TY - JOUR

T1 - On the loss of symmetry in toughness dominated hydraulic fractures

AU - Tanné, Erwan

AU - Bourdin, Blaise

AU - Yoshioka, Keita

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.

PY - 2022/9

Y1 - 2022/9

N2 - Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a ubiquitous technique for generating fracture networks in rocks for enhanced geothermal systems or hydrocarbon extraction from shales. For decades, models, numerical simulation tools, and practical guidelines have been based on the assumption that this process generates networks of self-similar parallel cracks. Yet, some field and laboratory observations show asymmetric crack growth, and material heterogeneity is routinely attributed for it. Here, we show that simultaneous growth of multiple parallel cracks is impossible and that a single crack typically propagates asymmetrically in toughness dominated hydraulic fracturing, in which viscous dissipation of the fluid is negligible. In other words, loss of symmetry is a fundamental feature of hydraulic fracturing in a toughness dominated regime and not necessary the result of material heterogeneities. Our findings challenge the assumptions of symmetrical growth of hydraulic fractures commonly made in practice, and point to yet another instability other than material heterogeneity.

AB - Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a ubiquitous technique for generating fracture networks in rocks for enhanced geothermal systems or hydrocarbon extraction from shales. For decades, models, numerical simulation tools, and practical guidelines have been based on the assumption that this process generates networks of self-similar parallel cracks. Yet, some field and laboratory observations show asymmetric crack growth, and material heterogeneity is routinely attributed for it. Here, we show that simultaneous growth of multiple parallel cracks is impossible and that a single crack typically propagates asymmetrically in toughness dominated hydraulic fracturing, in which viscous dissipation of the fluid is negligible. In other words, loss of symmetry is a fundamental feature of hydraulic fracturing in a toughness dominated regime and not necessary the result of material heterogeneities. Our findings challenge the assumptions of symmetrical growth of hydraulic fractures commonly made in practice, and point to yet another instability other than material heterogeneity.

KW - Hydraulic fracturing

KW - Loss of symmetry

KW - Phase-field models of fracture

KW - Gradient damage models

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85126035649&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s10704-022-00623-5

DO - 10.1007/s10704-022-00623-5

M3 - Article

VL - 237.2022

SP - 189

EP - 202

JO - International Journal of Fracture

JF - International Journal of Fracture

SN - 0376-9429

IS - September

ER -