Flow on a Single Rock Fracture in the Shear Process and the Validity of the Cubic Law Examined through Experimental Results and Numerical Simulations

摘要

In order to discuss the flow through a rough surface rock fracture, direct shear and flow coupling tests on various rock fractures are carried out. Through the experimental results, the flow on the fracture and the validity of the cubic law are discussed and estimated. As a result, it is understood that the cubic law cannot sufficiently explain the experimental results, although it can partially take into account the experimental results in the Re range of 0.02 to 0.2. Moreover, a simulation by a 2D model, including the inertia term, has been carried out. The 2D model has been found to show a good performance of the fracture flow in comparison with the representative fracture flow model, namely, LCL (local cubic law). The flow on the fracture shows the channeling flow and a higher Re value. Consequently, the flow on the fracture is thought to be caused by the influence of the inertia term.