Sensitivity Analysis of Heat Transport in Self-Affine Rough Fractures
Abstract
The characterization of thermal transport in fractured rocks is crucial for understanding numerous systems of environmental, geological, and industrial importance. Fracture wall roughness exhibits long range spatial correlations and induces a heterogeneous aperture field, thus promoting the formation of preferential flow channels within fracture planes. Here, we develop a modelling approach to identify geometrical parameters of individual fractures that control the heat exchange at the fluid/rock interface and the advection of heat along the fracture.