Quantitative Estimates of Normalized Transmissivity and the Onset of Nonlinear Fluid Flow Through Rough Rock Fractures

Four real rock samples with different surface roughnesses were prepared in a study and 20 fractures were created from these samples. The types of the four rock samples were granite, and limestone. The Navier–Stokes equations were solved to quantitatively calculate the normalized transmissivity–hydraulic gradient curves and the corresponding critical hydraulic gradient and to quantify the transition from linear to nonlinear flow regimes. The influence of the fracture surface roughness on the conductivity was analyzed.