High-resolution photogrammetry to measure physical aperture of two separated rock fracture surfaces

Photogrammetry,reconstructing three-dimensional(3D)models from overlapping two-dimensional(2D)photos,finds application in rock mechanics and rock engineering to extract geometrical details of reconstructed objects,for example rock fractures.Fracture properties are important for determining the mechanical stability,permeability,strength,and shear behavior of the rock mass.Photogrammetry can be used to reconstruct detailed 3D models of two separated rock fracture surfaces to characterize fracture roughness and physical aperture,which controls the fluid flow,hydromechanical and shear behavior of the rock mass.This research aimed to determine the optimal number of scale bars required to produce high-precision 3D models of a fracture surface.A workflow has been developed to define the physical aperture of a fracture using photogrammetry.Three blocks of Kuru granite(25 cm×25 cm×10 cm)with an artificially induced fracture,were investigated.For scaling 3D models,321 markers were used as ground control points(GCPs)with predefined distances on each block.When the samples were wellmatched in their original positions,the entire block was photographed.Coordinate data of the GCPs were extracted from the 3D model of the blocks.Each half was surveyed separately and georeferenced by GCPs and merged into the same coordinate system.Two fracture surfaces were extracted from the 3D models and the vertical distance between the two surfaces was digitally calculated as physical aperture.Accuracy assessment of the photogrammetric reconstruction showed a 20-30 mm digital control distance accuracy when compared to known distances defined between markers.To attain this accuracy,the study found that at least 200 scale bars were required.Furthermore,photogrammetry was employed to measure changes in aperture under normal stresses.The results obtained from this approach were found to be in good agreement with those obtained using linear variable displacement transducers(LVDTs),with differences ranging from 1 mm to 8μm.

Study of hydro-mechanical behaviours of rough rock fracture with shear dilatancy and asperities using shear-flow model

The geometric properties of fracture surfaces significantly influence shear-seepage in rock fractures,introducing complexities to fracture modelling.The present study focuses on the hydro-mechanical behaviours of rough rock fractures during shear-seepage processes to reveal how dilatancy and fracture asperities affect these phenomena.To achieve this,an improved shear-flow model(SFM)is proposed with the incorporation of dilatancy effect and asperities.In particular,shear dilatancy is accounted for in both the elastic and plastic stages,in contrast to some existing models that only consider it in the elastic stage.Depending on the computation approaches for the peak dilatancy angle,three different versions of the SFM are derived based on Mohr-Coulomb,joint roughness coefficient-joint compressive strength(JRC-JCS),and Grasselli’s theories.Notably,this is a new attempt that utilizes Grasselli’s model in shearseepage analysis.An advanced parameter optimization method is introduced to accurately determine model parameters,addressing the issue of local optima inherent in some conventional methods.Then,model performance is evaluated against existing experimental results.The findings demonstrate that the SFM effectively reproduces the shear-seepage characteristics of rock fracture across a wide range of stress levels.Further sensitivity analysis reveals how dilatancy and asperity affect hydraulic properties.The relation between hydro-mechanical properties(dilatancy displacement and hydraulic conductivity)and asperity parameters is analysed.Several profound understandings of the shear-seepage process are obtained by exploring the phenomenon under various conditions.

On the calibration and verification of Voronoi-based discontinuous deformation analysis for modeling rock fracture

Since its introduction,discontinuous deformation analysis(DDA)has been widely used in different areas of rock mechanics.By dividing large blocks into subblocks and introducing artificial joints,DDA can be applied to rock fracture simulation.However,parameter calibration,a fundamental issue in discontinuum methods,has not received enough attention in DDA.In this study,the parameter calibration of DDA for intact rock is carefully studied.To this end,a subblock DDA with Voronoi tessellation is presented first.Then,a modified contact constitutive law is introduced,in which the tensile and shear meso-strengths are modified to be independent of the bond lengths.This improvement can prevent the unjustified preferential failure of short edges.A method for imposing confining pressure is also introduced.Thereafter,sensitivity analysis is performed to investigate the influence of the calculated parameters and meso-parameters on the mechanical properties of modeled rock.Based on the sensitivity analysis,a unified calibration procedure is suggested for both cases with and without confining pressure.Finally,the calibration procedure is applied to two examples,including a biaxial compression test.The results show that the proposed Voronoi-based DDA can simulate rock fracture with and without confining pressure very well after careful parameter calibration.

