SFB 1313 Publication "Modelling fluid‐driven fractures for partially saturated porous materials"

New SFB 1313 publication, published in PAMM - Proceedings in Applied Mathematics and Mechanics:

"Modelling fluid‐driven fractures for partially saturated porous materials"

Authors

• Alixa Sonntag (University of Stuttgart, SFB 1313 research project B02)
• Arndt Wagner (University of Stuttgart, SFB 1313 research projects B02 and C03)
• Wolfgang Ehlers (University of Stuttgart, SFB 1313 research project B02)

Abstract

This contribution aims to study the influence of the saturation degree on the fracturing process. Therefore, a continuum‐mechanical model for fluid‐driven fracturing in partially saturated porous material is presented on the basis of the Theory of Porous Media and the phase‐field approach to fracture. The material is described on the macroscopic scale as an immiscible mixture of three phases, i.e. a solid phase, representing the solid skeleton, and two fluid phases percolating the pore space. Hereby, capillarity effects between the fluid phases are taken into account. The fracturing process is modelled with a phase‐field approach, characterising a diffuse crack pattern. The crack propagation in the solid skeleton is driven by the pressure field of the injected fluid. Finally, a numerical example showing the coupled process of crack propagation in partially saturated porous materials is discussed.