Crack growth in hydraulic rock fracturing

Various mining processes involve the injection of liquid under pressure into existing or newlyproduced points; examples are hydraulic fracturing in oil, fracturing in coal seams, and oil displacement at elevated pressures [1, 2]. Studies have been made [3, 4] of vertical and horizontal crack growth in response to a noninfiltrating liquid. In those cases, the actual pressure distribution in a joint was replaced by the statically equivalent uniform pressure on part of the joint surface. Here we propose a treatment that handles such topics reasonably effectively and does not involve the assumption of uniform pressure distribution. A system of equations has been derived for a vertical symmetrical crack to define the Cauchy problem for the crack volume. The quasistatic equilibrium condition for the crack and the solution are very much simplified if a system of mobile elliptical coordinates related to the crack is used. An analogous approach has been used in examining the growth of a circular horizontal crack.     

基于孔隙弹性的水力压裂耦合方法与压裂状态参数数值研究

本文系统地阐述基于多孔介质渗流-损伤耦合原理,进行水力压裂FEM的数值实现方法。基本架构为：(1)引入孔隙流体压力膨胀系数将孔隙流体压力与应力场进行耦合;(2)基于损伤局部化模型,提出裂缝张开度表达式; (3)提出水力压裂引起的多孔介质水-力学属性的各向异性表达式; (4)提出全流量加载的耦合分析方案。最后作为实例,模拟三维地层水压裂缝扩展形态,通过比较模型的数值解和经典理论解,验证该方法的正确性。     

水力压裂中裂纹扩展的数值模拟

水力压裂是在高压粘滞流体或清水作用下地层内裂缝起裂与扩展的过程。由于包含岩石断裂和流-固耦合等复杂问题,对该过程的数值模拟具有相当大的挑战性。本文建立基于有限元与离散元混合方法的裂纹模型,模拟岩石裂纹扩展,实现了连续向非连续的转化;建立双重介质流动模型,裂隙流作为孔隙渗流的压力边界,孔隙渗流反作用裂隙的压力求解,处理了流体在基岩与人工裂缝中的协调流动;将裂纹模型与流体流动模式进行结合,建立断裂-应力-渗流耦合形式的力学模型,进一步分析了水力压裂的基本过程,综合多种数值计算方法,编写程序,在验证岩体裂纹模型与双重介质流动模型有效性的基础上,对压裂过程进行复现,将模拟结果与文献结果进行了对比,并讨论了所构建模型的优缺点。     

Fatigue growth modeling of cracks emanating from a circular hole in infinite plate

This paper presents a numerical approach of fatigue growth analysis of cracks emanating from a hole in infinite elastic plate subjected to remote loads. It involves a generation of Bueckner’s principle and a hybrid displacement discontinuity method (a boundary element method) proposed recently by the senior author of the paper. Because of an intrinsic feature of the boundary element method, a general crack growth problem can be solved in a single region formulation. In the numerical simulation, for each increment of crack extension, remeshing of existing boundaries is not necessary. Crack extension is modeled conveniently by adding new boundary elements on the incremental crack extension to the previous crack boundaries. As an example, fatigue growth process of an inclined crack in an infinite plate under uniaxial cycle load is modeled to illustrate the effectiveness of the numerical approach. In addition, fatigue growth of cracks emanating from a circular hole in infinite elastic plate subjected to remote loads is investigated by using the numerical approach. Many numerical results are given     

On the problem of fluid leakoff during hydraulic fracturing

While a hydraulic fracture is propagating, fluid flow and associated pressure drops must be accounted for both along the fracture path and perpendicularly, into the formation that is fractured, because of fluid leakoff. The accounting for the leakoff shows that it is the main factor that determines the crack length. The solved problem is useful for the technology of hydraulic fracturing and a good example of mass transport in a porous medium. To find an effective approach for the solution, the thin crack is represented here as the boundary condition for pore pressure spreading in the formation. Earlier such model was used for heat conduction into a rock massif from a seam under injection of hot water. Of course, the equations have other physical sense and mathematically they are somewhat different. The new plane solution is developed for a linearized form that permits the application of the integral transform. The linearization itself is analogous to the linearization of the natural gas equation using the real gas pseudo-pressure function and where the flux rates are held constant and approximations are introduced only into the time derivatives. The resulting analytical solution includes some integrals that can be calculated numerically. This provides rigorous tracking of the created fracture volume, leakoff volume and increasing fracture width. The solutions are an advance over existing discreet formulations and allow ready calculations of the resulting fracture dimensions during the injection of the fracturing fluid.     

