Estimation of fracture flow in considering the inhomogeneous structure of single rock fractures

Kishida, Kiyoshi*; Sawada, Atsushi ; Yasuhara, Hideaki*; Hosoda, Takashi*

Considering the safe, long-term sequestration of energy byproducts, such as radioactive waste, one of the important parameters is the groundwater flow velocity through the void of rock masses and/or fractures. In this research work, two-dimensional seepage flow analyses, using the authors' proposed 2D model, with considering the inertia term, are carried out for single fracture permeability tests under conditions which allow for the application of the cubic law. In comparing the results of the experiments with the numerical simulations, the results of the simulation show a good agreement with the experimental results. From these simulation results, the fracture flow of an inhomogeneous structure is discussed, along with the local Reynolds number, and the resistance through the fracture geometry is considered. Consequently, under the condition of a mean Reynolds number of less than 1.0, the inertia terms cannot affect on the fracture flow, but the hydraulic resistance can affect.