Numerical modeling of rock fractures filled with bio-grout

• Main Author: Iis Nadhirah Binte Seneman
• Other Authors: Wu Wei (CEE)
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Engineering::Civil engineering
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/167972
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The aim of this project was to test how the physical characteristics of bio-grouting improved the rock mass quality. Prior to the previous work of experiment and to further improve overall study, a numerical stimulation was carried out on grout-filled fractures under multiple normal stresses to reproduce and visualize the flow rate distribution on the rock-grout interface and infer how these grouts contributed to the fracture permeability reduction. The main focus of the experiment was stress-dependent permeability and velocity magnitude which were observed at different inlet and confining pressures. Bio-grouting was tested for its suitability in order to select a material for an underground storage facility system. The primary source of testing for rock formation was Bukit Timah Granite. There would also be recommendations at the end of the report to enhance extensive studies in the future. In addition, the numerical stimulation involved several steps which are firstly, building a 3D geometry model using the model wizard and exploring the different functions of the model builder. Certain material properties were inputted such as liquid, sand as a substitute for bio-grout and others including dynamic viscosity, density, permeability, porosity and so forth. After multiple attempts of trial and error, brinkman equation was utilized, which is a porous media and subsurface flow interface. To elaborate, the brinkman equation accounts for fast-moving fluids in porous media with kinetic potential from fluid velocity, pressure, and gravity driving the flow. Subsequently, the model was stimulated to obtain desired results such as velocity magnitude.