Stochastic Analysis of Shear-Thinning Fluid Flow and Heat Transport in Geological Fractures

This record contains the presentation delivered at InterPore 2025, titled "Stochastic Analysis of Shear-Thinning Fluid Flow and Heat Transport in Geological Fractures". The study investigates the impact of fracture heterogeneity and shear-thinning fluid rheology on coupled flow and thermal transport using a Monte Carlo-based stochastic framework. A custom two-dimensional numerical model was developed to simulate multiple realizations, incorporating uncertainties in fracture geometry and fluid properties. The model's results were validated against COMSOL Multiphysics simulations and show that adjusting polymer concentration effectively modulates nonlinear flow behavior and heat transport efficiency. The findings contribute to improving subsurface characterization and optimizing the design of heat tracer tests using engineered fluids. This work is relevant for environmental remediation, geothermal energy, and enhanced oil recovery applications. Reference:Lenci A., Méheust Y., Klepikova M., Tartakovksy D.M., Di Federico V. (2025). Stochastic Analysis of Shear-Thinning Fluid Flow and Heat Transport in Geological Fractures. Presented at InterPore 2025.