Analytical approximations of bulk and shear moduli for dry rock based on the differential effective medium theory

Differential effective medium theory has been applied to determine the elastic properties of porous media. The ordinary differential equations for bulk and shear moduli are coupled and it is more difficult to obtain accurate analytical formulae about the moduli of dry porous rock. In this paper, in order to decouple these equations we first substitute an analytical approximation for the dry‐rock modulus ratio into the differential equation and derive analytical solutions of the bulk and shear moduli for dry rock with three specific pore shapes: spherical pores, needle‐shaped pores and penny‐shaped cracks. Then, the validity of the analytical approximations is tested by integrating the full differential effective medium equation numerically. The analytical formulae give good estimates of the numerical results over the whole porosity range for the cases of the three given pore shapes. These analytical formulae can be further simplified under the assumption of small porosity. The simplified formulae for spherical pores are the same as Mackenzie's equations. The analytical formulae are relatively easy to analyse the relationship between the elastic moduli and porosity or pore shapes and can be used to invert some rock parameters such as porosity or pore aspect ratio. The predictions of the analytical formulae for experimental data show that the formulae for penny‐shaped cracks are suitable to estimate the elastic properties of micro‐crack rock such as granite, they can be used to estimate the crack aspect ratio while the crack porosity is known and also to estimate the crack porosity evolution with pressure if the crack aspect ratio is given.     

Effective velocities in fractured media: a numerical study using the rotated staggered finite‐difference grid

The modelling of elastic waves in fractured media with an explicit finite‐difference scheme causes instability problems on a staggered grid when the medium possesses high‐contrast discontinuities (strong heterogeneities). For the present study we apply the rotated staggered grid. Using this modified grid it is possible to simulate the propagation of elastic waves in a 2D or 3D medium containing cracks, pores or free surfaces without hard‐coded boundary conditions. Therefore it allows an efficient and precise numerical study of effective velocities in fractured structures. We model the propagation of plane waves through a set of different, randomly cracked media. In these numerical experiments we vary the wavelength of the plane waves, the crack porosity and the crack density. The synthetic results are compared with several static theories that predict the effective P‐ and S‐wave velocities in fractured materials in the long wavelength limit. For randomly distributed and randomly orientated, rectilinear, non‐intersecting, thin, dry cracks, the numerical simulations of velocities of P‐, SV‐ and SH‐waves are in excellent agreement with the results of the modified (or differential) self‐consistent theory. On the other hand for intersecting cracks, the critical crack‐density (porosity) concept must be taken into account. To describe the wave velocities in media with intersecting cracks, we propose introducing the critical crack‐density concept into the modified self‐consistent theory. Numerical simulations show that this new formulation predicts effective elastic properties accurately for such a case.     

工程结构三维疲劳裂纹最大应力强度因子计算

介绍了裂纹的类型、裂纹尖端应力场的奇异性。以一维问题为例,推导论证了奇异单元能够很好的反映裂纹尖端应力场的奇异性。应力强度因子一般表达式表明应力强度因子与载荷呈线性关系,并依赖于物体和裂纹的几何形状和尺寸。本文借助大型通用有限元软件ANSYS,采用位移外插法计算了三维表面裂纹前沿不同位置处的应力强度因子,并与《应力强度因子手册》基于实验的理论公式计算结果相比较。结果表明:有限元结果与理论解误差较小,裂纹最深处应力强度因子最大。     

Characterizing the effect of elastic interactions on the effective elastic properties of porous,cracked rocks

Elastic interactions between pores and cracks reflect how they are organized or spatially distributed in porous rocks. The principle goal of this paper is to understand and characterize the effect of elastic interactions on the effective elastic properties. We perform finite element modelling to quantitatively study how the spatial arrangement of inclusions affects stress distribution and the resulting overall elasticity. It is found that the stress field can be significantly altered by elastic interactions. Compared with a non‐interacting situation, stress shielding considerably stiffens the effective media, while stress amplification appreciably reduces the effective elasticity. We also demonstrate that the T‐matrix approach, which takes into account the ellipsoid distribution of pores or cracks, can successfully characterize the competing effects between stress shielding and stress amplification. Numerical results suggest that, when the concentrations of cracks increase beyond the dilute limit, the single parameter crack density is not sufficient to characterize the contribution of the cracks to the effective elasticity. In order to obtain more reliable and accurate predictions for the effective elastic responses and seismic anisotropies, the spatial distribution of pores and cracks should be included. Additionally, such elastic interaction effects are also dependent on both the pore shapes and the fluid infill.     

