Fractal and Multifractal Propertiesof the Spatial Distribution of Natural Fractures——Analyses and Applications

作     者：XU Jiandong QU Guosheng Robert D. JACOBI 

作者机构：Institute of Geology China Seismological Bureau Beijing 100029 PRC Department of Geology State University of New York at Buffalo USA 

出 版 物：《Acta Geologica Sinica(English Edition)》 (地质学报（英文版）)

年 卷 期：1999年第73卷第4期

页      面：477-487页

核心收录：

学科分类：070904[理学-构造地质学] 0709[理学-地质学] 07[理学] 0708[理学-地球物理学] 

基　　金：the Rock Fracture Project at State University of New York at Buffalo and by the Akzo Nobel Salt Inc. New York is greatly acknowledged Many thanks to three anonymous reviewers for their constructive suggestions, from which this manuscript has benefited considerably 

主　　题：fractal multifractal fracture 

摘      要：The Cantor s dust theory is applied to investigate the scaling properites of the spatial distribution of natural fractures obtained from detailed scanline surveys of 27 field sites in the Appalachian Plateau of western New York, USA. The results obtained in this study indicate: 1) fracture spacing is characterized by fractal and multifractal properties. On small scales analyses yield an average fractal dimension of 0.15, which suggests a very high degree of clustering. In contrast, on large scales, fractures tend to be more regular and evenly distributed with an average fracture dimension of 0.52; 2) fractal dimension varies with different sets in different orientations, which can be attributed to interactions between pre-existing fractures and younger ones, as well as variations of the intensity of the stresses under which the fractures were formed; 3) a time sequence of fracture set formation can be proposed based on fractal and multifractal analyses, which consists of (from old to young): N-S, NW, ENE, and NE-striking sets. This time sequence is confirmed by the study of the abutting relationships of different fracture sets observed in the field.