TY - JOUR
T1 - Accurate modeling and simulation of seepage in 3D heterogeneous fractured porous media with complex structures
AU - Wang, Luyu
AU - Wang, Yuhang
AU - Vuik, Cornelis
AU - Hajibeygi, Hadi
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - The past decades have witnessed an increasing interest in numerical simulation for flow in fractured porous media. To date, most studies have focused on 2D or pseudo-3D computational models, where the impact of 3D complex structures on seepage has not been fully addressed. This work presents a method for modeling seepage in 3D heterogeneous porous media. The complex structures, typically the stochastic discrete fractures and inclusions, are able to be simulated. A mesh strategy is proposed to discretize the complex domain. In particular, a treatment on the intersected elements is developed to ensure a conforming mesh. Then, numerical discretization is provided, in which the flux interactions of fractures, inclusions and surrounding rock matrix are included. Numerical tests are performed to analyze the hydraulic characteristics of 3D fractured media. First, the developed framework is validated by comparing numerical solutions with the results of embedded discrete fracture model. Next, the effects of orientation, aperture and radius of fractures on fluid flow and equivalent permeability tensor are analyzed. The variations of pressure distribution are studied in heterogeneous and homogeneous media. Finally, the hydraulic properties of a medium with complex structures are investigated to show the difference of hydraulic feature between fractures and inclusions.
AB - The past decades have witnessed an increasing interest in numerical simulation for flow in fractured porous media. To date, most studies have focused on 2D or pseudo-3D computational models, where the impact of 3D complex structures on seepage has not been fully addressed. This work presents a method for modeling seepage in 3D heterogeneous porous media. The complex structures, typically the stochastic discrete fractures and inclusions, are able to be simulated. A mesh strategy is proposed to discretize the complex domain. In particular, a treatment on the intersected elements is developed to ensure a conforming mesh. Then, numerical discretization is provided, in which the flux interactions of fractures, inclusions and surrounding rock matrix are included. Numerical tests are performed to analyze the hydraulic characteristics of 3D fractured media. First, the developed framework is validated by comparing numerical solutions with the results of embedded discrete fracture model. Next, the effects of orientation, aperture and radius of fractures on fluid flow and equivalent permeability tensor are analyzed. The variations of pressure distribution are studied in heterogeneous and homogeneous media. Finally, the hydraulic properties of a medium with complex structures are investigated to show the difference of hydraulic feature between fractures and inclusions.
KW - Discrete fractures
KW - Fractured porous media
KW - Heterogeneity
KW - Inclusions
KW - Seepage
KW - Three-dimensional modeling
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85134695603&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.compgeo.2022.104923
DO - 10.1016/j.compgeo.2022.104923
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85134695603
SN - 0266-352X
VL - 150
JO - Computers and Geotechnics
JF - Computers and Geotechnics
M1 - 104923
ER -