@article{Lang2026, 
author = {Youming Lang and Yingrui Bai and Jinsheng Sun and Huazhou Li and Jingbin Yang and Kaihe Lv},
title = {Multi-scale characterizations of thermosensitive adhesive resin embedded with bridging materials: Toward forming stable plugging in fractured formations},
year = {2026},
journal = {Advances in Geo-Energy Research},
volume = {19},
number = {2},
pages = {166-181},
keywords = {discrete element simulation, interaction mechanism, Thermosensitive adhesive resin, bridging material, fracture plugging, lost circulation control},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.46690/ager.2026.02.05},
doi = {10.46690/ager.2026.02.05},
abstract = {Lost circulation in fractured formations remains a persistent challenge in drilling operations, causing substantial economic losses and increased operational risk. Conventional granular bridging packs are mechanically fragile and can be destabilized by pressure fluctuations, limiting one-trip plugging efficiency. This study incorporates a thermosensitive adhesive resin into bridging assemblies to enhance plug integrity by promoting interparticle adhesion and particle-wall coupling after thermal activation. Oscillatory temperature-sweep rheometry is used to quantify the temperature-dependent viscoelastic response of resin-particle composites. A wedge-shaped fracture analogue with photoelastic visualization is used to monitor force chain development and uniformity during progressive loading. Discrete element method simulations in Particle Flow Code, using a linear parallel-bond contact model, resolve mesoscale load-transfer pathways and isolate the contribution of adhesive interactions. Results indicate that thermosensitive adhesive resin increases assembly coherence, promotes a stable load-bearing skeleton, and suppresses stress localization that typically precedes plugging failure. The strengthening trend is governed by particle rigidity and surface characteristics, yielding consistent load-transfer patterns across experiments and simulations. These findings demonstrate that thermally activated adhesion can transform unconsolidated granular packs into mechanically stable plugging zones, providing a mechanistic basis for designing high-stability lost circulation control systems in fractured formations.}
}