Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of Shear Direction Change on Shear-Flow-Transport Processes in Single Rough-Walled Rock Fractures

  • Published:
Transport in Porous Media Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Understanding the shear-flow-transport processes in rock fractures is one of major concerns for many geo-engineering practices, yet the effect of shear direction change on the flow and transport properties through rough-walled rock fractures has received little attention. In this study, a series of shear tests on artificial fractures with different surface roughness are conducted, in which the shear direction is altered perpendicularly. The distribution of apertures and its evolution during shearing are evaluated, which are further applied to simulate fluid flow and solute transport through fractures in the directions parallel and perpendicular to shear direction using a finite element method code. The effect of shear direction change on flow and transport properties of rock fractures is systematically investigated. The results show that when the shear direction is changed perpendicularly during shearing, the normal displacement changes from increasing (i.e., dilation) to decreasing (i.e., closure) with increasing shear displacement. The final normal displacement depends on the competition between dilation and closure induced by the shear in two directions, which directly determines the aperture distribution thereby affecting the flow and transport processes through fractures. The closure is more significant for the fracture with a smaller JRC, resulting in a more dramatic decrease in equivalent permeability. The historical shear stress can either promote or block the solute transport depending on the distributions of void spaces and contact obstacles induced by shearing in two perpendicular directions. The Peclet number decreases during shearing in spite of the magnitude of historical shear displacement, indicating that the dispersion becomes much significant with shearing due to the increasingly concentrated contact areas and flow channels.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Auradou, H., Drazer, G., Boschan, A., Hulin, J.P., Koplik, J.: Flow channeling in a single fracture induced by shear displacement. Geothermics 35(5–6), 576–588 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bauget, F., Fourar, M.: Non-Fickian dispersion in a single fracture. J. Contam. Hydrol. 100(3–4), 137–148 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  • Barbier, E.: Geothermal energy technology and current status: an overview. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 6(1–2), 3–65 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bear, J.: Dynamics of Fluids in Porous Media. Elsevier, New York (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Boutt, D.F., Grasselli, G., Fredrich, J.T., Cook, B.K., Williams, J.R.: Trapping zones: the effect of fracture roughness on the directional anisotropy of fluid flow and colloid transport in a single fracture. Geophys. Res. Lett. 33(21) (2006)

  • Brown, S.R.: Fluid flow through rock joints: the effect of surface roughness. J. Geophys. Res. 92(B2), 1337–1347 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, S.R., Stockman, H.W., Reeves, S.J.: Applicability of the Reynolds equation for modeling fluid flow between rough surfaces. Geophys. Res. Lett. 22(18), 2537–2540 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, L., Rong, G., Yang, J., Zhou, C.: Fluid flow through single fractures with directional shear dislocations. Transp. Porous Media 118(2), 301–326 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chern, S.G., Cheng, T.C., Chen, W.Y.: Behavior of regular triangular joints under cyclic shearing. J. Mar. Sci. Technol. 20(5), 508–513 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  • Crandall, D., Bromhal, G., Karpyn, Z.T.: Numerical simulations examining the relationship between wall-roughness and fluid flow in rock fractures. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 47(5), 784–796 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  • de Dreuzy J. R, Méheust Y, Pichot G. Influence of fracture scale heterogeneity on the flow properties of three-dimensional discrete fracture networks (DFN). J. Geophys. Res. 117(B11) (2012)

  • de Marsily, G.: Quantitative Hydrogeology, pp. 266–270. Academic Press, San Diego (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fardin, N.: The Effect of Scale on the Morphology, Mechanics and Transmissivity of Single Rock Fractures. Mark och vatten, Stockholm (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang, N., Liu, R., Jiang, Y.: Numerical study of the geometrical and hydraulic characteristics of 3D self-affine rough fractures during shear. J. Nat. Gas Sci. Eng. 45, 127–142 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang, N., Jiang, Y., Liu, R., Xia, Y.: Size effect on the permeability and shear induced flow anisotropy of fractal rock fractures. Fractals 26(02), 1840001 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang, N., Liu, R., Jiang, Y., Cheng, Y., Li, B.: Shear-flow coupling characteristics of a three-dimensional discrete fracture network-fault model considering stress-induced aperture variations. J. Hydrol. 571, 416–424 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hudson, J.A.: Understanding of measured changes in rock structure, in situ stress and water flow caused by underground excavation. In: Proc 2nd International Symposium on Field Measurements in Geomechanics, Kobe, 6–9 April 1987 V2, P605-612. Publ Rotterdam: AA Balkema, 1988[C]/International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts. Pergamon, vol. 27(2), p. A119 (1990)

