Hydraulic fracturing from induced pore pressures in clay soils
The possibility of induced high excess pore pressures during consolidation of a clay soil with transverse drainage developing hydraulic fracturing in the soil is presented. The elastic analysis pursued herein examines the stress and pore pressure fields generated under vertical consolidation loading with drainage allowed only in the transverse direction. The results indicate that when the load step increments are too large, in comparison with previous loads, the transverse effective stress associated with the central elements of the soil being loaded can become negative. At that time, a state of tension will be created and a form of hydraulic fracturing will result. Key words: pore pressure, hydraulic fracture, elastic analysis, transverse drainage, consolidation.