Abstract
An accurate evaluation of the grouting area in fractured rock is very important for designing the grouting pitch in the field. In this study, a method of determining the effective porosity and the grouting area of a three-dimensional (3-D) fractured rock mass are described. To evaluate the validity of this method, constant injection rate experiments were carried out in the laboratory. First, an experiment was performed on a gravel ground model. Then, a second experiment was performed on an axisymmetric cubic block model with gaps between the blocks mimicking fractures in rocks. The results obtained from the experiments agree well with proposed theory. The effect of gravity on high permeability fractured rock mass was also evaluated and the Hele-Shaw's seepage model was applied in explaining the laboratory results.
