Fractures in clay-rich geomaterials compromise the long-term performance of engineered barriers and natural seals in both civil infrastructure and subsurface energy systems. Yet many of these materials possess an intrinsic capacity for self-healing—fractures close over time through swelling, particle disintegration, and mechanical re-bonding. The mechanisms driving this process remain poorly understood, particularly under varying stress, saturation, and fluid conditions. A multiscale understanding – linking micro-scale processes to bulk mechanical and hydraulic recovery – is essential but remains undeveloped. This project aims to develop a predictive framework for fracture self-healing in clay-rich materials by integrating multiscale experiments with constitutive modeling.
Publications
- Park, S., Bakeshova, A., Kim, K. (2026). Characterizing Permeability Evolution During Self-Sealing in Kaolinite Mudrocks Using a Bi-Exponential Model. (Under Review).
- Bakeshova, A., Park, S., Meehan, N. D., Kim, K. (2026). Self-Sealing Response in Kaolinite Mudrock Fractures: Implications for CO2 Storage and Unconventional Reservoirs. (Under Review).