Theoretical Analyses of the Effects of Solute Dispersion on Chemical-Dissolution Front Instability in Fluid-Saturated Porous Media

This article deals with the theoretical aspects of chemical-dissolution front instability problems in two-dimensional fluid-saturated porous media including solute dispersion effects. Since the solute equilibrium concentration is much smaller than the molar density of the dissolvable mineral in a mineral dissolution system, a limit case, in which the ratio of the solute equilibrium concentration (in the pore fluid) to the molar density of the dissolvable mineral (in the solid matrix of the porous medium) approaches zero, is considered in the theoretical analysis. Under this assumption, the critical condition under which a planar chemical-dissolution front becomes unstable has been mathematically derived when solute dispersion effects are considered. The present theoretical results clearly demonstrated that: (1) the propagation speed of a planar chemical-dissolution front in the case of considering solute dispersion effects is the same as that when solute dispersion effects are neglected. This indicates that solute dispersion does not affect the propagation speed of the planar chemical-dissolution front in a fluid-saturated porous medium. (2) The consideration of solute dispersion can cause a significant increase in the critical Zhao number, which is used to judge whether or not a planar chemical-dissolution front may become unstable in the fluid-saturated porous medium. This means that the consideration of solute dispersion can stabilize a planar chemical-dissolution front, because an increase in the critical Zhao number reduces the likelihood of the planar chemical-dissolution front instability in a fluid-saturated porous medium. In addition, the present results can be used as benchmark solutions for verifying numerical methods employed to simulate detailed morphological evolution processes of chemical dissolution fronts in two-dimensional fluid-saturated porous media.     

Effects of Medium Permeability Anisotropy on Chemical-Dissolution Front Instability in Fluid-Saturated Porous Media

This paper deals with the theoretical aspects of chemical-dissolution front instability problems in two-dimensional fluid-saturated porous media including medium anisotropic effects. Since a general anisotropic medium can be described as an orthotropic medium in the corresponding principal directions, a two-dimensional orthotropic porous medium is considered to derive the analytical solution for the critical condition, which is used to judge whether or not the chemical dissolution front can become unstable during its propagation. In the case of the mineral dissolution ratio (that is defined as the ratio of the dissolved-mineral equilibrium concentration in the pore-fluid to the molar concentration of the dissolvable mineral in the solid matrix of the fluid-saturated porous medium) approaching zero, the corresponding critical condition has been mathematically derived when medium permeability anisotropic effects are considered. As a complementary tool, the computational simulation method is used to simulate the morphological evolution of chemical dissolution fronts in two-dimensional fluid-saturated porous media including medium anisotropic effects. The related theoretical and numerical results demonstrated that: (1) a decrease in the medium anisotropic permeability factor (or ratio), which is defined as the ratio of the principal permeability in the transversal direction to that in the longitudinal direction parallel to the pore-fluid inflow direction, can stabilize the chemical dissolution front so that it becomes more difficult for a planar chemical-dissolution front to evolve into different morphologies in the chemical dissolution system; (2) the medium anisotropic permeability ratio can have significant effects on the morphological evolution of the chemical dissolution front. When the Zhao number of the chemical dissolution system is greater than its critical value, the greater the medium anisotropic permeability ratio, the faster the irregular chemical-dissolution front grows.     

Effect of Reactive Surface Areas Associated with Different Particle Shapes on Chemical-Dissolution Front Instability in Fluid-Saturated Porous Rocks

