Download files
Abstract
A fully coupled constitutive model is presented for a rigorous analysis of deformation, hydraulic and heat flows in saturated dual porosity media subject to thermo-hydro-mechanical loadings including those able to cause local thermal non-equilibrium. The solid phase is assumed to contain two distinct cavities: the porous blocks and the fissure network. The governing equations are derived based on the equations of conservation of mass, momentum and energy. Solution to the governing equations is obtained numerically using the finite element approach. The capabilities of the model address two energy applications: the stability of a borehole in a thermally enhanced oil recovery context and the heat extraction of enhanced geothermal systems. Substantial differences, particularly in the effective stress response, highlight the major influence of the dual porosity model and the importance of the local thermal non-equilibrium assumption to predict the behaviour of fractured media.