页岩水力压裂中多簇裂缝扩展的全耦合模拟

水平井和水力压裂是页岩气开发中的关键技术。对水力压裂中多簇裂缝同时扩展的物理过程进行了数值模拟。采用扩展有限元法(XFEM)模拟岩石中裂缝沿着任意路径扩展,采用有限体积法(FVM)模拟裂缝中流体的流动,并且考虑井筒中流体流动以及在各簇裂缝间的流量动态分配。通过牛顿迭代对全耦合物理过程进行数值求解,重点研究了初始长度不同的两条裂缝的扩展过程,证明较大的射孔摩阻能促进两条裂缝的同时扩展。并通过算例证明了本方法的精度和有效性。     

Transient dynamic analysis of interface cracks in anisotropic bimaterials by the scaled boundary finite-element method

The transient response of finite bimaterial plates with interface cracks is analyzed directly in the time domain by using the scaled boundary finite-element method. A bimaterial plate is divided into a few subdomains. Only the boundaries of the subdomains are discretized with line elements leading to great flexibility in mesh generation. The displacement and stress fields are expressed as a series solution which separates the singular stress term from other high-order terms. The oscillatory stress singularity in the radial direction emanating from the scaling center is represented analytically. The complex dynamic stress intensity factors are evaluated directly from either the stresses or the crack opening displacements of the singular stress term. Numerical examples of cracked anisotropic bimaterial plates are presented to verify the accuracy of the present technique and to provide additions to the very limited number of reference solutions in the literature.     

含裂纹梁参数的谐响应识别

主要研究含裂纹梁在简谐激励作用下的动力特性,提出一种依据幅值变化对裂纹参数进行识别的新方法。首先,在振动过程中考虑裂纹的呼吸特性,以悬臂梁为例建立含裂纹梁的二维有限元模型,指出在一般激励频率下,其对应的幅值均是明显信号,可用来描述裂纹梁的动力特性。其次,当激励频率分别取无裂纹梁一阶频率的1/4和二阶频率的1/4时,幅值随裂纹参数的变化明显不同,可依据响应幅值的变化对裂纹参数进行识别。然后,利用曲面拟合技术绘出幅值变化曲面,对未知参数的裂纹进行识别,验证了该方法的有效性,并归纳出利用幅值变化对任意裂纹参数进行识别的基本步骤。最后,针对无裂纹梁频率计算可能存在误差的情况,分析识别方法的鲁棒性,结果显示即使最大误差为10%,该方法也能对裂纹参数进行准确识别。     

Phenomenological approach to simulating hydraulic fracturing of a stratum

A mathematical model for hydraulic fracturing is proposed. The model is based on the presentation of the fractured portion of the stratum adjacent to the well as a heterogeneous fractured porous medium. Assumptions usually used in the theory of elastic flow are applied. Formulas for determining the size of the hydraulic fracturing zone and the degree of fracture opening under conditions of relative equilibrium are derived.     

Universal regularities of hydraulic fracturing within the framework of the Perkins-Kern-Nordgren model

An algorithm that permits one to find a solution of the Perkins-Kern-Nordgren problem for standard regimes of hydraulic fracturing is suggested. The universal qualitative specifics, of the behavior of a crack is shown; in particular, the asymptotics of crack opening at the tip is found, and it is shown that the character of the crack is determined by the rate of increase or decrease in the crack size. Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 39, No. 3, pp. 149–157, May–June, 1998.     

