Numerical Simulation of Crack Propagation in Hydraulic Fracture Using Extended Finite Element Method

Weicheng Wang, Wendong Li, Xiaoqing Guo, Shaohui Tang, Mingqing Huang

Abstract: In metal mines, hydraulic fracture is an important auxiliary caving technology to improve rock capability. To auxiliary design the hydraulic fracturing engineering parameters in Jama copper mine, Serbia, a numerical simulation is carried out. Using the extended finite element method (XFEM), a small-scale two-dimensional numerical model is built with ABAQUS software based on onsite of Jama copper mine. The crack propagation of hydraulic fractures under four schemes is simulated with variable in-situ stresses as the criterion. The results show that when the water injection rate is fixed, the magnitude change of in-situ stress affect the propagation of hydraulic cracks, and hydraulic cracks at -380m level are the most likely to expand, in addition, the expansion radius of the crack is 77.2 m, and the crack opening is 13.6 mm. This study auxiliary designs the hydraulic fracturing parameters and water injection section selection of BR ore body in Jama mine.

Keywords: Hydraulic fracturing; XFEM; Numerical simulation; Parameter design