Modelling the water injection induced fault slip and its application to in-situ stress estimation

Fault reactivation due to water injection is assessed within the scope of nuclear waste disposal design. A model using distinct element method applied reproduce fault during an experiment carried out at Mont Terri Underground Research Laboratory in Switzerland. conceptual first presented understand hydro-mechanical coupling behavior between pressure and rock joint movement. The simulations show that dominant factors on slip are shear stress frictional resistance. Moreover, modeling shows reversible opening normal direction occurs a lower pressure, whereas displacement as result produced once sufficiently high reached. We demonstrate coupled numerical analysis trend fluid measured point allow in-situ estimation principal stresses.