Unloading-induced permeability recovery in rock fractures

Underground space creation and energy extraction, which induce unloading on rock fractures, commonly occur in various rock engineering projects, and rock engineering projects are subjected to high temperatures with increasing depth. Fluid flow behavior of rock fractures is a critical issue in many subsurface rock engineering projects. Previous studies have extensively considered permeability evolution in rock fractures under loading phase, whereas changes in fracture permeability under unloading phase have not been fully understood. To examine the unloading-induced changes in fracture permeability under different temperatures, we performed water flow-through tests on fractured rock samples subjected to decreasing confining pressures and different temperatures. The experimental results show that the permeability of fracture increases with unloading of confining pressure but decreases with loading-unloading cycles. Temperature may affect fracture permeability when it is higher than a certain threshold. An empirical model of fracture hydraulic aperture including two material parameters of initial normal stiffness and maximum normal closure can well describe the permeability changes in rough rock fracture subjected to loading-unloading cycles and heating. A coupled thermo-mechanical model considering asperity damage is finally used to understand the influences of stress paths and temperatures on fracture permeability.

Deep-seated rock fracture of valley slopes in China:A review

Deep-seated rock fractures(referred to as DSRF hereafter)in valley slopes are uncommon geological phenomena that challenge our previous understanding of slope unloading processes.These fractures weaken the strength and integrity of the rock mass,potentially forming unstable block boundaries with significant volume,thereby affecting the stability of slopes,chambers,and dam abutments.DSRF has emerged as a critical environmental and engineering geological issue that hinders large-scale projects in deep canyon areas.Despite the attention and practical treatment given to DSRF in engineering practice,theoretical research on this topic still lags behind the demands of engineering applications.To garner widespread attention and promote the resolution of DSRF-related problems,this review aims to redefine DSRF through comprehensive data collection and analysis,engineering geological analogies,and field investigations,and provide a summary and analysis of the research progress on DSRF,along with future research directions.The study defines DSRF as the intermittent tension cracks or relaxation zones within a slightly weathered or fresh,and intact or relatively intact rock mass distributed below the surface unloading zones of a deep canyon slope,and should be distinguished from"loose rock mass"and"deep-seated gravitational slope deformations".The article provides an overview of the development and distribution,rupture characteristics,and genesis mechanism of DSRF.It proposes that DSRF is formed based on the fluvial deviation-undercutting evolution mode,wherein the energy accumulated in the rock mass is violently released when the river further down cuts the slope after the rock mass has undergone cyclical loadingunloading.However,further research is necessary to establish a comprehensive database for DSRF,refine exploration techniques,understand evolutionary processes,develop engineering evaluation methods,and predict the distribution of DSRF.

A model to determine hole spacing in the rock fracture process by non-explosive expansion material

The application of the non-explosive expansion material （NEEM） is widely used as the controlled fracture method in quarry min- ing, especially in hard rocks. The pressure of NEEM is an important parameter in causing rock fracture. An empirical model based on hole spacing was developed to determine the pressure of NEEM in the rock fracture process. Primarily, the empirical model was developed by the mathematical method, utilizing dimensional analysis. Then, the Phase2 code, which is based on the finite element method, was utilized to predict crack growth in rocks. The results of numerical analysis show slight deviations from the empirical model. Hence, the polynomial re- gression analysis was used to modify the model. Finally, the modified model shows a good agreement with the results gained from numerical modeling.