In this article, the effect of reactive surface areas associated with different particle shapes on the reactive infiltration instability in a fluid-saturated porous medium is investigated through analytically deriving the dimensionless pore-fluid pressure-gradient of a coupled system between porosity, pore-fluid flow and reactive chemical-species transport within two idealized porous media consisting of spherical and cubic grains respectively. Compared with the critical dimensionless pore-fluid pressure-gradient of the coupled system, the derived dimensionless pore-fluid pressure-gradient can be used to assess the instability of a chemical dissolution front within the fluid-saturated porous medium. The related theoretical analysis has demonstrated that (1) since the shape coefficient of spherical grains is greater than that of cubic grains, the chemical system consisting of spherical grains is more unstable than that consisting of cubic grains, and (2) the instability likelihood of a natural porous medium, which is comprised of irregular grains, is smaller than that of an idealized porous medium, which is comprised of regular spherical grains. To simulate the complicated morphological evolution of a chemical dissolution front in the case of the chemical dissolution system becoming supercritical, a numerical procedure is proposed for solving this kind of problem. The related numerical results have demonstrated that the reactive surface area associated with different particle shapes can have a significant influence on the morphological evolution of an unstable chemical-dissolution front within fluid-saturated porous rocks.     

Propagating semi-infinite crack in fluid-saturated porous medium of finite height

Derived in this work are the Mode I stress intensity factor results for a constant velocity semi-infinite crack moving in a fluid-saturated porous medium with finite height. Two limiting cases are discussed; they correspond to a low and high speed crack propagation. To be expected is that the crack front stress intensification would increase as the medium height is reduced in relation to the segment length in which mechanical pressure is applied. Moreover, the stress intensity factor for the high speed crack is larger than the low speed crack, the magnification of which depends on the material. Dissatisfaction of the crack surface and tip boundary condition is found in the present solution which calls possibly for the additional consideration of a local boundary layer as discussed by other authors.     

A wavelet finite-difference method for numerical simulation of wave propagation in fluid-saturated porous media

In this paper, we consider numerical simulation of wave propagation in fluidsaturated porous media. A wavelet finite-difference method is proposed to solve the 2-D elastic wave equation. The algorithm combines flexibility and computational efficiency of wavelet multi-resolution method with easy implementation of the finite-difference method. The orthogonal wavelet basis provides a natural framework, which adapt spatial grids to local wavefield properties. Numerical results show usefulness of the approach as an accurate and stable tool for simulation of wave propagation in fluid-saturated porous media.     

A fluid-saturated porous medium under the action of a moving concentrated load

The problem of motion of a concentrated load along the surface of a fluid-saturated porous medium is studied for a subsonic range of speeds. An analytical solution is found. It is shown that there exists a critical speed equal to the speed of the Rayleigh-type surface waves in a porous elastic medium. If this critical speed is exceeded, then the behavior of the solution and the free surface shape are changed. The free surface shape is analyzed at different speeds.     

Generalized ray expansion for pulse propagation and attenuation in fluid-saturated porous media

A theory suitable for studying pulses propagating through a layered fluid-saturated porous medium is presented. Biot's theory is used to describe the constitutive equation of a fluid-saturated porous solid. Since fast and slow compressional waves exist in a Biot solid even at normal incidence, there is mode conversion at the interface and, therefore, the transmission and reflection coefficients are 2x2 matrices. We use matrix methods in developing the solution of the wave propagation problem. A generalized ray expansion algorithm is obtained by using the Gauss-Seidel matrix iterative method. The arrivals of the fast and the slow waves are easily identified. A compact computational algorithm is developed using combinatorial analysis and the Cayley-Hamilton theorem.     

Hydraulic fracturing of a saturated porous medium-I: General theory

This investigation deals with the problem of steady state hydraulic fracture in an infinite isotropic fluid-saturated elastic porous medium induced by a uniform pressure applied to the crack surfaces. A quasi-static approach is employed in the study. A boundary value problem is formulated and then analyzed by means of the Fourier transform associated with the Wiener-Hopf technique. Stress intensity factor and potential energy release rate are found by asymptotic analysis and the superposition principle as functions of the speed of crack propagation. The material breakdown process at the crack tip is discussed based on Dugdale's model. Finally, a brief discussion of the effect of pressure drop on the hydraulic fracture process and the decrease in crack speed during crack extension is included.     

