of the fracture decreases,but the decreasing rate is changeing. During the unloading process,the fracture seepage velocity cannot be fully recovered to the size of the loading process. Therefore,in the unloading process of the confining pressure,the recovery of fracture permeability shows obvious hysteresis effects. The flow rate of the fracture remains unchanged during five cycles of loading and unloading processes of the confining pressure. In each cycle,the evolution character of the flow rate with the confining pressure remains unchanged. These experiments show that the seepage characteristics of sandstone and granite fractures are not the same under the same stress state.

Void Morphology in 3-D Braided Preform/phenolic Composites

Improved Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) technology and equipment were established.Void content and morphology of the 3-D braided preform/phenolic composite were investigated using different RTM processes.The results showed that void content of the vacuum and compression co-assisted RTM process was the lowest.Void morphologies of the specimen cross-section were analyzed with metallographic microscope.In traditional RTM process,the crack of cross-section was in evidence.In vacuum assisted RTM process,the void shape was divided into three categories:irregular crack,triangle,rotundity and ellipse.The most voids distributed in resin rich areas and were observed as large void based on equivalent diameter.In compression assisted RTM,vacuum and compression co-assisted RTM process,the polygonal voids mostly existed inter tows.Void size was mainly intermediate and small based equivalent diameter separately.

Numerical Modeling of the Effect of Crack Parameters on Attenuation Anisotropy

Propagation through stress-aligned fluid-filled cracks and other inclusions have been claimed to be the cause of azimuthal anisotropy observed in the crust and upper mantle.This paper examines the behavior of seismic waves attenuation caused by the internal structure of rock mass,and in particular,the internal geometry of the distribution of fluid-filled openings Systematic research on the effect of crack parameters,such as crack density,crack aspect ratio(the ratio of crack thickness to crack diameter),pore fluid properties(particularly pore fluid velocity),VP/VS ratio of the matrix material and seismic wave frequency on attenuation anisotropy has been conducted based on Hudson's crack theory.The result shows that the crack density,aspect ratio,material filler,seismic wave frequency,and P-wave and shear wave velocity in the background of rock mass,and especially frequency has great effect on attenuation curves.Numerical research can help us know the effect of crack parameters and is a good supplement for laboratory modeling.However,attenuation is less well understood because of the great sensitivity of attenuation to details of the internal geometry.Some small changes in the characteristics of pore fluid viscosity,pore fluids containing gas and liquid phases and pore fluids containing clay can each alter attenuation coefficients by orders of magnitude.Some parameters controlling attenuation are therefore necessary to make reasonable estimations,and anisotropic attenuation is worth studying further.

岩石力学地层新方法在深部煤层气勘探开发“甜点”预测中的应用

“甜点”预测是深部煤层气勘探开发的重点和难点领域,制约深部煤层气能否实现规模效益开发。传统"甜点"预测方法是将地质"甜点"或工程"甜点"单独研究,基于地质—工程一体化理念的"甜点"预测/评价体系亟待建立,当务之急是找到有效的理论方法去实现深部煤层气地质"甜点"与工程"甜点"的有机统一。岩石力学地层(学)具有衔接煤层气地质与储层工程的固有属性与先天优势,为攻克深部煤层气"甜点"一体化预测的技术难题提供了新方法。笔者梳理分析了深部煤层气地质"甜点"与工程"甜点"的发育特征及其预测面临的难题与挑战,讨论提出了深部煤层气"甜点"一体化预测的岩石力学地层方法,探索开展了基于岩石力学地层的深部煤层气"甜点"预测的应用研究。研究结果表明:岩石力学地层控制下的深部煤储层的天然裂隙发育规律是深部煤层气地质"甜点"预测的关键制约条件,而在岩石力学地层控制下的压裂诱导的裂缝发育规律、储层岩石物理变化与储层可改造性则是深部煤层气工程"甜点"评价的核心因素;以岩石力学地层为桥梁纽带和方法机制,可实现深部煤储层沉积成岩作用—岩石力学特征—地质构造与地应力场特征—地质成藏响应—储层工程响应—深部煤层气"甜点"一体化预测的有机衔接。岩石力学地层方法在煤储层裂隙发育特征分析与高渗区预测、煤岩破裂行为分析与产层优选、煤层气藏压裂与排采优化中得到了应用与实践,有望成为破解深部煤层气"甜点"一体化预测难题的技术利器。

Reservoir space types and the factors influencing the characteristics of spherulite in rhyolite

Oil-gas reservoir space types involving spherulite in pyromeride rocks are common in the Lower Cretaceous Shangkuli Formation, the Hailar Basin, China. The main types include interspherulite fissures, interlayer fissures, intraspherulite concentric rings and net microcracks, cavity pores, dissolution pores, and devitrification pores. The first two were found to restrict the effective plane porosity of interspherulite. Devitrification microporosities, microcracks, cavity pores, and spherulite diameter influence the effective plane porosity of intraspherulite. The degree of dissolution is determined by the degree of development and the type of intraspherulite microcracks. Another important role of ring and net microcracks is to connect devitrification pores to form a pore and fissure network. Finally, chilling contraction plays an important role in the form and development of interspherulite fissures, microcracks, and cavity pores. The diameter of spherulite restricts chilling contraction, especially when the diameter is between the common spherulites and lithophysae, thus benefiting microcrack and cavity pore formation. To summarize, devitrification microporosities represent excellent oil reservoir space, while offering micro-channels for the movement of formation water and organic fluids. However, the inclusion of microcracks improves this capacity.

