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Investigation of Hydraulic Fracture Propagation Using a Post-Peak Control System Coupled with Acoustic Emission

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Abstract

This study investigates the fracture mechanism of fluid coupled with a solid resulting from hydraulic fracture. A new loading machine was designed to improve upon conventional laboratory hydraulic fracture testing and to provide a means of better understanding fracture behavior of solid media. Test specimens were made of cement mortar. An extensometer and acoustic emission (AE) monitoring system recorded the circumferential deformation and crack growth location/number during the test. To control the crack growth at the post-peak stage the input fluid rate can be adjusted automatically according to feedback from the extensometer. The complete stress–deformation curve, including pre- and post-peak stages, was therefore obtained. The crack extension/growth developed intensively after the applied stress reached the breakdown pressure. The number of cracks recorded by the AE monitoring system was in good agreement with the amount of deformation (expansion) recorded by the extensometer. The results obtained in this paper provide a better understanding of the hydraulic fracture mechanism which is useful for underground injection projects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, 10608, Taiwan

    Li-Hsien Chen

  2. Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 10607, Taiwan

    Wei-Chih Chen, Yao-Chung Chen & Leo Benyamin

  3. School of Engineering, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3217, Australia

    An-Jui Li

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  1. Li-Hsien Chen
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  2. Wei-Chih Chen
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  3. Yao-Chung Chen
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  4. Leo Benyamin
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  5. An-Jui Li
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Correspondence to Wei-Chih Chen.

Appendix: Results of Tests 1, 2, 3, and 5

Appendix: Results of Tests 1, 2, 3, and 5

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Chen, LH., Chen, WC., Chen, YC. et al. Investigation of Hydraulic Fracture Propagation Using a Post-Peak Control System Coupled with Acoustic Emission. Rock Mech Rock Eng 48, 1233–1248 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-014-0620-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-014-0620-y

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