Characterizing Fracture Spatial Patterns by Using Semivariograms

Semivariogram is applied to fracture data obtained from detailed scanlinesurveys of nine field sites in western New York, USA in order to investigate the spatial patterns ofnatural fractures. The length of the scanline is up to 36 m. How both fracture spacing and fracturelength vary with distance is determined through semivariogram calculations. In this study, theauthors developed a FORTRAN program to resample the fracture data from the scanline survey. Bycalculating experimental semivariogram, the authors found five different types of spatial patternsthat can be described by linear, spherical, reversed spherical, polynomial I (for aO) models, of which the last three arc newly proposed in this study. Thewell-structured semivariograms of fracture spacing and length indicate that both the location of thefractures and the length distribution within their structure domains are not random. The results ofthis study also suggest that semivariograms can provide useful information in terms of spatialcorrelation distance for fracture location and fracture length. These semivariograms can also beutilized to design more efficient sampling schemes for further surveys. as well as to define thelimits of highly probable extrapolation of a structure domain.

Behaviour of layered sandstone under Brazilian test conditions:Layer orientation and shape effects

The experimental study in this paper focuses on the effects of the layer orientation and sample shape on failure strength and fracture pattern of samples tested under Brazilian test conditions(i.e.diametrical loading of cylindrical discs)for one particular layered sandstone which is from Modave in the south of Belgium.The variations of the strength in combination with the failure patterns are examined as a function of the inclination angle between the layer plane and the loading direction.The experimental,results clearly show that the induced fracture patterns are a combination of tensile and/or shear fractures.In shape effect experiments the layer thickness and the number of layer boundaries are investigated.Different blocks of Modave sandstone are used to prepare samples.The layer thickness is different among the various blocks,but the layer thickness in each studied rock block can be considered to be constant;hence,the number of layer boundaries changes according to the sample diameter for samples of the same block.The experimental study shows that the layer thickness plays a more important role than the number of layer boundaries per sample.

Some results of modeling D-D seismogenic pattern by the fracture model experiment of large-scale rock samples(I)

sing the natural limestone samples taken from the field with dimension of 500 mm×500 mm×1 000 mm, the D-D (dilatancy-diffusion) seismogeny pattern was modeled under the condition of water injection, which observes the time-space evolutionary features about the relative physics fields of the loaded samples from deformation, formation of microcracks to the occurrence of main rupture. The results of observed apparent resistivity show: ① The process of the deformation from microcrack to main rupture on the loaded rock sample could be characterized by the precursory spatial-temporal changes in the observation of apparent resistivity; ② The precursory temporal changes of observation in apparent resistivity could be divided into several stages, and its spatial distribution shows the difference in different parts of the rock sample; ③ Before the main rupture of the rock sample the obvious ″tendency anomaly′ and ′short-term anomaly″ were observed, and some of them could be likely considered as the ″impending earthquake ″anomaly precursor of apparent resistivity. The changes and distribution features of apparent resistivity show that they are intrinsically related to the dilatancy phenomenon of the loaded rock sample. Finally, this paper discusses the mechanism of resistivity change of loaded rock sample theoretically.

Influence of Features of Interphase Boundaries on Mechanical Properties and Fracture Pattern in Metal-Ceramic Composites

The results of a theoretical study on the influence of strength of interphase boundaries in metal-ceramic composite on macroscopical characteristics of composite response such as strength, deformation capacity, fracture energy and fracture pattern are presented. The study was conducted by means of computer-aided simulation by means of movable cellular automaton method taking account of a developed ＂mesoscopical＂ structural model of particle-reinforced composite. The strength of interphase boundaries is found to be a key structural factor determining not only the strength properties of metal-ceramic composite, but also the pattern and rate of fracture. The principles for achievement of the high-strength values of particle/binder interfaces in the metal-ceramic composition due to the formation of the wide transition zones （areas of variable chemical composition） at the interphase boundaries are discussed. Simulation results confirm that such transition zones provide a change in fracture mechanism and make the achievement of a high-strength and a high deformation capacity of metal-ceramic composite possible.

Augmented reality(AR)and fracture mapping model on middle-aged femoral neck fracture:A proof-of-concept towards interactive visualization

A thorough understanding of the fracture characteristics can assist the decision-making process for surgery.This study aimed to characterize the femoral neck fractures among middle-aged patients and illustrated a biomedical visualization method using a fracture mapping model and augmented reality.We collected plain radiography and computed tomography(CT)data from 156 adult patients with a femoral neck fracture.The descriptive study showed that Type I and Type II fractures accounted for 8(5%)and 64(41%)cases.In comparison,Type IV fractures accounted for 44(28%)and 40(25%)cases according to the Garden classification.Comminuted fractures and cortical defects were identified in 14.74%and 29.49%of the cases.A fracture mapping model was reconstructed based on the CT data and demonstrated the location and distribution of the major fracture lines surrounding the head-neck junction.We also illustrated the application of augmented reality technology to visualize and interact with the patient-specific fracture model and the fracture mapping model that facilitated education,training,and surgical planning.Future studies may consider mapping other biomechanical data,such as joint loading and stress distribution,and exploring artificial intelligence via deep reinforcement learning for computer-aided fracture reduction and procedure planning.