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Boundary conditions along permeable fracture walls: Influence on flow and conductivity
Author(s) -
Berkowitz Brian
Publication year - 1989
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/wr025i008p01919
Subject(s) - fracture (geology) , mechanics , flow (mathematics) , porous medium , conductivity , boundary value problem , porosity , geotechnical engineering , geology , volumetric flow rate , materials science , fluid dynamics , boundary (topology) , mathematics , physics , mathematical analysis , quantum mechanics
It is usually assumed in the literature that an impermeable parallel plate approximation is suitable for modeling flow in permeable wall fractures. Experimental evidence which casts doubt on the validity of this assumption is examined, and an alternative formulation for flow in permeable wall fractures and the surrounding porous medium is developed. Analysis of the model indicates that assuming that the tangential fracture fluid velocity vanishes along the interface between fracture and porous medium can in certain cases lead to significant underestimation of the net flow rate and of the coefficient of equivalent fracture conductivity.