top of page

Fracture Stiffness of Embedded Fracture

This example comprises  a cube that contains three sets of embedded fracture that are orthogonal to one another and aligned with the sample principal axes. The goal is to use inverse analysis to recover fracture normal stiffness of all fracture sets as defined by the Bandis model.  The inverse problem therefore contains 3-unknowns.

The target solutions are stress XX, stress YY, and stress ZZ in a uniaxial compression test.

Downward vertical displacement is prescribed on the top surface of the cube to generate stress fields whose normal components in X, Y and Z directions are compared against the target solutions. 

Reduction of misfit as the algorithm gradually approaches the optimal solution.

​Optimisation algorithm in search of optimal initial fracture stiffness for the three embedded fracture sets. Horizontal red lines indicate values used to generate target solution. 

​Optimisation algorithm in search of optimal initial fracture stiffness for the three embedded fracture sets. Horizontal red lines indicate values used to generate target solution. 

Comparison of optimal model stresses with the target stress values

​Comparison of optimal model stresses with the target stress values

​Optimisation algorithm in search of optimal initial fracture stiffness for the three embedded fracture sets. Horizontal red lines indicate values used to generate target solution. 

Comparison of optimal model stresses with the target stress values

bottom of page