Highlights of hydro-mechanical aspects of fractured rocks and recommendations for further development

Two-phase flow behaviour through fractured rock has been studied analytically and experimentally by a number of investigators ( Fourar & Bories, 1995 ; Pruess & Tsang, 1990 ; Indraratna et al., 1999 ). The authors’ research studies have specifically included (a) design of a novel, two-phase triaxial equipment, (b) study of fully saturated flow through fractured and intact rock and (c) two-phase flow measurement and analysis through natural and artificially created rock joints. Naturally fractured rock specimens were obtained from the underground coal mines in the Wollongong region. The analytical phase included the development of a mathematical model to estimate two-phase flow through a single joint, and the validation of the model was carried out experimentally.