Numerical modeling of hydraulic fracture problem in permeable medium using cohesive zone model

Benoît Carrier (1) , Sylvie Granet (2)

1 multi-échelle - Modélisation et expérimentation multi-échelle pour les solides hétérogènes
2 LAMSID - UMR 8193 - Laboratoire de Mécanique des Structures Industrielles Durables

This paper considers the problem of a fluid-driven fracture propagating in a permeable poroelastic medium. We develop a zero-thickness finite element to model the fracture. The fracture propagation is governed by a cohesive zone model and the flow within the fracture by the lubrication equation. The hydro-mechanical equations are solved with a fully coupled approach, using the developed zero-thickness element for the propagating fracture and conventional bulk finite elements for the surrounding medium. The numerical results are compared to analytical asymptotic solutions under zero fluid lag assumption in the four following limiting propagation regimes: toughness-fracture storage, toughness-leak-off, viscosity-fracture storage and viscosity-leak-off dominated. We demonstrate the ability of our cohesive zone model in simulating the hydraulic fracture in all these propagation regimes.

Mots clés: Cohesive zone model; Finite element analysis; Hydraulic fracture; Hydro-mechanical coupling

Domaines: Mécanique des structures [physics.class-ph]; Mécanique des structures [physics.class-ph]

Benoît Carrier, Sylvie Granet. Numerical modeling of hydraulic fracture problem in permeable medium using cohesive zone model. Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 2012, 79, pp.312-328. ⟨10.1016/j.engfracmech.2011.11.012⟩. ⟨hal-00670787⟩