Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 25, 2026
09:12
A Method for Studying the Temperature Dependence of Dynamic Fracture and Fragmentation
Published on: June 28, 2015
9.0K
Approaching a universal scaling relationship between fracture stiffness and fluid flow
Laura J Pyrak-Nolte1,2,3, David D Nolte1
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, 525 Northwestern Avenue, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2036, USA.
Nature Communications
|February 13, 2016
Summary
Researchers found a universal relationship between fluid flow and fracture stiffness, a key mechanical property. This discovery aids in monitoring subsurface fracture changes and assessing site hydraulic integrity.
Area of Science:
- Geophysics
- Hydrogeology
- Rock Mechanics
Background:
- Subsurface geophysical monitoring aims to detect fracture alterations impacting hydraulic integrity.
- Linking fracture mechanical and hydraulic properties is crucial for this goal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a universal scaling relationship between fluid flow and fracture-specific stiffness.
- To establish a foundation for simulating fracture behavior changes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a Monte Carlo numerical approach.
- Investigated fractures with correlated aperture distributions.
- Examined fractures deformed by stress and chemical erosion.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a scaling relationship between fluid flow and fracture-specific stiffness.
- Confirmed the relationship holds for deformed fractures.
Conclusions:
- Fracture-specific stiffness, monitored via seismic techniques, links mechanical properties to hydraulic behavior.
- This relationship aids in risk assessment for subsurface site hydraulic integrity.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:28Major Losses in Pipes
2.5K
When a fluid flows through a pipe, it experiences energy losses due to frictional resistance along the pipe walls, known as major losses. These energy losses result in a pressure drop, which varies based on the flow conditions — whether laminar or turbulent — and the specific physical properties of the fluid and pipe.
Fluid flow can be classified as laminar or turbulent, primarily based on the Reynolds number. This dimensionless number reflects the relative influence of inertial to viscous...
Fluid flow can be classified as laminar or turbulent, primarily based on the Reynolds number. This dimensionless number reflects the relative influence of inertial to viscous...
2.5K
01:30Typical Model Studies
682
Fluid mechanics model studies often utilize scaled-down systems to predict fluid behavior in full-scale environments, such as river flows, dam spillways, and structures interacting with open surfaces. Maintaining Froude number similarity in river models is crucial, as it replicates surface flow features like wave patterns and velocities.
682
01:24Stress-Strain Diagram - Brittle Materials
5.0K
Brittle materials, including glass, cast iron, and stone, exhibit unique characteristics. They fracture without considerable change in their elongation rate, indicating that their breaking and ultimate strength are equivalent. Such materials also show lower strain levels at the point of rupture. The failure in brittle materials predominantly results from normal stresses, as evidenced by the rupture created along a surface perpendicular to the applied load. These materials do not display...
5.0K
01:18Newtonian Fluid: Problem Solving
1.1K
Newtonian fluids exhibit a constant viscosity, meaning their shear stress and shear strain rate are directly proportional. This property ensures a predictable and stable response to applied forces, maintaining a linear relationship between force and flow. Examples include water, air, and light oils, consistently demonstrating this proportional behavior regardless of external conditions.
A velocity gradient forms within the fluid when a Newtonian fluid is placed between two parallel plates, with...
A velocity gradient forms within the fluid when a Newtonian fluid is placed between two parallel plates, with...
1.1K
01:21Fatigue
995
Fatigue occurs when materials rupture under repeated or fluctuating loads, even at stress levels far below their static breaking strength. It typically results in brittle failure, even for ductile materials. It is a critical consideration in designing machines and structural components subjected to repetitive or varying loads. The nature of these loadings can range from fluctuating loads like unbalanced pump impellers causing vibrations to repeatedly bending a thin steel rod wire back and forth...
995
01:20Characteristics of Fluids
8.7K
When a force is applied parallel to the top surface of a solid, it resists the applied force due to the internal frictional forces between the layers of the solid known as shearing resistance. However, when the force is removed, the shearing forces restore the original shape of the solid. Other deformation forces also cause temporary changes in shape if the forces are not beyond a threshold magnitude. Solids tend to retain their shape, making the study of their rest and motion easier. Beyond...
8.7K