TITLE:
Influence of Fracture Roughness on Aperture Fracture Surface and in Fluid Flow on Coarse-Grained Marble, Experimental Results
AUTHORS:
G. Dimadis, A. Dimadi, I. Bacasis
KEYWORDS:
Cubic Law, Roughness, Hydraulic Aperture, Mechanical Aperture
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.2 No.5,
December
18,
2014
ABSTRACT: Wetting fluid flow through rock discontinuities
influence a great number of project among others: dam construction, underground
projects, CO2 storage in underground schemes, geological disposal of
radioactive wastes; Hydrocarbon storage caverns. Flow through fractures is
considered to be laminar due to small aperture of the fracture walls and slow
velocity. The fluid model called “Cubic law” describes the flow assuming
parallel infinite plates. However, natural discontinuities on rock have
roughness. In this experimental study an induced fracture on a sample of
medium-grained marble was used, to determine the influence of roughness in
water flow. This study is a preliminary part of research funding program for
flow of CO2 through rocks (AUTH-GEOMechanics and Environment of CO2 geological
Storage, Project No. 456,400).