Coupled GIMP and CPDI material point method in modelling blast-induced three-dimensional rock fracture

Three-dimensional rock fracture induced by blasting is a highly complex problem and has received considerable attention in geotechnical engineering.The material point method is firstly applied to treat this challenging task.Some inherent weaknesses can be overcome by coupling the generalized interpolation material point(GIMP)and the convected particle domain interpolation technique(CPDI).For the media in the borehole,unchanged GIMP-type particles are used to guarantee a homogenous blast pressure.CPDITetrahedron type particles are employed to avoid the fake numerical fracture near the borehole for the rock material.A blasting experiment using three-dimensional single-borehole rock was simulated to examine the applicability of the coupled model under realistic loading and boundary conditions.A good agreement was achieved between the simulation and experimental results.Moreover,the mechanism of three-dimensional rock fracture was analyzed.It was concluded that rock particle size and material parameters play an important role in rock damage.The reflected tensile waves cause severe damage in the lower part of the model.Rayleigh waves occur on the top face of the rock model to induce a hoop failure band.

Fractal evolution mechanism of rock fracture in undersea metal mining

Through rock mechanics test, similar simulation experiment, borehole photographic observation of rock fissure, numerical simulation calculation of plastic zone distribution and deformation monitoring of rock mass during undersea mining, the fractal evolution mechanisms of rock fracture in undersea metallic deposits of Sanshandao Gold Mine were studied by fractal theory. The experimental researches on granite mechanics test in undersea deposit indicate that with the increase of load, the granite deformation energy and the fractal dimension of acoustic emission(FDAE) increase gradually. However, after reaching the peak stress of specimen, the fractal dimensions of acoustic emission(FDAEs) decrease and the granite specimen fails. Therefore, the fractal dimension evolution of rock failure can be divided into four stages, which are fissure inoculation stage, fissure growth stage, fissure expansion stage and fracture instability stage, respectively. By calculating and analyzing the damage photographs of rock specimens in Sanshandao Gold Mine, the fractal dimension of rock fissure is 1.4514, which is close to the average value of FDAE during granite destruction, i.e., 1.4693. Similar simulation experiments of undersea mining show that with the excavation proceeding, the FDAE in rock stratum increases gradually, and when the thickness of the isolation roof is less than 40 m, the FDAE begins to decrease, and meanwhile the sign of water inrush emerges. The numerical simulation researches on the plastic zone distribution of undersea mining in Sanshandao Gold Mine indicate that the fractal dimension of plastic zone(FDPZ) where the failure characteristics occur is 1.4598, close to the result of similar simulation experiment of 1.4364, which shows the sign of water inrush. Meanwhile, the thickness of the isolation roof for undersea mining should be more than 40 m, which is consistent with the results of similar simulation experiment. In Sanshandao Gold Mine, the rock fissures in undersea mining were observed by borehole photography and the rock mass deformation was monitored by multi-point displacement meters, and at the same time the fractal dimensions of strata borehole fissure distribution and energy release ratio(ERR) of rock mass were calculated by fractal principle, which are 1.2328 and 1.2685, respectively. The results demonstrate that rock deformation and fissure propagation are both in the second stage of fissure growth, and have not reached the fourth stage of fracture instability. Therefore, the conclusion can be obtained that the undersea mining in Sanshandao Gold Mine is safe at present.

Permeability evaluation for artificial single rock fracture according to geometric aperture variation using electrical resistivity

A convenient approach was proposed by which to evaluate and monitor the permeability of a rock fracture by verifying the quantitative correlation between the electrical resistivity and permeability at laboratory scale.For this purpose,an electrical resistivity measurement system was applied to the laboratory experiments using artificial cells with the shape of a single rock fracture.Sixty experiments were conducted using rock fractures according to the geometry,aperture sizes,wavelengths,and roughness amplitudes.The overall negative relationship between the normalized electrical resistivity values and the aperture sizes directly linked with the permeability,was well fitted by the power-law function with a large determination coefficient(≈0.86).The effects of wavelength and roughness amplitude of the rock fracture on the electrical resistivity were also analyzed.Results showed that the electrical resistivity was slightly increased with decreasing wavelength and increasing roughness amplitude.An empirical model for evaluating the permeability of a rock fracture was proposed based on the experimental data.In the field,if the electrical resistivity of pore groundwater could be measured in advance,this empirical model could be applied effectively for simple,quick monitoring of the fracture permeability.Although uncertainty may be associated with the permeability estimation due to the limited control parameters considered in this research,this electrical resistivity approach could be helpful to monitor the rock permeability in deep underground facilities such as those used for radioactive waste repositories or forms of energy storage.

