Title:Fundamental problems in electrodynamics and mechanics of multiphase fractured porous media

Speaker：Prof. Yuefeng Sun                                                                                                                   

Unit：Texas A&M University

Time：2016.7.13  14:30-16:30

Place：Physics Building 438, Haiyun Campus, Xiamen University

Personal Profile：
Dr. Yuefeng Sun is Mollie B. and Ricard A. Williford professor in the Department of Geology and Geophysics of Texas A&M University, College Station, USA. His research interests include rock physics, poroelasticity, mechanics and electrodynamics of multiphase fractured porous media, reservoir geophysics, petroleum geology, biogeophysics and advanced energy research. He is the Director of  the TAMU Reservoir Geophysics Program with research focus on integrating geology, rock physics, geophysics, and reservoir simulation for energy exploration and production. He received in 1994 a Ph.D. degree from Columbia University. He has been Doherty research scientist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University among other various positions. He serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Computational Acoustics. He has published numerous articles and patents. He is a member of SEG, AAPG, and AGU.

Abstract：
This talk is to outline the fundamental problems in formulating the basic equations governing the electrodynamics and mechanics of fractured porous media. First, topological characterization of a fractured porous medium is discussed with new concepts like structural connectivity tensor being introduced. Second, a covariant formulation of the mechanics of fractured porous media based on the concept of space-time continuum is briefly presented. General covariant balance laws based on the first principle of energy is then favored over the space-time formulism. Effective and interacting field equations are given. Compatibility equations and structural stability of a fractured porous medium are then derived.  Special theories are discussed governing wave propagation and fluid flows in fractured porous media. The fundamental choice of electric and magnetic fields versus gauge fields when being coupling with mechanical wave fields is addressed.