一种基于3D复杂介质的弹性建模数值方法

储层中的裂隙会导致介质表现出各向异性.传统等效介质方法假定储层可以被等效成为横向各向同性介质,不适用于复杂裂缝储层的弹性等效建模和各向异性特征分析.本文在前人研究基础上,利用最小二乘方法开展3D复杂裂隙弹性等效数值模拟研究,并与常规等效介质理论方法进行比较,验证数值方法的精确性.数值方法不仅能有效避免Hudson理论和Eshelby-Cheng理论等解析方法在大裂隙密度条件下的参数估计误差,而且兼顾裂隙扰动作用对等效介质参数的影响.数值研究表明,数值方法能够较好地描述复杂裂缝介质的各向异性特征,为复杂裂缝储层地震波各向异性参数反演提供依据.     

A PHYSICAL MODEL STUDY OF SCATTERING OF WAVES BY ALIGNED CRACKS: COMPARISON BETWEEN EXPERIMENT AND THEORY1

An approximation to plane-wave propagation through a composite material is examined using a physical model with oriented but randomly distributed penny-shaped rubber inclusions within an isotropic epoxy resin matrix. A pulse transmission method is used to determine velocities of shear and compressional waves as a function of angle of incidence and crack density. The experimental and theoretical results of Hudson were compared and limitations within the crack parameters used in this study have been determined. Results from both polarized shear waves (S1, S2) compare favourably with the theory for a composite with up to 7% crack density, but theory and experiment diverge at higher crack densities. On the other hand, compressional-wave velocities at low crack densities (1% and 3%) compare favourably with the theory. It is also shown that the velocity ratio V_p/V_s for two extreme cases, i.e. propagation normal and parallel to the cracks, as a function of crack density and porosity, has a strong directional dependence.     

Cohesive Crack Analysis of Toughness Increase Due to Confining Pressure

Apparent fracture toughness in Mode I of microcracking materials such as rocks under confining pressure is analyzed based on a cohesive crack model. In rocks, the apparent fracture toughness for crack propagation varies with the confining pressure. This study provides analytical solutions for the apparent fracture toughness using a cohesive crack model, which is a model for the fracture process zone. The problem analyzed in this study is a fluid-driven fracture of a two-dimensional crack with a cohesive zone under confining pressure. The size of the cohesive zone is assumed to be negligibly small in comparison to the crack length. The analyses are performed for two types of cohesive stress distribution, namely the constant cohesive stress (Dugdale model) and the linearly decreasing cohesive stress. Furthermore, the problem for a more general cohesive stress distribution is analyzed based on the fracture energy concept. The analytical solutions are confirmed by comparing them with the results of numerical computations performed using the body force method. The analytical solution suggests a substantial increase in the apparent fracture toughness due to increased confining pressures, even if the size of the fracture process zone is small.     

地震荷载作用下带裂纹重载铁路隧道的动态断裂

在隧道的施工和运营中,隧道衬砌不可避免会产生裂纹。裂纹和地震荷载的相互作用将加剧隧道的破坏,因此研究带裂纹隧道衬砌地震荷载作用下的破坏具有重要的意义。为了证明本文二维有限元数值模拟计算结果的正确性,首先用相互作用积分的方法计算动载作用下的静态裂纹,并与解析解进行比对,发现二者的吻合性很好。计算结果表明相互作用积分法可以用来精确地计算动载作用下带裂纹结构的动应力强度因子。用这种经过验证的方法来计算带裂纹重载铁路隧道衬砌的动应力强度因子和动承载力安全系数,可以看出在地震荷载作用下,I型裂纹的动应力强度因子在隧道结构的安全中起控制作用。当裂纹的长度大于某特定值时,隧道处于很危险的状态。     

General energetic analysis of fracture instabilities in elastic media and the elastic field rupture

The singular integral equations method makes it possible to determine a general analytical solution to the problem of a crack subjected to any stresses, including singular ones. The singularity of stresses means that they tend to infinity in the concentration point. In exponential functions describing this relationship, the exponent characterizes the stress curvature growth. Also the energy released by crack opening can be described by a simple analytical formula. The problem is solvable for an exponent greater than −1. The class of all the cracks subject to stresses that exponentially grow to one of the crack ends is divided into three sub-classes. One of these embraces most of crack types, also Griffith’s. The remaining two are a source of microcracks in an elastic medium. The onset of such a stress concentration gives rise to a microcrack which cancels the stress singularity up to that with the exponent of −1/2, ensuring a strong stability of the medium. An analysis of the nucleation of such cracks brought about a concept of elastic field rupture without destruction of interatomic bonds, which has implications relating to the conductivity of metals. A general formula for the crack energy singles out a special crack of unit length, whose energy is constant and independent of stress concentration.     