A new apparatus for investigating stress,deformation and seepage coupling properties of rock fractures

A true triaxial apparatus which is composed of three units was presented.The apparatus allows for investigations on deformation and seepage behaviors of a single rock fracture subjected to lateral stress and normal stress.The first unit has three jacks which can apply loads independently in three orthogonal directions.The second unit is used to supply water inflow,control seepage pressure and measure flow velocity in real time.The third unit is for measuring the normal deformation of rock fractures.Some tests for investigating the normal deformation and seepage behaviors of rock fractures subjected to normal and lateral loads on hard granite specimens with an artificial persistent fracture,were introduced.The results show that both the normal deformation and the hydraulic conductivity are influenced not only by the normal stress but also by the lateral stress.It is also shown that the aperture and the hydraulic conductivity decrease with the increasing normal stress but increase with the increasing lateral stress and both the aperture and the hydraulic conductivity obey exponential relationships with the normal stress and the lateral stress.

Study on the physical meaning of seismic inhomogeneous degree by rock fracture experiments

It is observed that the parameter of seismic inhomogeneous degree (GL value) calculated from the earthquake catalog shows obvious abnormal changes prior to strong earthquakes, indicating the state change of local seismic activity. This paper focuses on the mechanism for the abnormal changes of the GL values based on the sequences of acoustic emission for three types of rock samples containing macro-asperity fracture; compressional en-echelon fracture and model-III shear fracture. The results show that for the three types of rock samples, there are continuous abnormal changes of GL value (>1) just before the non-elastic deformation occurs or during the process of nucleation prior to the instability. Based on the experimental results, it seems that the process of creep sliding and resistance-uniformization along fault zone is the possible mechanism for the abnormal changes of GL value before rock fractures.

Dynamic model of normal behavior of rock fractures

Based on laboratory tests of artificial fractures in mortar material, established the dynamic constitutive model of normal behaviour of rock fracture,. The tests were systematically conducted under quasi-static and dynamic monotonic loading conditions. The fractures were of different numbers of asperities in contact and were subsequently of different initial contact areas, which imitated the natural rock fractures. The rate of compressive load applied normal to the fractures covers a wide range from 10–1 MPa/s (quasi-static) up to 103 MPa/s (highly dynamic). The normal stress-closure responses of fractures were measured for different loading rates. Based on the stress-closure relation curves measured, a nonlinear (hyperbolic) dynamic model of fracture, normal behaviour, termed as dynamic BB model, was proposed, which was modified from the existing BB model of static normal behaviour of fractures by taking into account the effect of loading rate.

Mode I rock fracture toughness with different types of brazilian disc

According to the results evaluated by researchers for mode I rock fracture toughness measurement, a series of comparison tests with different types Brazilian discs were conducted in order to search for the simplest geometry specimens by which accurate, comparable and consistent mode I rock fracture toughness could obtain.

Experimental study of seepage characteristics of single rock fracture based on stress states and stress history

Through seepage tests under different loading and unloading confining pressures and different hydraulic gradients,the authors studied the effects of stress states and stress history on fracture permeability evolution for single granite fracture and sandstone fracture. The results show that there exists a linear relationship between the seepage discharge and osmotic pressure in sandstone fissure under each level of confining pressure. With the increasing in the confining pressure,the permeability of the fracture decreases,but the decreasing rate is changeing. During the unloading process,the fracture seepage velocity cannot be fully recovered to the size of the loading process. Therefore,in the unloading process of the confining pressure,the recovery of fracture permeability shows obvious hysteresis effects. The flow rate of the fracture remains unchanged during five cycles of loading and unloading processes of the confining pressure. In each cycle,the evolution character of the flow rate with the confining pressure remains unchanged. These experiments show that the seepage characteristics of sandstone and granite fractures are not the same under the same stress state.

