Relating Hydraulic–Electrical–Elastic Properties of Natural Rock Fractures at Elevated Stress and Associated Transient Changes of Fracture Flow

Abstract Monitoring the hydraulic properties within subsurface fractures is vitally important in contexts of geoengineering developments and seismicity. Geophysical observations are promising tools for remote determination properties; however, quantitative interpretations hampered by paucity relevant geophysical data fractured rock masses. This study explores simultaneous changes natural with increasing normal stress correlates these property through coupling experiments digital fracture simulations. Our lattice Boltzmann simulation reveals transitions three-dimensional flow paths, finite-element modeling enables us to investigate corresponding evolution properties. We show that electrical resistivity linked permeability area regardless roughness, whereas elastic wave velocity roughness-dependent. discrepancy arises from different sensitivities quantities microstructure: sensitive spatial distribution asperity contacts, insensitive contact distribution, but instead controlled fluid connectivity. also able categorize patterns as aperture-dependent, aperture-independent, or disconnected flows, at specific levels. Elastic offers potential detecting transition between aperture-dependent aperture-independent flow, state connection flow. The hydraulic-electrical-elastic relationships reported here may be beneficial improving find applications studies seismogenic zones geothermal reservoirs.