Quantitative Estimates of Non-Darcy Groundwater Flow Properties and Normalized Hydraulic Aperture through Discrete Open Rough-Walled Joints
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 18, Issue 9
Abstract
This study aimed to understand the behavior of non-Darcy water fluid flow through a single joint in rock. Water flow tests through three splitting mated granite joints with natural characteristics were conducted beyond the range of previously tested conditions using the designed experimental apparatus. This study expands on previous work as follows: (1) A rough rock joint with natural characteristics was adopted rather than a smooth, parallel plate model; (2) the aperture and surface roughness could be precisely controlled; and (3) the maximum pressure gradient could reach 250. A single fracture was formed by two mated rough joint surfaces with variable apertures ranging from 0.5 to 2 mm (constant opening between upper and lower parallel surfaces). The three-dimensional (3D) surface morphology of the rock joints was obtained from a noncontact, 3D stereotopometric measurement instrument before the rock joints were tested. The roughness parameters of the rock joints were then calculated by self-programmed software. For each specimen, flow tests were conducted for four mechanical apertures and eight pressure gradients (maximum of 250). A nonlinear relationship between hydraulic gradient and water flow velocity was demonstrated and fitted well with Izbash’s law. The effect of joint roughness and aperture on the coefficient λ and power exponent n of Izbash’s law was further explored in this experiment (i.e., to maintain the same joint roughness coefficient or aperture). Finally, a new relationship between aperture ratio (hydraulic aperture to mechanical aperture) and Reynolds number is proposed based on the laboratory observations. These findings may be beneficial for the design of model experiments and computational studies on coupled shear-flow properties through real rock joints or highly jointed rocks.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants 41327001 and 41472248), Open Fund of State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University (sklhse-2015-D-03).
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Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 18 • Issue 9 • September 2018
Copyright
© 2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 21, 2017
Accepted: Mar 2, 2018
Published online: Jun 21, 2018
Published in print: Sep 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Nov 21, 2018
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