• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.581-588
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• 2018

In order to explore the comprehensive evaluation means of the extent of hydraulic fracturing region in coal seams, we analyzed the feasibility of detecting the response of coal rock direct current (DC) apparent resistivity to hydraulic-fracturing using Archie's theory, and conducted experimental researches on the response of DC resistivity in the hydraulic fracturing process using small-scale coal rock samples. The results show that porosity and water saturation are the two factors affecting the apparent resistivity of coal rock while hydraulic fracturing. Water has a dominant effect on the apparent resistivity of coal rock samples. The apparent resistivity in the area where water flows through is reduced more than 50%, which can be considered as a core affect region of hydraulic fracturing. Stress indirectly impacts the apparent resistivity by changing porosity. Before hydraulic fracturing, the greater axial load applied, the more serious the rupture in the samples, resulting in the greater apparent resistivity. Apparent resistivity testing is a potential regional method to evaluate the influence range of hydraulic fracturing in coal seams.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.20-29
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• 2021

During multi-stage fracturing in a low permeable shale formation, stress interference occurs between the stages which is called the "stress shadow effect(SSE)". The effect may alter the fracture propagation direction and induce ununiform geometry. In this study, the stress shadow effect on the hydraulic fracture geometry and the well productivity were investigated by the commercial full-3D fracture model, GOHFER. In a homogeneous reservoir model, a multi-stage fracturing process was performed with or without the SSE. In addition, the fracturing was performed on two shale reservoirs with different geomechanical properties(Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio) to analyze the stress shadow effect. In the simulation results, the stress change caused by the fracture created in the previous stage switched the maximum/minimum horizontal stress and the lower productivity L-direction fracture was more dominating over the T-direction fracture. Since the Marcellus shale is more brittle than more dominating over the T-direction fracture. Since the Marcellus shale is more brittle than the relatively ductile Eagle Ford shale, the fracture width in the former was developed thicker, resulting in the larger fracture volume. And the Marcellus shale's Young's modulus is low, the stress effect is less significant than the Eagle Ford shale in the stage 2. The stress shadow effect strongly depends on not only the spacing between fractures but also the geomechanical properties. Therefore, the stress shadow effect needs to be taken into account for more accurate analysis of the fracture geometry and for more reliable prediction of the well productivity.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.244-251
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• 2003

A two-dimensional BEM code, $FRACOD^{2D}$, was applied to simulate fracture initiation and propagation processes in a rock pillar during an in situ heater test of a rock pillar planned at the $\"{A}sp\"{o}$ Underground Rock laboratory of SKB, in Southern Sweden. To take the advantage of conventional BEM for simulating fracturing processes, but without efforts for domain integral transformation, a hybrid approach is developed to simulate the fracturing processes in rock pillar under coupled thermo-mechanical loading. The code FRACOD was used for simulating the fracture initiation and propagation processes with its boundary tractions reflecting the effects of the initial and redistributed thermomechanical stresses in the domain of interest at multiple excavation and heating steps were produced by a special algorithm of stress inversion, based on resultant thermo-mechanical stress fields at each excavation and heat loading step by a FEM code without considering fracturing processes. This hybrid approach can take the advantages of both types of numerical methods and avoids their shortcomings for fracturing process simulation and domain effects, respectively. In this paper, we present the hybrid approach for the stress, displacements, and fracturing processes at sequential excavation and heating steps of the in situ heater test as a predictive modelling, the formulation of the fracturing models and the predictive results. Two sections of borehole depth, 0.5 m and 1.5 m below the tunnel floor are considered. The pillar area is modelled with the FRACOD and the stress field produced by excavation and heating is transferred with corresponding boundary stresses. From the modelling results, the degree of fracturing and damage are evaluated for 120 days of heating. Dominated shear fracturing in the vicinity of the central pillar was observed from the models at both sections, but spalled area appears to be limited. Based on the modelling results, a sensitivity study for the effect of pre-existing fractures in the vicinity of the holes is also conducted, and the initiation and evolution of EDZ around the deposition holes are investigated using this particular numerical technique.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.35-47
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• 2018

