Solid particulate additives are sometimes used to promote the uniform growth of multiple hydraulic fractures in horizontal oil and gas wells. The principle is that solid particulates block, accumulate, and form larger porous plugging zones preferentially a ...
4-D acoustic imaging via an array of 32 sources/32 receivers is used to monitor hydraulic fracture (HF) propagating in a 250 mm cubic specimen under a true-triaxial state of stress. We present a method based on the arrivals of diffracted waves to reconstru ...
Sedimentary rocks often exhibit a transverse isotropy due to fine scale layering. We investigate the effect of the anisotropy of fracture toughness on the propagation of a planar 3D hydraulic fracture perpendicular to the isotropy plane: a configuration co ...
This paper analyzes fracturing in inhomogeneous media under dry and fully saturated conditions. We adopt a central force model with continuous damage to study avalanche behavior in a two-dimensional truss lattice undergoing dilation. Multiple fractures can ...
The study presented in this thesis aims to numerically explore the micro-mechanisms underlying rock fracture and fragmentation under dynamic loading. The approach adopted is based on the Discrete Element Method (DEM) coupled to the Cohesive Process Zone (C ...
In the context of osteoporosis, evaluation of bone fracture risk and improved design of epiphyseal bone implants rely on accurate knowledge of the mechanical properties of trabecular bone. A multi-axial loading chamber was designed, built and applied to ex ...
