Abstract
Fault-fracture patterns have been studied in slabs of clay during extensional deformations. Fractures nucleate and grow on many scales. A new scaling relation is proposed for the length $l$ of a fracture as a function of the area $l\ensuremath{\sim}{A}^{\ensuremath{\beta}}$, with the same exponent $\ensuremath{\beta}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}0.68\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03$ for many deformation types. A consequence of this scaling relation is that the width of a fracture scales with the length as $w\ensuremath{\sim}{l}^{(1\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\beta})/\ensuremath{\beta}}$. A spring network model is shown to reproduce the pattern, both visually and statistically, with the same scaling exponents.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