  • Hutson, R.W., Dowding, C.H.: Joint asperity degradation during cyclic shear. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. Geomech. Abstracts 27(2), 109–119 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  • Indraratna, B., Thirukumaran, S., Brown, E.T., Zhu, S.P.: Modelling the shear behaviour of rock joints with asperity damage under constant normal stiffness. Rock Mech. Rock Eng. 48(1), 179–195 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  • Javadi, M., Sharifzadeh, M., Shahriar, K., Mitani, Y.: Critical Reynolds number for nonlinear flow through rough-walled fractures: the role of shear processes. Water Resour. Res. 50(2), 1789–1804 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, Y., Tanabashi, Y., Xiao, J.: An improved shear-flow test apparatus and its application to deep underground construction. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 41, 170–175 (2004a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, Y., Xiao, J., Tanabashi, Y., Mizokami, T.: Development of an automated servo-controlled direct shear apparatus applying a constant normal stiffness condition. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 41(2), 275–286 (2004b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, Y., Li, B., Tanabashi, Y.: Estimating the relation between surface roughness and mechanical properties of rock joints. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 43(6), 837–846 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  • Koyama, T., Li, B., Jiang, Y., Jing, L.: Numerical simulations for the effects of normal loading on particle transport in rock fractures during shear. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 45(8), 1403–1419 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  • Koyama, T., Fardin, N., Jing, L., Stephansson, O.: Numerical simulation of shear-induced flow anisotropy and scale-dependent aperture and transmissivity evolution of rock fracture replicas. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 43(1), 89–106 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lanaro, F.: A random field model for surface roughness and aperture of rock fractures. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 37(8), 1195–1210 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, H.S., Cho, T.F.: Hydraulic characteristics of rough fractures in linear flow under normal and shear load. Rock Mech. Rock Eng. 35(4), 299–318 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, B., Jiang, Y., Koyama, T., et al.: Experimental study of the hydro-mechanical behavior of rock joints using a parallel-plate model containing contact areas and artificial fractures. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 45(3), 362–375 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, R., Huang, N., Jiang, Y., Jing, H., Li, B., Xia, Y.: Effect of shear displacement on the directivity of permeability in 3D self-affine fractal fractures. Geofluids, 9813846 (2018a)

  • Liu, R., Jiang, Y., Huang, N., Sugimoto, S.: Hydraulic properties of 3D crossed rock fractures by considering anisotropic aperture distributions. Adv. Geo-Energy Res. 2(2), 113–121 (2018b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, Y., Sun, S.: Analytical prediction of the shear behaviour of rock joints with quantified waviness and unevenness through wavelet analysis. Rock Mech. Rock Eng. (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-019-01817-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matsuki, K., Chida, Y., Sakaguchi, K., Glover, P.W.J.: Size effect on aperture and permeability of a fracture as estimated in large synthetic fractures. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 43(5), 726–755 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsuki, K., Kimura, Y., Sakaguchi, K., Kizaki, A., Giwelli, A.A.: Effect of shear displacement on the hydraulic conductivity of a fracture. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 47(3), 436–449 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  • Neretnieks, I.: Diffusion in the rock matrix: an important factor in radionuclide retardation? J. Geophys. Res. 85(B8), 4379–4397 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsson, R., Barton, N.: An improved model for hydromechanical coupling during shearing of rock joints. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 38(3), 317–329 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahman, M.K., Hossain, M.M., Rahman, S.S.: A shear-dilation-based model for evaluation of hydraulically stimulated naturally fractured reservoirs. Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods Geomech. 26(5), 469–497 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  • Raven, K.G., Gale, J.E.: Water flow in a natural rock fracture as a function of stress and sample size. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. Geomech. Abstracts Pergamon 22(4), 251–261 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rong, G., Yang, J., Cheng, L., Zhou, C.: Laboratory investigation of nonlinear flow characteristics in rough fractures during shear process. J. Hydrol. 541, 1385–1394 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun, J., Zhao, Z.: Effects of anisotropic permeability of fractured rock masses on underground oil storage caverns. Tunn. Undergr. Space Technol. 25(5), 629–637 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, M.E.: Numerical simulation of solute transport in rough fractures. J. Geophys. Res. 96(B3), 4157–4166 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, M.E., Brown, S.R.: The effect of anisotropic surface roughness on flow and transport in fractures. J. Geophys. Res. 96(B13), 21923–21932 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsang, Y.W., Witherspoon, P.A.: The dependence of fracture mechanical and fluid flow properties on fracture roughness and sample size. J. Geophys. Res. 88(B3), 2359–2366 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vilarrasa, V., Koyama, T., Neretnieks, I., Jing, L.: Shear-induced flow channels in a single rock fracture and their effect on solute transport. Transp. Porous Media 87(2), 503–523 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, M., Chen, Y.F., Ma, G.W., Zhou, J.Q., Zhou, C.B.: Influence of surface roughness on nonlinear flow behaviors in 3D self-affine rough fractures: lattice Boltzmann simulations. Adv. Water Resour. 96, 373–388 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, J., Zhou, Z.: Simulation on solute transport in fractured rocks based on fractal theory. Chin. J. Rock Mech. Eng. 23(8), 1358–1362 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe, N., Hirano, N., Tsuchiya, N.: Diversity of channeling flow in heterogeneous aperture distribution inferred from integrated experimental‐numerical analysis on flow through shear fracture in granite. J. Geophys. Res. 114(B4) (2009)

