Influence of asperity degradation and gouge formation on flow during rock fracture shearing

The evolution of fracture geometries caused by asperity damage and gouge formation during the shear significantly affect fluid flow in rock fractures. In this research, a cylindrical sandstone sample was fractured by using the Brazilian splitting test. Fluid flow tests and 3D scanning methods were performed on the fractured sample when it was sheared, to examine how shear-induced alteration of fracture geometries affected the permeability. A...