Hydraulic fracture in poro-hydro-elastic media

The prediction of fluid-driven crack propagation in deforming porous media has achieved increasing interest in recent years, in particular with regard to the modeling of hydraulic fracturing, the so-called “fracking”. Here, the challenge is to link at least three modeling ingredients for (i) the behavior of the solid skeleton and fluid bulk phases and their interaction, (ii) the crack propagation on not a priori known paths and (iii) the extra fluid flow within developing cracks. To this end, a macroscopic framework is proposed for a continuum phase field modeling of fracture in porous media that provides a rigorous approach to a diffusive crack modeling based on the introduction of a regularized crack surface. The approach overcomes difficulties associated with the computational realization of sharp crack discontinuities, in particular when it comes to complex crack topologies including branching. It shows that the quasi-static problem of elastically deforming, fluid-saturated porous media at fracture is related to a minimization principle for the evolution problem. The existence of this minimization principle for the coupled problem is advantageous with regard to a new unconstrained stable finite element design, while previous space discretizations of the saddle point principles are constrained by the LBB condition. This proposed formulation includes a generalization of crack driving forces from energetic definitions towards threshold-based criteria in terms of the effective stress related to the solid skeleton of a fluid-saturated porous medium. Furthermore, a Poiseuille-type constitutive continuum modeling of the extra fluid flow in developed cracks is suggested based on a deformation-dependent permeability, that is scaled by a characteristic length.     

Propagation and Evolution of Wave Fronts in Two-Phase Porous Media

An investigation is made into the propagation and evolution of wave fronts in a porous medium which is intended to contain two phases: the porous solid, referred to as the skeleton, and the fluid within the interconnected pores formed by the skeleton. In particular, the microscopic density of each real material is assumed to be unchangeable, while the macroscopic density of each phase may change, associated with the volume fractions. A two-phase porous medium model is concisely introduced based on the work by de Boer. Propagation conditions and amplitude evolution of the discontinuity waves are presented by use of the idea of surfaces of discontinuity, where the wave front is treated as a surface of discontinuity. It is demonstrated that the saturation condition entails certain restrictions between the amplitudes of the longitudinal waves in the solid and fluid phases. Two propagation velocities are attained upon examining the existence of the discontinuity waves. It is found that a completely coupled longitudinal wave and a pure transverse wave are realizable in the two-phase porous medium. The discontinuity strength of the pore-pressure may be determined by the amplitude of the coupled longitudinal wave. In the case of homogeneous weak discontinuities, explicit evolution equations of the amplitudes for two types of discontinuity waves are derived.     

Asymptotic analysis of the equilibrium equation of a fluid-saturated porous medium by the homogenization method

The homogenization of static elasticity equations describing the stress strain state of fluid-saturated porous medium is considered. In this paper, the homogenization method is used to determine the pore pressure transfer tensor, which (a coefficient in the isotropic case) is an important parameter influencing the stress-strain state of fluid-saturated rocks. It shows what a part of the pressure in the fluid is “active” in the formation of macroscopic strains.The pore pressure transfer tensor is calculated for model and real geological specimens. The dependence of this tensor on the porosity, pore shape, and Poisson ratio is investigated. The use of the computational technique for determining the effective properties of rocks shows that it is practically important in the engineering geology.     

降压开采模拟试验的水合物分解阵面演化过程

水合物分解阵面演化过程与开采安全性和产气效率密切相关,是开采原位监测的重要组成部分。在玻璃砂样品中进行了甲烷水合物降压开采模拟试验,探讨了水合物饱和度对渗流阵面和水合物分解阵面演化过程的影响,结合已有理论模型,分析了水合物分解阵面传播速度的关键影响因素。结果表明:渗流阵面和水合物分解阵面的传播距离均与时间平方根呈近似线性关系,传播速度均随水合物饱和度的增加而减小;水合物分解阵面的传播速度随多孔介质的有效渗透率和降压幅度的增加而变快,随孔隙率的增加而变慢,粗砂质地层更有利于水合物降压分解阵面的传播。     

