This open access book is the first to consider the effect of non-uniform fluid pressure in hydraulic fractures. The book covers the key topics in the process of hydraulic fracture nucleation, growth, interaction and fracture network formation. Laboratory experiments and theoretical modeling are combined to elucidate the formation mechanism of complex fracture networks. This book is suitable for masters/Ph.D. students, scientists and engineers majoring in rock mechanics and petroleum engineering who need to use a more reliable model to predict fracture behavior.

Yu Zhao received his Ph.D. degree in Geotechnical Engineering from Chongqing University, China, in 2007. From 2010 to 2011, he studied as a visiting scholar at the Energy Geosciences Division of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, America. In 2013, he was promoted to professor. Now, he is the dean of the College of Civil Engineering at Guizhou University. His research interests cover hydro-mechanical coupling in tunnel engineering and deep rock engineering. He has received six national or provincial scientific research projects and published more than 60 international and national papers. Yongfa Zhang received his Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering from the School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, China, in 2022. From November 2021 to November 2022, he studied at GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences (Helmholtz Centre Potsdam) as a visiting Ph.D. student. He obtained his bachelor's degree from China University of Mining and Technology in 2016. His current research interest is to characterize rocks hydraulic fracturing process and model hydraulic fracture behaviors. Pengfei He received his masters degree in Geotechnical Engineering from Chongqing University, China, in 2018. He is now a geotechnical engineer, engaged in geotechnical engineering investigation and design.