A correlated fracture network: modeling and percolation properties
2007
Masihi, M. | King, P.R.
1 We present a model of fractures based on the idea that the elastic free energy due to the fracture density follows a Boltzmann distribution. The resulting expression for the spatial correlation in the displacement of fractures is used as an objective function in a simulated annealing algorithm to generate realizations of correlated fracture networks. This approach determines the appropriate statistical distribution for the fractures (e.g., length distribution) rather than imposing them as is done conventionally. The model consists of two families of parallel fractures which are perpendicular under isotropic conditions. There also exists a positive correlation between the position of fractures and their lengths; that is, large fractures have their neighbors located at greater distance than small fractures. Finally, we use the realizations of correlated fracture networks in the basic methodology of the percolation approach and investigate the model percolation properties. In particular, the scaling exponents of the connectivity are found to be different from the conventional, uncorrelated values.
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