Coplanar propagation paths of 3D cracks in infinite bodies loaded in shear

Bower and Ortiz, recently followed by Lazarus, developed a powerful method, based on a theoretical work of Rice, for numerical simulation of planar propagation paths of mode 1 cracks in infinite isotropic elastic bodies. The efficiency of this method arose from the need for the sole 1D meshing of the crack front. This paper presents an extension of Rice’s theoretical work and the associated numerical scheme to mixed-mode (2 + 3) shear loadings. Propagation is supposed to be channeled along some weak planar layer and to remain therefore coplanar, as in the case of a geological fault for instance. The capabilities of the method are illustrated by computing the propagation paths of cracks with various initial contours (circular, elliptic, rectangular, heart-shaped) in both fatigue and brittle fracture. The crack quickly reaches a stable, almost elliptic shape in all cases. An approximate but accurate analytic formula for the ratio of the axes of this stable shape is derived.     

Hydraulic fracturing of a saturated porous medium-II: Special cases

This investigation deals with the problem of steady state hydraulic fracture in an infinite isotropic fluid-saturated elastic porous medium induced by a uniform pressure applied to the crack surfaces. A quasi-static approach is employed in the study. A boundary value problem is formulated and then analyzed by means of the Fourier transform associated with the Wiener-Hopf technique. Stress intensity factor and potential energy release rate are found by asymptotic analysis and the superposition principle as functions of the speed of crack propagation. The material breakdown process at the crack tip is discussed based on Dugdale's model. Finally, a brief discussion of the effect of pressure drop on the hydraulic fracture process and the decrease in crack speed during crack extension is included.     

A pore scale study on turbulent combustion in porous media

This paper presents pore scale simulation of turbulent combustion of air/methane mixture in porous media to investigate the effects of multidimensionality and turbulence on the flame within the pores of porous media. In order to investigate combustion in the pores of porous medium, a simple but often used porous medium consisting of a staggered arrangement of square cylinders is considered in the present study. Results of turbulent kinetic energy, turbulent viscosity ratio, temperature, flame speed, convective heat transfer and thermal conductivity are presented and compared for laminar and turbulent simulations. It is shown that the turbulent kinetic energy increases from the inlet of burner, because of turbulence created by the solid matrix with a sudden jump or reduction at the flame front due to increase in temperature and velocity. Also, the pore scale simulation revealed that the laminarization of flow occurs after flame front in the combustion zone and turbulence effects are important mainly in the preheat zone. It is shown that turbulence enhances the diffusion processes in the preheat zone, but it is not enough to affect the maximum flame speed, temperature distribution and convective heat transfer in the porous burner. The dimensionless parameters associated with the Borghi–Peters diagram of turbulent combustion have been analyzed for the case of combustion in porous media and it is found that the combustion in the porous burner considered in the present study concerns the range of well stirred reactor very close to the laminar flame region.     

GURTIN VARIATIONAL PRINCIPLE AND FINITE ELEMENT SIMULATION FOR DYNAMICAL PROBLEMS OF FLUID-SATURATED POROUS MEDIA

Based on the theory of porous media,a general Gurtin variational principle for theinitial boundary value problem of dynamical response of fluid-saturated elastic porous media isdeveloped by assuming infinitesimal deformation and incompressible constituents of the solid andfluid phase.The finite element formulation based on this variational principle is also derived.Asthe functional of the variational principle is a spatial integral of the convolution formulation,thegeneral finite element discretization in space results in symmetrical differential-integral equationsin the time domain.In some situations,the differential-integral equations can be reduced to sym-metrical differential equations and,as a numerical example,it is employed to analyze the reflectionof one-dimensional longitudinal wave in a fluid-saturated porous solid.The numerical results canprovide further understanding of the wave propagation in porous media.     