页岩层理方位及强度对水力压裂的影响

为了研究页岩天然层理倾角及强度等对水力压裂裂纹扩展的影响,采用室内水力压裂实验,通过监测孔直接对裂纹扩展的实时监测和注水压力信息及试件压裂后的剖切,分析层理倾角、强度等对压裂裂纹扩展的影响。实验结果表明:水力压裂过程中,垂直最小地应力稳定扩展的主裂缝遇层理时,层理面与主裂缝初始扩展方向夹角越小,主裂缝越易沿着层理面方向扩展,层理面与主裂缝初始扩展方向夹角越大,主裂缝遇层理面时越易贯穿层理面沿原方向扩展;层理方位,地应力及基质抗拉强度不变,层理的抗拉强度远弱于基质抗拉强度时,主裂缝与层理面相遇后越易沿着层理面方向扩展,层理抗拉强度与基质抗拉强度越相近,主裂缝遇层理时越易贯穿层理沿原方向扩展;层理方位和强度不变,地应力及应力差越大,主裂缝遇层理后越易贯穿层理面沿原方向扩展。     

Phase-field modeling of hydraulic fracture

In this work a theoretical framework implementing the phase-field approach to fracture is used to couple the physics of flow through porous media and cracks with the mechanics of fracture. The main modeling challenge addressed in this work, which is a challenge for all diffuse crack representations, is on how to allow for the flow of fluid and the action of fluid pressure on the aggregate within the diffuse damage zone of the cracks. The theory is constructed by presenting the general physical balance laws and conducting a consistent thermodynamic analysis to constrain the constitutive relationships. Constitutive equations that reproduce the desired responses at the various limits of the phase-field parameter are proposed in order to capture Darcy-type flow in the intact porous medium and Stokes-type flow within open cracks. A finite element formulation for the solution of the governing model equations is presented and discussed. Finally, the theoretical and numerical model is shown to compare favorably to several important analytical solutions. More complex and interesting calculations are also presented to illustrate some of the advantageous features of the approach.     

On the phase field modeling of crack growth and analytical treatment on the parameters

Continuum Mechanics and Thermodynamics - A thermodynamically consistent phase field model for crack propagation is analyzed. The thermodynamic driving force for the crack propagation is derived...     

Exact quasi-steady solution of the problem of hydraulic fracturing of a permeable formation

An exact solution of the problem of hydraulic fracturing in a permeable medium with continuous fluid injection in a partially penetrated formation is constructed using the Perkins-Kern fracture model. The amount of fluid leakage from the fracture is determined using the pressure field of the fluid filtrate defined by the Shchelkachev equation (of the piezoconductivity type). Universal profiles of the fluid pressure in the fracture and the rate of fluid flow from it are obtained. It is shown that at the Perkins-Kern fracture tip, there is a dramatic increase in the leakage from the fracture.     

Molecular modeling of cracks at interfaces in nanoceramic composites

Toughness in Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) is achieved if crack deflection can occur at the fiber/matrix interface, preventing crack penetration into the fiber and enabling energy-dissipating fiber pullout. To investigate toughening in nanoscale CMCs, direct atomistic models are used to study how matrix cracks behave as a function of the degree of interfacial bonding/sliding, as controlled by the density of C interstitial atoms, at the interface between carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and a diamond matrix. Under all interface conditions studied, incident matrix cracks do not penetrate into the nanotube. Under increased loading, weaker interfaces fail in shear while stronger interfaces do not fail and, instead, the CNT fails once the stress on the CNT reaches its tensile strength. An analytic shear lag model captures all of the micromechanical details as a function of loading and material parameters. Interface deflection versus fiber penetration is found to depend on the relative bond strengths of the interface and the CNT, with CNT failure occurring well below the prediction of the toughness-based continuum He–Hutchinson model. The shear lag model, in contrast, predicts the CNT failure point and shows that the nanoscale embrittlement transition occurs at an interface shear strength scaling as _τs~_εf,CNTσCNT${\tau }_s~{\epsilon }_{f,CNT}{\sigma }_{CNT}$ rather than _τs~_σCNT${\tau }_s~{\sigma }_{CNT}$ typically prevailing for micron scale composites, where _εf,CNT${\epsilon }_{f,CNT}$ and _σCNT${\sigma }_{CNT}$ are the CNT failure strain and stress, respectively. Interface bonding also lowers the effective fracture strength in SWCNTs, due to formation of defects, but does not play a role in DWCNTs having interwall coupling, which are weaker than SWCNTs but less prone to damage in the outerwall.     