  • Witherspoon, P.A., Wang, J.S.Y., Iwai, K., Gale, J.E.: Validity of cubic law for fluid flow in a deformable rock fracture. Water Resour. Res. 16(6), 1016–1024 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu, X., Jiang, Y., Gong, B., Guan, Z., Deng, T.: Shear performance of rock joint reinforced by fully encapsulated rock bolt under cyclic loading condition. Rock Mech. Rock Eng. 1–10 (2018)

  • Xiong, X., Li, B., Jiang, Y., Koyama, T., Zhang, C.: Experimental and numerical study of the geometrical and hydraulic characteristics of a single rock fracture during shear. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 48(8), 1292–1302 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, X., Sanderson, D.J.: Evaluation of instability in fractured rock masses using numerical analysis methods: effescts of fracture geometry and loading direction. J. Geophys. Res. 106(B11), 26671–26687 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, Z., Jing, L., Neretnieks, I., Moreno, L.: Numerical modeling of stress effects on solute transport in fractured rocks. Comput. Geotech. 38(2), 113–126 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, Z., Peng, H., Wu, W., Chen, Y.F.: Characteristics of shear-induced asperity degradation of rock fractures and implications for solute retardation. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 105, 53–61 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, J.Q., Wang, M., Wang, L., Chen, Y.F., Zhou, C.B.: Emergence of nonlinear laminar flow in fractures during shear. Rock Mech. Rock Eng. 51(11), 3635–3643 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman, R.W., Bodvarsson, G.S.: Hydraulic conductivity of rock fractures. Transp. Porous Media 23(1), 1–30 (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zou, L., Jing, L., Cvetkovic, V.: Roughness decomposition and nonlinear fluid flow in a single rock fracture. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 75, 102–118 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study has been partially funded by Natural Science Foundation of China, China (Grant Nos. 51734009, 51709260 and 51909269), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation National (2019M652506) and Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China (No. BK20170276). These supports are gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, People’s Republic of China

    Richeng Liu, Guansheng Han & Hongwen Jing

  2. Key Laboratory of Unconventional Oil & Gas Development (China University of Petroleum (East China)), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266580, People’s Republic of China

    Na Huang

  3. School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, Shandong, China

    Na Huang

  4. School of Engineering, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki, 8528521, Japan

    Richeng Liu & Yujing Jiang

Authors
  1. Richeng Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Na Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yujing Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Guansheng Han
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Hongwen Jing
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Na Huang.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, R., Huang, N., Jiang, Y. et al. Effect of Shear Direction Change on Shear-Flow-Transport Processes in Single Rough-Walled Rock Fractures. Transp Porous Med 133, 373–395 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-020-01428-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-020-01428-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation