Numerical Modelling of Convection-Driven Cooling, Deformation and Fracturing of Thermo-Poroelastic Media

Abstract Convection-driven cooling in porous media influences thermo-poro-mechanical stresses, thereby causing deformation. These processes are strongly influenced by the presence of fractures, which dominate flow and heat transfer. At same time, fractures deform propagate response to changes stress state. Mathematically, model governing physics is tightly coupled must account for strong discontinuities introduced fractures. Over last decade, motivated a number applications, research into such models has advanced modelling substantially. Building on this effort, work presents novel that couples fracture transfer deformation propagation with flow, thermo-poroelasticity matrix. The based explicit representation medium discretised using multi-point finite volume methods. Frictional contact non-penetration conditions handled through active set methods, while criterion intensity factors governs extension. Considering both forced natural convection processes, numerical results show intricate nature thermo-poromechanical propagation.