title: Solid matrix partition by fracture networks.
abstract: The geometrical properties of the matrix blocks formed by a random fracture network are investigated numerically, for a wide range of fracture shapes and for fracture densities ranging from the dilute limit to well above the threshold where the material is entirely partitioned into finite blocks. The main block characteristics are the density and volume fraction, the mean volume and surface area, and their number of faces. In the dilute limit, general expressions for these characteristics are obtained, which provide a good approximation of the numerical data for any fracture shape. In the dense regime, most properties are governed by power laws, which involve two fitted exponents independent of the fracture shape. The shape factors identified in the dilute limit remain relevant for dense networks and can be used to formulate a general model for the block characteristics, valid up to the total matrix fracturation. The transition density when this occurs is determined. It can also be used to account for the fracture shape effects in a very simple and fairly accurate general model. Beyond the transition density, the block characteristics converge as expected toward those in the space tesselation by infinite planes.
authors.affiliation: UPMC Sisyphe, Boîte 105, 4 place Jussieu, 75252 Paris cedex 05.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosenzweig
authors.affiliation: Institut Pprime, CNRS, SP2MI, BP 30179, 86962 Futuroscope Chasseneuil Cedex, France.
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Mourzenko
authors.affiliation: Institut Pprime, CNRS, SP2MI, BP 30179, 86962 Futuroscope Chasseneuil Cedex, France.
authors.forename: J-F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Thovert
authors.affiliation: UPMC Sisyphe, Boîte 105, 4 place Jussieu, 75252 Paris cedex 05.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Adler
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D055593:Geological Phenomena; D008962:Models, Theoretical