ABSTRACT
Abstract Hydraulic fracturing of porous media is shown to be a coupled problem between the poroelastic deformation, the fluid flow in the porous medium and the fluid flow in the fracture. Seven material parameters are needed to describe the fractured porous medium. These parameters strongly influence the fracture initiation and propagation. To determine this influence, a new pressure cell has been built with which fluid-driven fractures can be obtained in laboratory scale specimens. Pilot test with this cell have been performed on concrete cylinders subjected to a radial fluid pressure. The preliminary results are very promising with regard to the ability to perform stable, deformation controlled tests. Keywords: Hydraulic Fracture, Poroelasticity, Fluid Flow, Fracture initiation, Fracture Propagation, Pressure Cell, Concrete, Experiments.
