Abstract

I will present preliminary laboratory experiments and modelling results on fluid-rock-tunnel interactions, with the aim to understand key physical processes in geological and industrial applications. A hierarchy of idealized laboratory and numerical experiments will be investigated, using gelatine as proxy for rock and water(/glycerine) as a proxy for magma. The mathematical model consists of a (known) coupled model with linear elasticity equations for the rock and width averaged and simplified Stokes’ equations for the fluid, with fixed, free surface and inflow boundary conditions. Associated advanced two- and three-dimensional finite element methods will be sketched.

The laboratory experiments are used to validate the numerical models by systematically measuring the dependence on the dike shape (along the major axis and in the vertical) and “magma” discharge in the steady state, as function of hydrostatic head (“overpressure”) and fluid (“magma”) viscosity. In addition we have determined the elastic modulus and fracture toughness of the gelatine in compression and pressure tests to fix the parameters in the coupled model.