Singularities on wave fronts of slow waves in anisotropic fluid-saturated porous media

Energy focusing is found on the wave fronts of slow waves, which is a new propagation characteristic for slow waves in fluid-saturated porous materials. The material parameters, as well as the propagation directions, are chosen as the control parameters. Combined with the two axial variables, the influence of the anisotropy of the solid skeleton and pore fluid parameters on the propagation characteristic of slow waves in anisotropic fluid-saturated porous materials is discussed. The correspondence between the focusing on the wave fronts and the contours of zero Gaussian curvature on the slowness surface is explored. The development of the focusing patterns is investigated and the distinct trends in the energy flux focusing structures are revealed. This is helpful in further understanding the roles of the pore fluid in the damage of the fluid-saturated porous media.     

Coupled Diffusion-Dissolution Around a Fracture Channel: The Solute Congestion Phenomenon

The paper studies the coupled diffusion-dissolution process in reactive porous media, separated by a fracture channel. An aggressive solute, corresponding for e.g., to a complete demineralization that dissolves the solid skeleton of the surrounding porous material, is prescribed at the inlet of the fracture. By means of asymptotic dimensional analysis it is shown that for large times the diffusion length in the fracture develops with the quadratic root of time. In comparison with the 1D-Stefan Problem, in which the dissolution front evolves with the square root of time, this indicates that the overall solute evacuation through the structure slows down in time. This phenomenon is referred to as a diffusive solute congestion in the fracture. This asymptotic behavior is confirmed by means of model-based simulation, and the relevant material parameters, related to only the chemical equilibrium condition, are identified. The obtained results suggest that the presence of a small crack does not significantly increase the propagation of the dissolution front in the porous bulk, and hence the overall chemical degradation of the porous material. The same applies to other diffusion induced demineralization, mineralization, sorption and melting processes, provided that the convective transport of the solute in the crack is small in comparison with the solute diffusion. The result is relevant for several problems in durability mechanics: calcium leaching of concrete in nuclear waste containment, mineralization and demineralization in bone remodeling, chloride penetration, etc.     

Theoretical analysis of crack front instability in mode I+III

This paper focusses on the theoretical prediction of the widely observed crack front instability in mode I+III, that causes both the crack surface and crack front to deviate from planar and straight shapes, respectively. This problem is addressed within the classical framework of fracture mechanics, where the crack front evolution is governed by conditions of constant energy-release-rate (Griffith criterion) and vanishing stress intensity factor of mode II (principle of local symmetry) along the front. The formulation of the linear stability problem for the evolution of small perturbations of the crack front exploits previous results of Movchan et al. (1998) (suitably extended) and Gao and Rice (1986), which are used to derive expressions for the variations of the stress intensity factors along the front resulting from both in-plane and out-of-plane perturbations. We find exact eigenmode solutions to this problem, which correspond to perturbations of the crack front that are shaped as elliptic helices with their axis coinciding with the unperturbed straight front and an amplitude exponentially growing or decaying along the propagation direction. Exponential growth corresponding to unstable propagation occurs when the ratio of the unperturbed mode III to mode I stress intensity factors exceeds some “threshold” depending on Poisson's ratio. Moreover, the growth rate of helical perturbations is inversely proportional to their wavelength along the front. This growth rate therefore diverges when this wavelength goes to zero, which emphasizes the need for some “regularization” of crack propagation laws at very short scales. This divergence also reveals an interesting similarity between crack front instability in mode I+III and well-known growth front instabilities of interfaces governed by a Laplacian or diffusion field.     

Characteristic analysis for stress wave propagation in transversely isotropic fluid-saturated porous media

According to generalized characteristic theory, a characteristic analysis for stress wave propagation in transversely isotropic fluid-saturated porous media was performed. The characteristic differential equations and compatibility relations along bicharacteristics were deduced and the analytical expressions for wave surfaces were obtained. The characteristic and shapes of the velocity surfaces and wave surfaces in the transversely isotropic fluid-saturated porous media were discussed in detail. The results also show that the characteristic equations for stress waves in pure solids are particular cases of the characteristic equations for fluid-saturated porous media.