Study on the influence of stress differences on hydraulic fracturing based on true triaxial experiments and discrete element numerical simulations

Laboratory experiments are an effective way to study the initiation and propagation of hydraulic fractures for complex stress level structure underground reservoirs. However, it is difficult observe directly in rock or mortar specimens. In this study, a kind transparent rock-like material whose tension–compression ratio reaches 1/9.5 at normal temperature was obtained, which helped us directly. Using specimens, triaxial hydraulic-fracturing were carried out explore influence differences on pressure fractures. The decreased with increasing difference, cracks propagated along maximum direction. DEM (Discrete Element Method) simulation fracturing used verify results derived from laboratory experiments. This provides new insights into