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2014•Unpublished venueRequires access

Hydro-Mechanical Coupled Model of Hydraulic Fractures Using the eXtended Finite Element Method

Dong-Joon Youn, D. V. Griffiths

Open publisher page 5 citations

Abstract

This paper describes a hydro-mechanical coupled model for hydraulic fractures using the eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM). To analyze the non-linear coupling behavior of hydraulic fractures, the XFEM uses local enrichment functions within a regular finite element framework. Thus, the mechanical behavior of a domain with fractures can be efficiently estimated by the method without explicitly meshing the discontinuities, as would be necessary in other numerical techniques. The governing equations and coupling algorithms are presented as well as the required assumptions for hydraulic fractures. The 2D coupled XFEM program is validated by a numerical example study and shows coupled flows and their influence on stresses and fracture deformations.

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What this paper is about

This paper describes a hydro-mechanical coupled model for hydraulic fractures using the eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM). To analyze the non-linear coupling behavior of hydraulic fractures, the XFEM uses local enrichment functions within a regular finite element framework. Thus, the mechanical behavior of a domain with fractures can be efficiently estimated by the method without explicitly meshing the discontinuities, as would be necessary in other numerical techniques. The governing equations and coupling algorithms are presented as well as the required assumptions for hydraulic fractures. The 2D coupled XFEM program is validated by a numerical example study and shows coupled flows and their influence on stresses and fracture deformations.

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Available abstract

This paper describes a hydro-mechanical coupled model for hydraulic fractures using the eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM). To analyze the non-linear coupling behavior of hydraulic fractures, the XFEM uses local enrichment functions within a regular finite element framework. Thus, the mechanical behavior of a domain with fractures can be efficiently estimated by the method without explicitly meshing the discontinuities, as would be necessary in other numerical techniques. The governing equations and coupling algorithms are presented as well as the required assumptions for hydraulic fractures. The 2D coupled XFEM program is validated by a numerical example study and shows coupled flows and their influence on stresses and fracture deformations.

Key concepts: Classification of discontinuities, Extended finite element method, Finite element method, Coupling (piping), Hydraulic fracturing, Fracture (geology), Structural engineering, Computer science

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