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West Virginia University

Velocity profile in confined elliptic fractures

Abstract

dc:description.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.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
MS
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Year dc:date.available
1998

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Pack, Stephen Ronald, Jr.
Contributors dc:contributor
  • John Loth.

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:researchrepository.wvu.edu:etd-1934

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
West Virginia University
Base URL
researchrepository.wvu.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Pack, Stephen Ronald, Jr.. Velocity profile in confined elliptic fractures. Thesis thesis, 1998. https://doi.org/10.33915/etd.931