Coupling of flow, contact mechanics and friction, generating waves in a fractured porous medium

Abstract

We present a mixed dimensional model for a fractured poro-elasic medium including contact mechanics. The fracture is a lower dimensional surface embedded in a bulk poro-elastic matrix. The flow equation on the fracture is a Darcy type model that follows the cubic law for permeability. The bulk poro-elasticity is governed by fully dynamic Biot equations. The resulting model is a mixed dimensional type where the fracture flow on a surface is coupled to a bulk flow and geomechanics model. The particularity of the work here is in considering fully dynamic Biot equation, that is, including an inertia term, and the contact mechanics including friction for the fracture surface. We prove the well-posedness of the continuous model.