Effective elastic properties of randomly fractured soils: 3D numerical experiments

This paper is concerned with numerical tests of several rock physical relationships. The focus is on effective velocities and scattering attenuation in 3D fractured media. We apply the so‐called rotated staggered finite‐difference grid (RSG) technique for numerical experiments. Using this modified grid, it is possible to simulate the propagation of elastic waves in a 3D medium containing cracks, pores or free surfaces without applying explicit boundary conditions and without averaging the elastic moduli. We simulate the propagation of plane waves through a set of randomly cracked 3D media. In these numerical experiments we vary the number and the distribution of cracks. The synthetic results are compared with several (most popular) theories predicting the effective elastic properties of fractured materials. We find that, for randomly distributed and randomly orientated non‐intersecting thin penny‐shaped dry cracks, the numerical simulations of P‐ and S‐wave velocities are in good agreement with the predictions of the self‐consistent approximation. We observe similar results for fluid‐filled cracks. The standard Gassmann equation cannot be applied to our 3D fractured media, although we have very low porosity in our models. This is explained by the absence of a connected porosity. There is only a slight difference in effective velocities between the cases of intersecting and non‐intersecting cracks. This can be clearly demonstrated up to a crack density that is close to the connectivity percolation threshold. For crack densities beyond this threshold, we observe that the differential effective‐medium (DEM) theory gives the best fit with numerical results for intersecting cracks. Additionally, it is shown that the scattering attenuation coefficient (of the mean field) predicted by the classical Hudson approach is in excellent agreement with our numerical results.     

Magma transport and reservoir formation by a system of propagating cracks

A system of propagating cracks may explain magma transport and the evolution of a volcano. This paper considers only a basaltic magma. The system is controlled by two boundary conditions: the stress field, and the production rate of the magma-filled cracks in the mantle. Numerical solutions of crack propagation for various stress conditions, with a constant production rate high enough to coalesce isolated cracks, were performed, and the results applied to different tectonic conditions. For the hydrostatic stress conditions, most magma-filled cracks beneath a polygenetic volcano become trapped either in the lower crust, because there the density difference between magma and the host rocks () becomes suddenly small, compared with that in the mantle, or trapped in the upper crust, because there is near to zero. Magma traps composed of such cracks may grow into magma reservoirs if the production rate of cracks in the mantle is large. If horizontal stress with a vertical gradient is superimposed on the hydrostatic condition in the crust, that is, tensile stress which increases upward or compressional stress which increases downward, magmafilled cracks, even if the density of magma is higher than that of the crust, may ascend directly without trapping. When the crust undergoes relative tension, magma-filled cracks may become trapped. Then, the lower part of the trap may grow into a magma reservoir, while the upper part may become filled with dikes. When the production rate of cracks is small, an initial magma-filled crack can rise directly to the surface only when the stress with a gradient is superimposed as mentioned above, or when the average density in a crack decreases, owing to, for example, vesiculation of volatile components.     

Changes in geophysical properties caused by fluid injection into porous rocks: analytical models

Analytical models are provided that describe how the elastic compliance, electrical conductivity, and fluid‐flow permeability of rocks depend on stress and fluid pressure. In order to explain published laboratory data on how seismic velocities and electrical conductivity vary in sandstones and granites, the models require a population of cracks to be present in a possibly porous host phase. The central objective is to obtain a consistent mean‐field analytical model that shows how each modeled rock property depends on the nature of the crack population. The crack populations are described by a crack density, a probability distribution for the crack apertures and radii, and the averaged orientation of the cracks. The possibly anisotropic nature of the elasticity, conductivity, and permeability tensors is allowed for; however, only the isotropic limit is used when comparing to laboratory data. For the transport properties of conductivity and permeability, the percolation effect of the crack population linking up to form a connected path across a sample is modeled. However, this effect is important only in crystalline rock where the host phase has very small conductivity and permeability. In general, the importance of the crack population to the transport properties increases as the host phase becomes less conductive and less permeable.     

