Semester
Fall
Date of Graduation
1998
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
College
Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Committee Chair
John Loth.
Abstract
The primary objective of this research is to determine the friction inside a smooth fracture and to incorporate the effect of friction on a fluid transient inside a tapered-elliptical-confined fracture. In order to do so, the non-uniform velocity profile in an elliptic fracture with laminar flow of both Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids was calculated. A transient flow computer program is presented using the method of characteristics, to show the frictional effects on acoustic damping. However for flow inside a hydraulic fracture, the 3D velocity profile is highly non-uniform, and the use of Vav creates an error as Vmax >> Vav. The variation in hydraulic diameter associated with an elliptic cross-section of a confined fracture as given by the Perkins/Kern mode16 is responsible for the large difference between Vmax and Vav. It is shown that for a smooth wall, elliptic fracture, with laminar Newtonian flow, V max = 2.66 Vav.
Recommended Citation
Pack, Stephen Ronald Jr., "Velocity profile in confined elliptic fractures" (1998). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 931.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/931