岩体水力劈裂的应力-渗流-损伤耦合模型研究

利用无单元法追踪裂纹扩展的优势研究模拟岩体水力劈裂的数值分析模型。定义损伤变量以描述岩体的损伤程度对岩体渗透性和强度的影响,建立了岩体水力劈裂的应力-渗流-损伤耦合分析模型,并编制了基于无单元法的计算程序。综合考虑应力、渗流及损伤之间的相互作用影响,分析了具有初始裂纹的岩体平面应力模型的裂纹扩展过程,指出考虑渗流作用时的裂纹扩展角大于不考虑渗流作用时的裂纹扩展角。同时,裂纹内水压力和渗流的作用对于裂纹的扩展方向和扩展长度具有较大的影响。     

不同围压作用下非均匀岩石水压致裂过程的数值模拟

从岩石细观非均匀性的特点出发,提出一个描述非均匀材料渗流和破裂相互作用的数值模型。在这个数值模型中,单元的力学、水力学性质根据统计分布而变化,以体现材料的随机不均质性,材料在开裂破坏过程中流体压力传递通过单元渗流,损伤耦合迭代来实现。算例表明,该模型能较好地模拟出岩石类材料在水力压裂作用下,微结构非均匀分布和不同围压比对破裂模式、失稳压力的影响,非均匀性导致试件的开裂压力、失稳压力明显不同,裂纹扩展路径不规则发展,模拟结果和实验结果较为一致。     

Three dimensional modeling weld solidification cracks in multipass welding

This paper utilizes element birth and death finite element technique to control the process of filling metal step by step during multipass welding process. The dynamic thermal distributions and strain evolutions are simulated in 10 mm SUS310 stainless steel in multipass welding after taking into consideration of the fluid flow in the weld pool, the latent heat, taking into account the effect of the deformation in weld pool, change of initial temperature and solidification shrinkage. At the same time, the driving forces to weld solidification cracks of each weld pass are obtained successfully according to simulated thermal cycle (temperature against time) and mechanical strain cycle (mechanical strain against time). The results show the patterns of distribution of the driving force are similar to those of surface fusion welding. The driving force of first weld pass is larger than following weld passes and the driving force decreases gradually in company with welding processing. Sequent welding processes affect the mechanical strain distributions of previous weld pass, of which the tensile mechanical strain changes to compressive strain. In addition, the driving forces are analyzed and weld solidification cracks are predicted during multipass welding. The predicted results agree well with the experiments. Therefore, the simulated results in this study provide the foundation for predicting weld solidification cracking in actual weldment.     

Thermodynamics of the quasi-static growth of Griffith cracks

Restrictions on the quasi-static extension, or healing, of Griffith cracks are developed in the framework of irreversible thermodynamics. It is emphasized that thermodynamics requires that (G ? 2γ)ι ? 0, where ι is crack speed, G the Irwin energy release rate, and 2γ the work of reversible separation of the surfaces to be fractured. Implications for ‘lattice trapping’ models of cracks and for thermally-activated crack motion are discussed, as are the effects on crack growth and healing of a surface-reactive environment, in which case γ must be given a definition appropriate to adsorption-altered surface properties.     

Fatigue crack growth of surface cracks in the rail web

The analytical prediction of surface cracks in the rail web is investigated by two different approaches. The first approach uses engineering fracture mechanics principles with elementary beam theory (i.e., one dimensional) stress analysis. The second approach applies the strain energy density criterion to a three dimensional finite element stress analysis of the rail web. Results are presented in terms of crack size as a function of accumulated tonnage for variations in loading (tangent or curved track), support conditions (foundation modulus), and assumed levels of residual stress. The results of both models are consistent in that the predicted growth rates are fairly slow when compared to other types of rail defects (for example, the detail fracture in the rail head).