Experimental verification of effective anisotropic crack theories in variable crack aspect ratio medium

Physical modelling of cracked/fractured media using downscaled laboratory experiments has been used with great success as a useful alternative for understanding the effect of anisotropy in the hydrocarbon reservoir characterization and in the crustal and mantle seismology. The main goal of this work was to experimentally verify the predictions of effective elastic parameters in anisotropic cracked media by Hudson and Eshelby–Cheng's effective medium models. For this purpose, we carried out ultrasonic measurements on synthetic anisotropic samples with low crack densities and different aspect ratios. Twelve samples were prepared with two different crack densities, 5% and 8%. Three samples for each crack density presented cracks with only one crack aspect ratio, whereas other three samples for each crack density presented cracks with three different aspect ratios in their composition. It results in samples with aspect ratio values varying from 0.13 to 0.26. All the cracked samples were simulated by penny‐shaped rubber inclusions in a homogeneous isotropic matrix made with epoxy resin. Moreover, an isotropic sample for reference was constructed with epoxy resin only. Regarding velocity predictions performed by the theoretical models, Eshelby–Cheng shows a better fit when compared with the experimental results for samples with single and mix crack aspect ratio (for both crack densities). From velocity values, our comparisons were also performed in terms of the ε, γ, and δ parameters (Thomsen parameters). The results show that Eshelby–Cheng effective medium model fits better with the measurements of ε and γ parameters for crack samples with only one type of crack aspect ratio.     

中国强震前兆地震活动图像机理的三维数值模拟研究

建立了含有母体岩石、硬包体和随机分布的小裂纹的三维有限元模型，计算了包体和各层实体中的应力分布. 利用最高应力破裂准则、释放破裂单元刚度生与死的方法，模拟强震前岩石的破裂和小震的空间分布特征. 结果表明，文中三种模型都显示出强震前在孕震体即包体附近出现了高应力集中单元. 它们是形成小震空区、条带和地震空间丛集图像的基础. 随机裂纹的存在，有利于在孕震体（包体）外的裂纹端部应力集中，先发生小震，形成包围孕震包体的前兆地震活动图像，而包体中的应力逐渐增加，为发生强震提供了条件. 包体的形状和几何位置是影响强震前兆地震活动图像形态的重要因素. 引入材料的黏弹性，导致了其中应力随时间迅速减小和弹性层某些部位应力随时间的增加. 但在本文设定的构造模型框架和介质参数下，下层黏弹性的存在对上层母体的应力随时间的增加影响不大.     

基于图像分割的成像测井资料目标拾取与计算

为了从FMI资料中提取定量信息,一个很重要的步骤就是要对FMI图像数据进行分割.即从实际FMI资料中分离出反映孔洞、裂缝的子图像,然后用相应的方法对分割后的子图像进行分析处理,提取相应参数.本文通过研究大量图像分割算法,认为奇异点多阈值分割算法、基于过度区的分割算法、Hopfield网络方法、基于图像间模糊散度的阈值化算法是FMI图像分割的有效方法,实现了从FMI图像中将地层中有用目标,从背景中分离出来.同时,为了得到孔洞及裂缝的形状参数,本文还研究了轮廓跟踪标识边缘的方法以及根据标识的边缘进行填充的算法.在此基础上,也研究了根据目标边缘坐标计算目标的长度、宽度、圆度、裂缝密度、孔洞密度等参数的方法.上述所有方法在SUN工作站GeoFrame平台上开发成功,通过对LX45等八口井的处理结果与岩心分析数据对比表明,效果较好.     

多重孔岩石微分等效介质模型及其干燥情形下的解析近似式

经典的微分等效介质(DEM)理论可用于确定多孔介质的弹性性质,但由于缺乏多重孔DEM方程,其估计的多重孔岩石的等效弹性模量依赖于包裹体(即不同孔隙纵横比的孔或缝)的添加顺序.本文首先从Kuster-Toksöz理论出发建立了Zimmermann和Norris两种形式的多重孔DEM方程.Norris形式的多重孔DEM方程预测的等效弹性模量总是位于Hashin-Shtrikman上下限内,而Zimmermann形式的多重孔DEM方程有时会越界.然后,通过使用干燥岩石模量比的解析近似式,对两个相互耦合的Norris形式DEM方程进行解耦得到干燥多重孔岩石的体积和剪切模量解析式.用全DEM方程的数值解对解析近似式的有效性进行了测试,解析公式的计算结果在整个孔隙度分布区间与数值解吻合良好.对实验室测量数据在假设岩石含有双重孔隙的情形下用双重孔DEM解析公式对岩石的弹性模量进行了预测,结果表明,解析式准确地预测了弹性模量随孔隙度的变化.双重孔(即软、硬孔)DEM解析模型可用来反演各孔隙类型的孔隙体积比,它可以通过实验室测量与理论预测之间的平方误差最小反演得到.砂岩样品的反演结果揭示,软孔的孔隙体积百分比与粘土含量没有明显的相关性.     

