Earth Science Frontiers ›› 2026, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (1): 313-327.DOI: 10.13745/j.esf.sf.2025.10.29

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Advances in groundwater nonlinear seepage in fractured media under conditions of high in-situ stress and temperature

XU Lin1,2(), MA Haichun2, WANG Jingping2, ZHANG Qing3, HUANG Yihang2, QIAN Jiazhong2,*(), WANG Wanlin2,4   

  1. 1. Northwest Engineering Corporation Limited, POWERCHINA, Xi’an 710065, China
    2. School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
    3. School of Resources and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, China
    4. Investigation & Foundation Engineering Company East China Ministry of Metallurgical Industry, Hefei 230009, China
  • Received:2025-08-10 Revised:2025-10-16 Online:2026-01-25 Published:2025-11-10

Abstract:

With the growing demands in geothermal energy development, geological disposal of nuclear waste, and deep resource exploration, the seepage behavior of groundwater under conditions of high in-situ stress and temperature has become a research hotspot. Accurately modeling this behavior, however, remains a major challenge. This requires the development of multi-physical field coupling models that are applicable to high in-situ stress and temperature environments and capable of accurately describing the dynamic processes of water-rock interaction, fracture evolution, and fluid property variation. This paper comprehensively reviewed recent advances in fundamental theories, experimental studies, and numerical simulations related to groundwater seepage under conditions of high in-situ stress and temperature. First, it discussed the applicability and limitations of the classical cubic law for modeling fracture flow, along with extensions to non-Darcy and generalized Darcy flow theories, with a particular emphasis on the coupling effects of in-situ stress and temperature on permeability. It summarized various experimental findings on stress-thermal coupling and its influence on seepage parameters. Numerical simulations that analyzed the evolution of fracture geometry and flow paths under in-situ stress conditions were examined. Additionally, the study assessed the effects of mineral thermal expansion, thermal cracking, and changes in fracture roughness on flow pathways in high-temperature environments. It also evaluated the predictive capability of coupled thermal-hydraulic-mechanical (THM) models and data-driven approaches. Finally, a critical review of current theoretical models was provided, revealing their limitations in capturing the multi-field coupling mechanisms, fracture-scale effects, and long-term evolution under high in-situ stress and temperature. Future research directions were also proposed.

Key words: high in-situ stress, high temperature groundwater seepage, thermal-hydraulic-mechanical coupling, fractured media, permeability evolution, experimental study, numerical simulation

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