Coupled hydro-mechanical model and FEM analyses for dual-porosity media

One kind of coupled hydro-mechanical model for dual-porosity media, in which the sets, spaces, angles, continuity ratios and stiffnesses of fractures can be considered, is established, and the relative two-dimensional program of finite element method is developed. Under the condition of assuming that permeability of fracture is independent of fracture space, the effects of fracture spaces on the displacements, stresses, pore pressures and fracture pressures in a dual-porosity rockmass are investigated through examples, and the cases of the dual-porosity rockmass and a single-porosity rockmass are also compared. The results show that the fracture space influences intensively on the displacements of the dual-porosity rockmass but has a small action on the stresses and pore and fracture pressures in the rockmass, and that water pressures in the rockmass mainly depend on the porosities and permeabilities of rock and fracture.