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Three‐dimensional flow measurements in rock fractures
Author(s) -
Dijk Peter E.,
Berkowitz Brian
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/1999wr900200
Subject(s) - discontinuity (linguistics) , flow (mathematics) , geology , fracture (geology) , power law , volumetric flow rate , surface finish , asymmetry , flow velocity , mineralogy , materials science , geotechnical engineering , mechanics , mathematics , physics , composite material , mathematical analysis , statistics , quantum mechanics
Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging is applied to measure flow patterns in natural, water‐saturated, rough‐walled rock fractures. From three‐dimensional water density and velocity vector images the fracture morphology and flow patterns are determined. The parabolic nature and asymmetry of the velocity profiles, and thus the accuracy of local cubic law flow rate predictions, vary greatly. This depends on the degree of wall roughness. Particularly complex flow patterns are found in one sample which contains a sharp fracture wall discontinuity. A power law for the flow rate versus aperture for the low‐flow region was found without considering the hydraulic gradients.