On hydro-mechanical response of self-healing and self-sealing fractured geomaterials

The paper presents a methodology for describing the mechanical and hydraulic response of fractured geomaterials undergoing self-healing (i.e. recovery of strength/stiffness) and self-sealing (i.e. reduction of permeability). Regaining of strength and decrease in fracture transmissivity are particularly desirable in host rock as well as engineered barrier systems of deep geological repositories for disposal of low and intermediate-level nuclear waste. In this work, an enhanced continuum formulation is provided for describing the effects of fracture healing/sealing processes. Numerical examples are also given that illustrate both hydraulic and mechanical aspects of the proposed approach.