Phase-Field Hydrofracture

This track studies hydraulic fracture in porous media using phase-field methods and COMSOL Multiphysics.

Current learning goals

• Understand the mechanical, hydraulic, and fracture-field equations.
• Translate the weak or strong form of the model into COMSOL interfaces.
• Separate physical effects from numerical artifacts.
• Build verification cases before attempting complex geological models.

Suggested progression

1. Linear elasticity and poroelasticity.
2. A stationary or transient pressure-diffusion problem.
3. A phase-field fracture benchmark without fluid coupling.
4. A coupled hydro-mechanical fracture case.
5. Mesh, length-scale, time-step, and solver studies.
6. Heterogeneous media, in-situ stress, layering, and multiple fractures.

Start with Theory and Equations and COMSOL Workflow.