Hydraulic conductivity of rock fractures

Zimmerman, Robert W.; Bodvarsson, G.S.

doi:10.1007/bf00145263

Cited by 1,109 publications

(486 citation statements)

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“…(2) is not satisfactory to calculate the hydraulic aperture for fractures involving rough walls. Zimmerman and Bodvarsson [6] and Yeo [39] suggested that for fluid flow the effect of contacted parts of fracture walls which play a role of obstacles can be represented as a c-value. They tried to calculate an accurate hydraulic aperture considering the c-value.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The model tends to overestimate the hydraulic conductivity [9]. Although several studies have been devoted to correct the cubic law ( [6], [37], etc. ), we have yet no satisfactory model considering a local roughness geometry of each fracture.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since this kind of flow is largely influenced by the fracture aperture, the hydraulic conductivity should be based on the following cubic law; w Fig.10 shows the relationship between the flow rate and the cubic power of aperture (the dashed line implies a linear relation between both values). The results suggest that in the most cases the cubic law is not completely satisfied, and as mentioned in [5], [6] it works only under the assumption of a parallel plate model. Therefore, under considering roughness geometry of a fracture the cubic law should be modified as…”

mentioning

confidence: 80%

“…However, the cubic law is not appropriate to analyze an accurate profile of fluid flow through a fracture, because it does not reflect the true profile of the fracture [3], [4], [5], [6]. Permeability tests actually show some discrepancies between the hydraulic conductivity and the fracture geometry.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Width of hydraulic aperture can be calculated if we recognize the difference between both apertures. Among several studies, Zimmerman and Bodvarsson [6] proposed Eq. (2) to calculate the hydraulic aperture: standard deviation of measured aperture data.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Aperture of Granite Fracture and Effects for Fluid Flow

Chae

Ichikawa

Jeong

et al. 2003

Journal of the Society of Materials Science, Japan

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Fluid flow in rock mass is controlled by geometry of fractures which is mainly characterized by roughness, aperture and orientation. In this study we measure the aperture of rock fractures using a high resolution confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). Digital images of the aperture are acquired under applying five stages of uniaxial application for the same specimen continuously.Our method can characterize the response of aperture. Results of measurements show that roughness geometry of fracture bears no uniform aperture. That is, it is changed in nonuniform manner under the different stress levels: Some parts bear a smaller aperture because of the applied stress, while some parts with very narrow aperture develop new cracks or shear displacement because of no space of aperture reduction.Laboratory permeability tests are also conducted to evaluate changes of permeability related to aperture variation due to different stress levels. The results do not imply a simple reduction of hydraulic conductivity under increase of the normal stress. This suggests that the mechanical aperture is different from the hydraulic aperture which is an effective conduit of fluid flow along a fracture. It is shown that the hydraulic aperture is slightly smaller than the mechanical aperture. Clearly the flow channels are changed due to the local change of geometry under the applied stress. The hydraulic conductivity does not follow the cubic law. This means that a parallel plate model is not suitable to express the hydraulic conductivity including local fracture geometry.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 80%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Aperture of Granite Fracture and Effects for Fluid Flow

Chae

Ichikawa

Jeong

et al. 2003

Journal of the Society of Materials Science, Japan

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Flow‐dependence of matrix diffusion in highly heterogeneous rock fractures

Cvetković

Gotovac

2013

Water Resources Research

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[1] Diffusive mass transfer in rock fractures is strongly affected by fluid flow in addition to material properties. The flow-dependence of matrix diffusion is quantified by a random variable (''transport resistance'') denoted as b [T/L] and computed from the flow field by following advection trajectories. The numerical methodology for simulating fluid flow is mesh-free, using Fup basis functions. A generic statistical model is used for the transmissivity field, featuring three correlation structures: (i) highly connected non-multiGaussian; (ii) poorly connected (or disconnected) non-multi-Gaussian ; and (iii) multiGaussian. The moments of b are shown to be linear with distance, irrespective of the structure, after approximately 10 integral scales of ln T. Percentiles of b are found to be linear with the mean b when considering all three structures. Taking advantage of this property, a potentially useful relationship is presented between b percentiles and the fracture mean water residence time that integrates all structures with high variability; it can be used in discrete fracture network simulations where T statistical data on individual fractures are not available.Citation: Cvetkovic, V., and H. Gotovac (2013), Flow-dependence of matrix diffusion in highly heterogeneous rock fractures, Water Resour. Res., 49,[7587][7588][7589][7590][7591][7592][7593][7594][7595][7596][7597]

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Correlation between groundwater flow and deformation in the fractured carbonate Gran Sasso aquifer (INFN underground laboratories, central Italy)

Amoruso

Crescentini

Martino

et al. 2014

Water Resources Research

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The Gran Sasso massif is a carbonate fractured aquifer with a spring discharge of more than 18 m 3 s 21 . The water table has been partially drained by two motorway tunnels and an underground laboratory (UL), located into the core aquifer. Karst features have limited role below the water table, where groundwater flow is mainly regulated by the fracture network. Two paired laser extensometers (BA and BC) recorded ground deformation in the UL. Changes in deformation correlate with the seasonal recharge/discharge cycle of groundwater flow and its long-term changes. Hydrostatic conditions prevail during the recharge phases because of the low permeability of local fractures, favoring compression, and hydraulic gradient increase above the UL. Fast groundwater flow through the high-permeability fault outcropping in the UL can enhance local dilatation for short periods. Spring discharge during exhaustion periods is fed by the low-permeability fracture network, fostering hydrodynamic conditions by hydraulic gradient decrease, diminishing compression and consequently favoring dilatation. Independent support to this conceptual model comes from local tests and a numerical model which highlights the hydromechanical strain effects induced by the hydrological cycle on the jointed rock mass along BA and the role of the hydraulic gradient on the rock mass deformation.

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Hydraulic conductivity of rock fractures

Cited by 1,109 publications

References 55 publications

Aperture of Granite Fracture and Effects for Fluid Flow

Aperture of Granite Fracture and Effects for Fluid Flow

Flow‐dependence of matrix diffusion in highly heterogeneous rock fractures

Correlation between groundwater flow and deformation in the fractured carbonate Gran Sasso aquifer (INFN underground laboratories, central Italy)

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