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Flow pattern variability in natural fracture intersections
Author(s) -
Kosakowski Georg,
Berkowitz Brian
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/1999gl900344
Subject(s) - reynolds number , fracture (geology) , flow (mathematics) , geology , mechanics , intersection (aeronautics) , inertial frame of reference , turbulence , geometry , mathematics , geotechnical engineering , physics , classical mechanics , engineering , aerospace engineering
We use numerical simulations to examine the variability of flow patterns in representative fracture intersection geometries. In contrast to existing studies of perfectly orthogonal intersections, we demonstrate that more realistic geometries lead to a rich spectrum of flow patterns. Moreover, numerical solutions of the Navier‐Stokes equations in these fracture intersections indicate that non‐linear inertial effects become important for Reynolds numbers as low as 1–100. Such Reynolds numbers often exist in naturally fractured formations, particularly in karst systems and in the vicinity of wells during pump tests.