Liquid Cohesion Induced Particle Agglomeration Enhances Clogging in Rock Fractures

Suspended particle transport is frequently involved in many geophysical processes and subsurface engineering applications. Although common important, the effect of liquid cohesion on clogging has been overlooked previous studies. We conduct visualized experiments dilute suspension flow a rough fracture find dramatic enhancement by tiny amount additional immiscible wetting liquid, even at weight percentage ω ≤ 0.5%. An experimental phase diagram patterns obtained space secondary content rate. The combined composition hydrodynamic condition behavior analyzed to explain transitions regimes. A theoretical model agglomerate size proposed quantify capillary effect. This work improves understanding fines migration particle-clogging behaviors paves way for possibility controlling various