This paper investigates the mechanisms of tunnel spalling and massive tunnel failures using fracture mechanics principles. The study starts with examining the fracture propagation due to tensile and shear failure mechanisms. It was found that, fundamentally, in rock masses with high compressive stresses, tensile fracture propagation is often a stable process which leads to a gradual failure. Shear fracture propagation tends to be an unstable process. Several real case observations of spalling failures and massive shear failures in boreholes, tunnels and underground roadways are shown in the paper. A number of numerical models were used to investigate the fracture mechanisms and extents in the roof/wall of a deep tunnel and in an underground coal mine roadway. The modelling was done using a unique fracture mechanics code FRACOD which simulates explicitly the fracture initiation and propagation process. The study has demonstrated that both tensile and shear fracturing may occur in the vicinity of an underground opening. Shallow spalling in the tunnel wall is believed to be caused by tensile fracturing from extensional strain although no tensile stress exists there. Massive large scale failure however is most likely to be caused by shear fracturing under high compressive stresses. The observation that tunnel spalling often starts when the hoop stress reaches $0.4^*UCS$ has been explained in this paper by using the extension strain criterion. At this uniaxial compressive stress level, the lateral extensional strain is equivalent to the critical strain under uniaxial tension. Scale effect on UCS commonly believed by many is unlikely the dominant factor in this phenomenon.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.362-371
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• 2013

We conducted hollow cylinder tensile strength tests and Brazilian tests in Seokmo granite to measure tensile strength necessary for estimating the magnitude of the maximum horizontal principal stress in hydraulic fracturing stress measurements. Two different pressurization rates were used in hollow cylinder tests. Tensile strengths were determined to be higher at higher pressurization rate, which suggests that tensile strength should be measurement at the same rate used in actual in situ hydraulic fracturing tests. Considering the effect of pressurization rate and specimen size on tensile strength, the hollow cylinder tests and Brazilian tests yield similar results each other. This demonstrates that Brazilian tests can be utilized to produce representative tensile strengths for interpretation of hydraulic fracturing test results.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.47-50
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• 2003

We carried out rock pneumatic fracturing test which to increase groundwater yield by injection of highly pressured air in artificially under the surface every four borehole. The result of test performing shows that effect of increasing groundwater was not found in three testhole around igneous and metamorphic formation area, but we can realized that about 15 percent increased wateryield appeared in number P-5 test hole at sedimmentary rock formation.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.349-360
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• 2003

A practical modeling approach has been proposed in this study to better understand the behavior of penetration grouting which is normally applied to the jointed rock masses to increase the bearing capacity and to reduce the ground water flow into the tunnel. Based on Bingham model together with a steady-state flow of the grout, penetration model is simulated in the commercial package called UDEC and, injection pressure as well as joint thickness are found to be the main parameters to determine the range of grout spread. Another numerical model on fracturing grouting is also suggested and, in this case, the tensile strength as well as cohesion of the rock masses are proven to be the major factors to decide the fracturing mechanism of the rock masses. The reinforcement effect of the grout-reinforced rock masses is calculated from the suggested algorithm on orthotropic material model and it is found that the directional stiffness of reinforced rock masses is increased up to 3 to 4 times compared with original jointed rock masses. Future work will be concentrated on the water control around the tunnel by the grout injection and a model test will also be performed to verify the suggested methods developed in this study.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 1994

The hydraulic fracturing in a field site was performed for the measurement of in-situ stresses. For the estimation of the effect of a preexisting inclined fracture, the test on a preexisting fracture zone was also conducted. From the measurements at three shallow depths, the ratios of max. to min. horizontal stress showed the range of 1.19-1.56 and the K values showed the range of 2.62-3.86. In case of a preexisting fracture with the inclination of 15 degrees, the stresses calculated as upper bound values by considering it. It seemed from this that the inclination less than 15 degrees had small effect on the stress calculation.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.297-304
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• 2021

The hybrid Finite-Discrete Element (FDEM) approach combines aspects of both finite elements and discrete elements with fracture mechanics principles, and therefore it is well suited for realistic simulation of quasi-brittle materials. Notwithstanding, in the literature its application for the analysis of concrete is rather limited. In this paper, the proprietary FDEM code ELFEN is used to model concrete specimens under uniaxial compression and indirect tension (Brazilian tests) of different sizes. The results show that phenomena such as size effect and influence of strain-rate are captured using this modeling technique. In addition, a preliminary model of a slab subjected to dynamic shear punching due to progressive collapse is presented. The resulting fracturing pattern of the impacted slab is similar to observations from actual collapse.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.125-133
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• 2009

Rock fracturing technique through fluid injection into the wellbore has been widely used to extract geothermal heat and to enhance oil and gas production. Single fracture formation is ideal for the production. However, it is very difficult to form single fracture formation. Instead, the formation of segmented fracture is a common phenomenon. Therefore, design parameters are expected to be different from those of single fracture because of mechanical interaction between segmented fractures. In this paper, design parameters such as length, aperture, and net pressure are evaluated by using model of segmented fracture in which numerical technique is incorporated to consider mechanical interaction between segments. Results show that the existence of fracture segmentation affects design parameters in fracturing treatment in rock by fluid injection.