Random fracture networks: percolation, geometry and flow

Jean-François Thovert (1, 2, 3) , Valeri V. Mourzenko (2, 1, 3) , Pierre Adler (4)

1 CH - Combustion hétérogène et milieu poreux [Institut Pprime]
2 Département FTC - Département Fluides, Thermique et Combustion [Institut Pprime]
3 PPrime [Poitiers] - Institut Pprime [UPR 3346]
4 METIS - Milieux Environnementaux, Transferts et Interactions dans les hydrosystèmes et les Sols

The basic properties of fracture networks are derived numerically and rationalized. Simple formulas are provided for an easy estimation of orders of magnitude, based on the excluded volume, on an associated dimensionless density and on shape factors. A general correlation is proposed for the percolation threshold in various types of networks, the blocks which are cut in the solid matrix by the network are characterized and an empirical formula is proposed for the permeability.

Domaines: Milieux fluides et réactifs; Mécanique des fluides [physics.class-ph]

Jean-François Thovert, Valeri V. Mourzenko, Pierre Adler. Random fracture networks: percolation, geometry and flow. European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2016, Apr 2016, Vienna, Austria. ⟨hal-03110165⟩