SCALE AND TIME EFFECTS IN HYDRAULIC FRACTURING

An experimental study was conducted to determine the effects of scale and time on hydraulic fracturing in compacted samples of Teton Dam silt and Pittsburg silty clay. A theory was developed to show how size of opening, time of pressurizing opening, and soil permeability are related to the occurrence of hydraulic fracturing. Finite element analyses were used to investigate the possible effects of nonlinear soil behavior. Both experimental and theoretical studies show that hydraulic fracturing can be initiated by seepage-induced forces without the presence of a preexisting flaw in the soil.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of California, Berkeley

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  Davis Hall
  Berkeley, CA  United States  94720-1710

  U.S. Army Waterways Experiment Station

  Geotechnical Laboratory, 3909 Halls Ferry Road
  Vicksburg, MS  United States  39180-6199
• Authors:
  • Widjaja, H
  • Duncan, J M
  • Seed, H B
• Publication Date: 1984-7

Media Info

• Pagination: 205 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Clay; Dams; Finite element method; Hydraulic fracturing; Permeability; Seepage; Silts; Size; Soil mechanics; Soils; Time
• Old TRIS Terms: Soil behavior; Soil permeability; Time effects
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Geotechnology; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00388830
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: GL-84-10 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DACW39-81-C-0024
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 28 1984 12:00AM