A Variational Approach to the Numerical Simulation of Hydraulic Fracturing

Abstract One of the most critical capabilities of realistic hydraulic fracture simulation is the prediction of complex (turning, bifurcating, or merging) fracture paths. In most classical models, complex fracture simulation is difficult due to the need for a priori knowledge of propagation path and initiation points and the complexity associated with stress singularities at fracture tips. In this study, we follow Francfort and Marigo's …