The fractal description model of rock fracture networks characterization

Rock fracture network description and characterization are of fundamental importance in rock engineering, such as coal mining, shale gas development and slope stability. Due to the complexity of rock fracture networks, it is impossible to describe all the fracture features individually. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the state of the art of the development in rock fracture network descriptions using traditional geometry and fractal methods. Advantages and disadvantages of each method are analyzed. Based on the analysis of fractal dimension shortage, a new characterization method is proposed. This method has higher measurement accuracy along with self-similar characteristics of fractal stuffs and the head/tail break method to avoid problems existing in previous fractal quantification methods. Two 2D coal fracture samples are used to examine this method. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.