Flow Mechanism of Grouting Slurry in Rough Fracture Based on CFD-DEM Coupling Method

The flow field regulation and medium migration characteristics during aggregate slurry grouting in rough fractures are directly related to the grouting repair engineering in various geotechnical projects. The selected three grouting velocities (0.5, 0.55, 0.6 m/s) are within the typical range of 0.3–0.8 m/s for high-pressure jet grouting in geothermal reservoirs. This study uses the Hurst exponent method to construct a 3D rough fracture model and simulates cement slurry flow and aggregate migration based on Fluent–EDEM two-way coupling, analyzing flow field characteristics and their impact on aggregate migration. Results show that differences in flow field pressure and viscosity affect rough fracture flow field distribution and aggregate migration, leading to segmented non-uniform velocity—higher in the ascending section (Up-leg) and Down-leg (Down-leg) and stable in the gentle section (Flat-leg) of the rough fracture—coupled with wall morphology. Particle motion is controlled by the flow field, consistent with the pattern shown in velocity contours, verifying that geometry, pressure and shear characteristics collectively govern fluid and particle movement. Pressure contours show that the pressure distribution in rough fractures is coupled with wall morphology: high pressure occurs at abrupt sections, while pressure is stable in Flat-leg. Viscosity contours indicate that the proportion of high-viscosity regions at abrupt sections is lower than that in Flat-leg. This provides theoretical support for optimizing aggregate slurry migration, improving flow field uniformity, reducing grout waste, and enhancing the construction quality and efficiency of underground engineering