Hydraulic Fracturing in Earth-rock Fill Dams

Jun-Jie Wang, PhD, Professor, National Engineering Research Center for Inland Waterway Regulation, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, P.R. ChinaProfessor Wang achieved hisPhD in Geotechnical Engineering in 2005 from Hohai University, Nanjing, P. R. China.?He currently teaches in the following areas: Engineering Geology, Hydrogeology, Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Seepage Mechanics, Rock Mechanics, and?Survey of Engineering Geology.? Professor Wang has written numerous journals papers on his subject and has patented many designs and inventions to assist in his research.

Presents a systematic and comprehensive study of hydraulic fracturing, original in its concentration of core soil problems
 

There have been a number of well-studied cases in which dams have failed or been damaged by concentrated leaks for no apparent cause. In some of these experiences, investigators concluded that differential settlement cracks were the probable causes, even though no cracks were seen on the surface. In these examples, it was not determined whether the crack was open before the reservoir filled or whether it might have opened afterward. In several unsolved problems on the safety of the earth-rock fill dam, the problem of hydraulic fracture in the soil core of the earth-rock fill dam is one that is widely paid attention by designers and researchers. Hydraulic fracturing is generally considered as a key cause which may induce the leakage of the dam during first filling.
In this extensive book, a new numerical simulate method is suggested. The method is based on the conventional two-dimensional finite element technique, and the theoretical formulations to calculate energy release rate using virtual crack extension method. The influence factors on convergence of calculated J integral are investigated. The accuracy of the calculated J integral is verified by analysing the three typical problems in Fracture Mechanics, in which propagation of crack may follow mode I, mode II and mixed mode I-II respectively. Using the new numerical method, the factors affecting the occurrence of hydraulic fracturing in the earth-rock fill dam are investigated. The investigating results indicate that increasing any of the Young's modulus, the Poisson's ratio and the density of the core soil is helpful to reduce the likelihood of the occurrence of hydraulic fracturing. The likelihood of the occurrence of hydraulic fracturing increases with increasing the water level or the crack depth. The lower part of the dam core is the zone in which the phenomenon of hydraulic fracturing may be induced easily. As an example to analyse the ability of earth-rock fill dam to resist hydraulic fracturing, the Nuozhadu Dam located in Western China is analysed.
 
* Presents a systematic and comprehensive study of hydraulic fracturing, original in its concentration of core soil problems
* Focuses on the problem of hydraulic fracturing in earth-rock fill dams from three aspects; conditions and mechanisms of hydraulic fracturing, criterion of hydraulic fracturing, and numerical method on hydraulic fracturing
* Examines advanced laboratory soil testing, application of numerical methods and field testing/monitoring, all needed for a better understanding of hydraulic fracturing in earth/rock fill dams
* Provides an essential reference in an area of scarce research in this field, and the need in high earth dam construction in developing countries is pressing
 

Ideal for researchers in Hydraulic and Geotechnical Engineering Fields; Students on Masters or PhD courses; as well as Designers and Constructors in Hydraulic and Geotechnical Engineering Fields.

Presents a systematic and comprehensive study of hydraulicfracturing, original in its concentration of core soilproblems



There have been a number of well-studied cases in which damshave failed or been damaged by concentrated leaks for no apparentcause.

About the Author xi
 
Preface xiii
 
Acknowledgments xvii
 
Nomenclature xix
 
1 Introduction 1
 
1.1 Types of Embankment Dam 1
 
1.2 Hydraulic Fracturing 3
 
1.3 Failure of the Teton Dam 5
 
1.4 Erosion Damage of the Balderhead Dam 9
 
1.5 Leakage of the Hyttejuvet Dam 13
 
1.6 Self-Healing of Core Cracks 17
 
1.7 Technical Route for Present Study 18
 
1.8 Summary 20
 
References 20
 
2 Review of Literature 23
 
2.1 Introduction 23
 
2.2 Theories of Hydraulic Fracturing 23
 
2.2.1 Theories Based on Circular Cavity Expansion Theory 24
 
2.2.2 Theories Based on Spherical Cavity Expansion Theory 26
 
2.2.3 Theories Based on True Triaxial Stress State Analyses 27
 
2.2.4 Empirical Formulas 31
 
2.2.5 Theories Based on Fracture Mechanics 34
 
2.3 Laboratory Experimental Studies on Hydraulic Fracturing 38
 
2.3.1 Cylindrical Sample 38
 
2.3.2 Rectangular Sample 39
 
2.4 Field Testing Studies of Hydraulic Fracturing 40
 
2.5 Model Testing Studies of Hydraulic Fracturing 41
 
2.6 Numerical Simulations of Hydraulic Fracturing 42
 
2.7 Analysis Method for Hydraulic Fracturing 45
 
2.8 Summary 46
 
References 47
 
3 Conditions and Mechanisms of Hydraulic Fracturing 51
 
3.1 Introduction 51
 
3.2 Conditions for Hydraulic Fracturing 52
 
3.2.1 Crack Located at the Upstream Face of Core 52
 
3.2.2 Low Permeability of Core Soil 55
 
3.2.3 Rapid Impounding 56
 
3.2.4 Unsaturated Soil Core 56
 
3.3 Mechanical Mechanism of Hydraulic Fracturing 61
 
3.4 Modes of Fracture in Fracture Mechanics 62
 
3.5 Summary 65
 
References 66
 
4 Fracture Toughness and Tensile Strength of Core Soil 69
 
4.1 Introduction 69
 
4.2 Tested Soil 71
 
4.3 Testing Technique on Fracture Toughness 72
 
4.3.1 Testing Method 72
 
4.3.2 Apparatus 73
 
4.3.3 Testing Procedures 75
 
4.3.4 Testing Program 76
 
4.4 Testing Results on Fracture Toughness 77
 
4.4.1 Suitability of Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics 77
 
4.4.2 Influence Factors on Fracture Toughness 80
 
4.5 Testing Technique on Tensile Strength 82
 
4.5.1 Testing Method and Apparatus 84
 
4.5.2 Calculation of Tensile Strength 84
 
4.5.3 Testing Procedures 85
 
4.5.4 Testing Program 86
 
4.6 Testing Results on Tensile Strength 86
 
4.6.1 Water Content 86
 
4.6.2 Dry Density 88
 
4.6.3 Preconsolidation Pressure 89
 
4.7 Relationship between Fracture Toughness and Tensile Strength 89
 
4.8 Discussions 90
 
4.8.1 Soils from References 90
 
4.8.2 Rocks from References 93
 
4.9 Summary 94
 
References 95
 
5 Fracture Failure Criteria for Core Soil under I-II Mixed Modes 99
 
5.1 Introduction 99
 
5.2 Experimental Technique 101
 
5.2.1 Loading Assembly 102
 
5.2.2 Calculation Theory 102
 
5.2.3 Testing Procedures 104
 
5.2.4 Test Program 104
 
5.3 Testing Results 105
 
5.4 Fracture Failure Criteria 108
 
5.5 Discussions 111
 
5.5.1 Testing Technique 111
 
5.5.2 Failure Criteria 111
 
5.6 Summary 115
 
References 116
 
6 Hydraulic Fracturing Criterion 121
 
6.1 Introduction 121
 
6.2 Failure Criterion 121
 
6.2.1 Simplification of a Crack 122
 
6.2.2 Criterion 122
 
6.3 Cubic Speci