Determination of critical slip surface of fractured rock slopes based on fracture orientation data

The critical slip surface of a fractured rock slope tends to extend along the fractures.Thus,fracture orientation plays a critical role in determining the critical slip surface.Based on fracture orientation data,this paper examines the critical slip surfaces of fractured rock slopes.Given that the surface of a fractured rock slope extends along the fracture surfaces,or the wedges,with each composed of two arbitrary fractures,the critical slip surface is determined via stochastic dynamics.In addition,a fracture frequency method is proposed as a means of analyzing the critical slip surface.According to this method,the critical slip surface slips in whichever direction has the lowest fracture frequency.Based on the stochastic dynamics method and the fracture frequency method,the critical slip surface of the slope is finally determined,that is,the critical slip surface takes the form of a plane passing the slope toe with a dip of 120° and a dip angle of 45°.

An experimental investigation on the mechanism of fluid flow through single rough fracture of rock

The structure of fractures in nature rock appears irregular and induces complicated seepage flow behavior.The mechanism and quantitative description of fluid flow through rock fractures is a difficult subject that has been greatly concerned in the fields of geotechnical,mining,geological,and petroleum engineering.In order to probe the mechanism of fluid flow and the effects of rough structures,we conducted a few laboratory tests of fluid flow through single rough fractures,in which the Weierstrass-Mandelbrot fractal function and PMMA material were employed to produce the fracture models with various fractal roughnesses.A high-speed video camera was employed to record the fluid flow through the entire single rough fracture with a constant hydraulic pressure.The properties of fluid flow varying with the fracture roughness and the influences of the rough structure were analyzed.The components of flow resistance of a single rough fracture were discussed.A fractal model was proposed to relate the fluid resistance to the fracture roughness.A fractal equivalent permeability coefficient of a single rough fracture was formulated.This study aims to provide an experimental basis and reference for better understanding and quantitatively relating the fluid flow properties to the structures of rock fractures.

MRT-LBM-based numerical simulation of seepage flow through fractal fracture networks

The study on seepage flow passing through single fractures is essential and critical for understanding of the law of seepage flow passing through fracture networks and the coupling mechanisms of seepage field and stress field in rock masses.By using the fractal interpolation to reconstruct a natural coarse fracture,as well as taking into account the microstructure of the fracture,the numerical simulation of seepage flow passing through the coarse fractures with two distinct vertical scaling factors is conducted based on the MRT-LBM model of the lattice Boltzmann method.Then,after obtaining the length of the preferential flow pathway,the permeability of the two kinds of fractures is estimated respectively.In view of difficulties in locating the preferential flow pathway of natural fracture networks,by numerical tests a transect permeability weighted algorithm for estimating the fracture network permeability is proposed.The algorithm is not specific to one or more particular preferential flow pathways,but considers the contribution of each section to hinder the fluid passing through the medium.In order to apply the new algorithm,by capturing the structure of fracture networks based on the image-processing technique,the numerical simulations of seepage flow passing through two groups of natural fracture networks is carried out,the permeability is forecasted and the partial flows are reproduced for both cases.It is found that the preferential flow pathway emerges at the beginning of evolution,then is strengthened subsequently,and finally reaches a steady status.Furthermore,by using the proposed method some details on local flow can be clearly observed such as backflows and vortices at local branches can exist simultaneously and so forth,suggesting the validness of the proposed method for multiscale simulations of seepage flow.

Numerical study on two-phase flow through fractured porous media

Based on the flux equivalent principle of a single fracture, the discrete fracture concept was developed, in which the macroscopic fractures are explicitly described as （n-l） dimensional geometry element. On the fundamental of this simplification, the discrete-fractured model was developed which is suitable for all types of fractured porous media. The principle of discrete-fractured model was introduced in detail, and the general mathematical model was expressed subsequently. The fully coupling discrete-fractured mathematical model was implemented using Galerkin finite element method. The validity and accuracy of the model were shown through the Buckley-Leverett problem in a single fracture. Then the discrete-fractured model was applied to the two different type fractured porous media. The effect of fractures on the water flooding in fractured reservoirs was investigated. The numerical results showed that the fractures made the porous media more heterogeneous and anisotropic, and that the orientation, size, type of fracture and the connectivity of fractures network have important impacts on the two-phase flow.