Predicted near-field ground motion for dynamic stress-drop models

We propose a finite difference method, using a hexagonal grid, to compute displacements (stresses, velocities, accelerations) in the near-field of a 2-D in-plane stress-drop crack, in both whole space (constant stress-drop) and half-space (depth-dependent stress-drop). To exercise the method, the stress field distribution is evaluated for both fundamental 2-D shear cracks, anti-plane. In order to test the method's reliability, the results are compared with some analytical and numerical solutions available in the literature (Kostrov, 1964;Virieux andMadariaga, 1982). For the in-plane source, the results emphasize that the method can resolve the stress concentration due to the rupture front from the stress peak associated with the shear wave propagating in front of the crack. Synthetic motions are computed on the fault, but also in an infinite medium and at the free surface. The rather complex waveforms generated in the near-field, even by simple sources, emphasize the contribution of all wave terms (near, intermediate and far-field) to the motion. The presence of near-field and the numerical procedure explain the significant low frequency content of the computed seismograms. The set of treated problems proves the method is stable and accurate.     

Estimation of effective dispersion coefficients in rocks with a regular staggered system of fractures

The influence of rock fracturing on the hydraulic dispersion parameters is studied by numerical simulation. A porous medium with a regular system of parallel cracks is examined as a model of fractured rocks. A fractured-porous medium is conventionally assumed to be locally uniform (within an elementary representative volume of the model), and the presence of heterogeneities is implicitly accounted for by the so-called effective values of the dispersion parameters of an underground medium. The mass transfer is calculated within a broad range of fracturing parameters with separate cracks being explicitly incorporated. The effective values of the dispersion parameters are determined by averaging results of the calculation. The numerically obtained implicit dependence of the effective dispersion parameters on fracturing prameters is approximated by analytical expressions.     

有效应力变化对致密砂岩孔隙结构及弹性波响应的影响规律

致密砂岩气藏具有裂缝发育和有效应力高的特征,研究不同有效压力下孔、裂隙介质地震波传播特征,有利于地震解释与地下储层的识别.但是前人的研究较少考虑岩石内部微观孔隙结构特征与孔隙、裂隙间流体流动的关系.本文首先通过选取四川盆地典型致密砂岩岩样,在不同有效压力下对岩石样本进行超声波实验测量.然后基于实验测得的纵、横波速度进行裂隙参数反演,得到不同有效压力下致密砂岩样本的裂隙孔隙度.再将裂隙孔隙度和样本岩石物理参数代入双重孔隙介质模型,模拟得到不同有效压力下饱水致密砂岩样本纵横波速度频散和衰减的变化规律.结果表明模型预测的速度频散曲线与纵波速度实验测量结果能够较好的吻合.最后统计分析了致密砂岩裂隙参数,得到了致密砂岩储层裂隙参数随有效压力及孔隙度变化特征.依据实际岩石物理参数建立模型,其裂隙参数三维拟合结果能够较好描述致密砂岩裂隙结构与孔隙度、应力的关联,可为实际地震勘探中预测储层裂缝性质提供基础依据.     

A Model for the Mechanical Behaviour of Bentheim Sandstone in the Brittle Regime

— The mechanical behaviour of Bentheim sandstone, a homogeneous quartz-rich sandstone with porosity of 22.8%, was investigated by triaxial compression tests conducted on dry samples. At confining pressures up to 35 MPa, the failure mode was characterized by a typical brittle deformation regime, as the samples showed dilatancy and failed by strain softening and brittle faulting. Previous studies have shown that the mechanical behaviour and failure mode of brittle porous granular rocks are governed by the time-dependent growth of microcracks. We analyse this process using the “Pore Crack Model” based on fracture mechanics analysis. It is consistent with the microstructure of porous granular rocks since it considers the growth of axial cracks from cylindrical holes in two dimensions. These cracks grow when their stress intensity factors reach the subcritical crack growth limit. Interaction between neighbouring cracks is introduced by calculating the stress intensity factor as the sum of two terms: a component for an isolated crack and an interaction term computed using the method of successive approximations. It depends on crack length, pore radius, pore density, and applied stresses. The simulation of crack growth from cylindrical holes, associated with a failure criterion based on the coalescence of interacting cracks, is used to compare the theoretical stress at the onset of dilatancy and at macroscopic rupture to the experimental determined values. Our approach gives theoretical results in good agreement with experimental data when microstructural parameters consistent with observations are introduced.