Effect of tortuosity on fluid flow through a single fracture

Journal Article · Sat Sep 01 04:00:00 UTC 1984 · Water Resour. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/WR020i009p01209· OSTI ID:5683507

Tsang, Y W

Calculations to investigate the effect of path tortuosity and connectivity on fluid flow rate through a single rough fracture were carried out. The flow paths are represented by electrical resistors placed on a two-dimensional grid, and the resistances vary as the inverse of the fracture aperture cubed. The electric current through the circuit bears a one-to-one correspondence to the fluid flow rate. Both fracture apertures derived from measurements and from hypothetical analytic functions were used in a parameter study to investigate the dependence of tortuosity on fracture roughness characteristics. It was found that the more small apertures there are in the aperture distribution, the larger is the effect of tortuosity. When the fraction of contact area between the fracture surfaces rises above 30%, the aperture distributions are invariably large at small apertures, and the effect of fracture roughness and flow path tortuosity depresses flow rate from the value predicted by the parallel plate representation of a fracture by three or more orders of magnitude. The impact of these results on the calculations and measurements in fracture hydrology is discussed.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Berkeley
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 5683507
• Journal Information: Water Resour. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Water Resour. Res.; (United States) Vol. 20:9; ISSN WRERA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510100* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
520100 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FAILURES
FLOW RATE
FLUID-STRUCTURE INTERACTIONS
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
FRACTURES
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
MASS TRANSFER
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
WATER