Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Spokane Mining Research Division (SMRD) have developed a modeling framework, using commercially available software, for investigating the fracture and ejection of rock into underground mine openings caused by seismic loading and the restraint of this failed rock by the ground support system. The modeling framework...

3D tomographic data at various scales is increasingly available through the wide adoption of CT (Micro Computed Tomography) and FIB-SEM (Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy) technologies. However, upscaling these observations is very challenging. This paper provides a template of an upscaling protocol between FIB-SEM data on a micron sized sample and CT data on the same sample regio...

a r t i c l e i n f o The purpose of this study is to analytically predict and to experimentally investigate the seismic response of adjacent filled parallel rock fractures with dissimilar properties (e.g., fracture thickness and stiffness). The time-domain recursive method is extended to predict that a P-wave propagates normally across the filled parallel fractures using the specific stiffness...

Abstract. The purpose of the Wedge Splitting Test (WST) is to generate stable mode I fracture crack along a pre-established path, and be able to measure the specific fracture energy parameter of the material GF. The test is performed on standard cylindrical notched specimens. In order to make decision on the optimal notch geometry for a specific rock test, a number of WST experiments were simul...

Australia has a huge resource of hot dry rock, most of which is located in Central Australia. As a first step towards experimental field testing of HDR development in Australia, in-situ stresses and natural fractures in Central Australia are being characterised. Preliminary results indicate that three stress regimes may co-exist in Central Australia, with maximum horizontal in-situ stress being...

Fractured-rock aquifers display spatially and temporally variable hydraulic conductivity generally attributed to variable fracture intensity and connectivity. Empirical evidence suggests fracture aperture and hydraulic conductivity are sensitive to in situ stress. This study investigates the sensitivity of fractured-rock hydraulic conductivity, groundwater flow paths, and advectiondominated tra...

many large oil and gas fields in the most productive world regions happen to be fractured. the exploration and development of these reservoirs is a true challenge for many operators. these difficulties are due to uncertainties in geological fracture properties such as aperture, length, connectivity and intensity distribution. to successfully address these challenges, it is paramount to improve ...