Open Access
ARTICLE
Nonlinear Flow Properties of Newtonian Fluids through Rough Crossed Fractures
Zhenguo Liu1,2, Shuchen Li1,3, Richeng Liu3,*, Changzhou Zheng2
1 Geotechnical and Structural Engineering Research Center, Shandong University, Jinan, 250061, China
2 Sinohydro Foundation Engineering Co., Ltd., Tianjin, 301700, China
3 State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China
* Corresponding Author: Richeng Liu. Email:
Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences 2023, 136(2), 1427-1440. https://doi.org/10.32604/cmes.2023.025414
Received 11 July 2022; Accepted 27 October 2022; Issue published 06 February 2023
Abstract
The nonlinear flow properties of Newtonian fluids through crossed fractures are estimated by considering the influences of length, aperture, and surface roughness of fractures. A total of 252 computational runs are performed by creating 36 computational domains, in which the Navier-Stokes equations are solved. The results show that the nonlinear relationship between flow rate and hydraulic gradient follows Forchheimer’s law–based equation. When the hydraulic gradient is small (i.e., 10
−6), the streamlines are parallel to the fracture walls, indicating a linear streamline distribution. When the hydraulic gradient is large (i.e., 10
0), the streamlines are disturbed by a certain number of eddies, indicating a nonlinear streamline distribution. The patterns of eddy distributions depend on the length, aperture, and surface roughness of fractures. With the increment of hydraulic gradient from 10
−6 to 10
0, the ratio of flow rate to hydraulic gradient holds constants and then decreases slightly and finally decreases robustly. The fluid flow experiences a linear flow regime, a weakly nonlinear regime, and a strongly nonlinear regime, respectively. The critical hydraulic gradient ranges from 3.27 × 10
−5 to 5.82 × 10
−2 when fracture length = 20–100 mm and mechanical aperture = 1–5 mm. The joint roughness coefficient plays a negligible role in the variations in critical hydraulic gradient compared with fracture length and/or mechanical aperture. The critical hydraulic gradient decreases with increasing mechanical aperture, following power-law relationships. The parameters in the functions are associated with fracture length.
Keywords
Cite This Article
Liu, Z., Li, S., Liu, R., Zheng, C. (2023). Nonlinear Flow Properties of Newtonian Fluids through Rough Crossed Fractures.
CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, 136(2), 1427–1440. https://doi.org/10.32604/cmes.2023.025414