Identifying the real fracture hidden in rock microcrack zone by acoustic emission energy

Identifying the real fracture of rock hidden in acoustic emission(AE)source clusters(AE-depicted microcrack zone)remains challenging and crucial.Here we revealed the AE energy(representing dissipated energy)distribution rule in the rock microcrack zone and proposed an AE-energy-based method for identifying the real fracture.(1)A set of fracture experiments were performed on granite using wedgeloading,and the fracture process was detected and recorded by AE.The microcrack zone associated with the energy dissipation was characterized by AE sources and energy distribution,utilizing our selfdeveloped AE analysis program(RockAE).(2)The accumulated AE energy,an index representing energy dissipation,across the AE-depicted microcrack zone followed the normal distribution model(the mean and variance relate to the real fracture path and the microcrack zone width).This result implies that the nucleation and coalescence of massive cracks(i.e.,real fracture generation process)are supposed to follow a normal distribution.(3)Then,we obtained the real fracture extension path by joining the peak positions of the AE energy normal distribution curve at different cross-sections of the microcrack zone.Consequently,we distinguished between the microcrack zone and the concealed real fracture within it.The deviation was validated as slight as 1–3 mm.

Creep constitutive model considering nonlinear creep degradation of fractured rock

Stability analysis of underground constructions requires a model study of rock masses’ long-term performance. Creep tests under different stress conditions was conducted on intact granite and granite samples fractured at 30° and 45° angles. The experimental results indicate that the steady creep strain rates of intact and fractured rock present an exponential increase trend with the increase of stress level. A nonlinear creep model is developed based on the experimental results, in which the initial damage caused by fracture together with the damage caused by constant load have been taken into consideration. The fitting analysis results indicated that the model proposed is more accurate at identifying the full creep regions in fractured granite, especially the accelerated stage of creep deformation. The least-square fit error of the proposed creep model is significantly lower than that of Nishihara model by almost an order of magnitude. An analysis of the effects of elastic modulus, viscosity coefficient, and damage factors on fractured rock strain rate and creep strain is conducted. If no consideration is given to the effects of the damage, the proposed nonlinear creep model can degenerate into to the classical Nishihara model.

Numerical manifold method for thermo-mechanical coupling simulation of fractured rock mass

As a calculation method based on the Galerkin variation,the numerical manifold method(NMM)adopts a double covering system,which can easily deal with discontinuous deformation problems and has a high calculation accuracy.Aiming at the thermo-mechanical(TM)coupling problem of fractured rock masses,this study uses the NMM to simulate the processes of crack initiation and propagation in a rock mass under the influence of temperature field,deduces related system equations,and proposes a penalty function method to deal with boundary conditions.Numerical examples are employed to confirm the effectiveness and high accuracy of this method.By the thermal stress analysis of a thick-walled cylinder(TWC),the simulation of cracking in the TWC under heating and cooling conditions,and the simulation of thermal cracking of the SwedishÄspöPillar Stability Experiment(APSE)rock column,the thermal stress,and TM coupling are obtained.The numerical simulation results are in good agreement with the test data and other numerical results,thus verifying the effectiveness of the NMM in dealing with thermal stress and crack propagation problems of fractured rock masses.

A new elastoplastic model for bolt-grouted fractured rock

Complexities in mechanical behaviours of rock masses mainly stem from inherent discontinuities,which calls for advanced bolt-grouting techniques for stability enhancement.Understanding the mechanical properties of bolt-grouted fractured rock mass(BGFR)and developing accurate prediction methods are crucial to optimize the BGFR support strategies.This paper establishes a new elastoplastic(E-P)model based on the orthotropic and the Mohr-Coulomb(M-C)plastic-yielding criteria.The elastic parameters of the model were derived through a meso-mechanical analysis of composite materials mechanics(CMM).Laboratory BGFR specimens were prepared and uniaxial compression test and variable-angle shear test considering different bolt arrangements were carried out to obtain the mechanical parameters of the specimens.Results showed that the anisotropy of BGFR mainly depends on the relative volume content of each component material in a certain direction.Moreover,the mechanical parameters deduced from the theory of composite materials which consider the short fibre effect are shown to be in good agreement with those determined by laboratory experiments,and the variation rules maintained good consistency.Last,a case study of a real tunnel project is provided to highlight the effectiveness,validity and robustness of the developed E-P model in prediction of stresses and deformations.

