Features of deformation of poroelastic media with low structural strength

Many natural and technological processes are associated with deformation and fracture of saturated or being saturated poroelastic media. Among such processes one can mention fluid soaking through a dam, fluid inflow to the cracks of hydraulic fracture, polishing using porous materials and special fluids, flow in catalytic pellets. All these processes are accompanied by deformation and fracture of a matrix with fluid flow. The effects at the interface porous body–fluid are essential for the processes.The specific features of deformation of poroelastic media with low structural strength are considered in this paper. The compressibility of the matrix skeleton is larger as compared to the compressibility of the saturating fluid in such media.It is shown that the oozing of the fluid at the surface of the poroelastic medium occurs in the consolidated flow regime under the action of `fluid piston' like loads if the structural strength of the medium is low. This result is obtained for both plane (deformation of a layer or halfinfinite medium) and centrally symmetric (deformation of a sphere) problems.