Identifying flow regime in the aquifer of fractured rock system in Germi Chai Basin,Iran

Considering the importance of fractured rock aquifers in the hydrogeologic process,this research aimed to analyze the flow regime,internal degree of karstification,and estimate storage volume in fractured rock aquifers of the Germi Chai Basin in northwest Iran,which is attributed to its active tectonics,erosion,and the lithological diversity.Given the geological setting,the hypothesis is that this basin is characterized by a high degree of karstification and diffuse or intermediate flow regime leading to variation in discharge flow rate.The hydrodynamic and hadrochemical analysis was conducted on 9 well distributed springs across the basin from 2019 to 2020.The maximum flow rate in most of the springs appeared in the early wet season despite their different levels of fluctuations on the monthly discharge time series.Analyzing the spring recession curve form revealed an aquifer containing multiple micro-regimes withαrecession coefficients and a degree of karstification ranging between 0.001 to 0.06 and 0.55 to 2.61,respectively.These findings indicated a dominant diffuse and intermediate flow system resulting from the development of a high density of fractures in this area.The electrical conductivity of the spring changes inversely proportional to the change in flow discharge,indicating the reasonable hydrological response of the aquifer to rainfall events.Hydrograph analysis revealed that the delay time of spring discharge after rainfall events mostly varies between 10 to 30 days.The total dynamic storage volume of the spring for a given period(2019-2020)was estimated to be approximately 1324 million cubic meters reflecting the long-term drainage potential and high perdurability of dynamic storage.Estimating the maximum and minimum ratio revealed that the springs recharging system in Germi Chai Basin comes under the slow aquifers category.This finding provides valuable insight into the hydrogeological properties of fractured rock aquifers contributing to effective water management strategy.

Borehole stability in naturally fractured rocks with drilling mud intrusion and associated fracture strength weakening:A coupled DFN-DEM approach

Borehole instability in naturally fractured rocks poses significant challenges to drilling.Drilling mud invades the surrounding formations through natural fractures under the difference between the wellbore pressure(P w)and pore pressure(P p)during drilling,which may cause wellbore instability.However,the weakening of fracture strength due to mud intrusion is not considered in most existing borehole stability analyses,which may yield significant errors and misleading predictions.In addition,only limited factors were analyzed,and the fracture distribution was oversimplified.In this paper,the impacts of mud intrusion and associated fracture strength weakening on borehole stability in fractured rocks under both isotropic and anisotropic stress states are investigated using a coupled DEM(distinct element method)and DFN(discrete fracture network)method.It provides estimates of the effect of fracture strength weakening,wellbore pressure,in situ stresses,and sealing efficiency on borehole stability.The results show that mud intrusion and weakening of fracture strength can damage the borehole.This is demonstrated by the large displacement around the borehole,shear displacement on natural fractures,and the generation of fracture at shear limit.Mud intrusion reduces the shear strength of the fracture surface and leads to shear failure,which explains that the increase in mud weight may worsen borehole stability during overbalanced drilling in fractured formations.A higher in situ stress anisotropy exerts a significant influence on the mechanism of shear failure distribution around the wellbore.Moreover,the effect of sealing natural fractures on maintaining borehole stability is verified in this study,and the increase in sealing efficiency reduces the radial invasion distance of drilling mud.This study provides a directly quantitative prediction method of borehole instability in naturally fractured formations,which can consider the discrete fracture network,mud intrusion,and associated weakening of fracture strength.The information provided by the numerical approach(e.g.displacement around the borehole,shear displacement on fracture,and fracture at shear limit)is helpful for managing wellbore stability and designing wellbore-strengthening operations.