Fissure Geometry Research Articles

Diffusion mechanism of C-S grout with time-varying viscosity in inclined rock fissure under seawater conditions

The grouting method is commonly used to seal rock fissures in subsea tunnels, and therefore the water and mud inrush can be prevented in this way. However, the current understanding of the grout diffusion mechanism inside the rock fissure under seawater conditions is still limited, especially inside the inclined rock fissure. This study first presented a novel rock fissure geometry schematization, which can be simplified to a single fissure with different inclinations. Then, based on the obtained time-varying grout viscosity under seawater conditions, the grout diffusion model of cement and sodium silicate grout (C-S grout) was developed by combining the equilibrium equation, constitutive equation, and continuity equation, which can be used to calculate the key parameters involved in rock fissure grouting, i.e., the grouting pressure and grout diffusion distance. After that, the change of grouting pressure with time was obtained. Furthermore, the numerical simulation of grouting in the inclined rock fissure was performed to verify the suitability of the grout diffusion model, and the comparison between them shows that they match reasonably well with each other. It is hoped that the conclusions could aid in the design of grouting in rock fissures around subsea tunnels with C-S grout in the future.

The Role of On‐ and Off‐Axis Faults and Fissures During Eruption Cycles and Crustal Accretion at 9°50′N, East Pacific Rise

AbstractFissures and faults provide insight into how plate separation is accommodated by magmatism and brittle deformation during crustal accretion. Although fissure and fault geometry can be used to quantify the spreading process at mid‐ocean ridges, accurate measurements are rare due to insufficiently detailed mapping data. Here, fissures and faults at the fast‐spreading 9°50′N segment of the East Pacific Rise were mapped using bathymetric data collected at 1‐m horizontal resolution by autonomous underwater vehicle Sentry. Fault dip estimates from the bathymetric data were calibrated using co‐registered near‐bottom imagery and depth transects acquired by remotely operated vehicle Jason. Fissures are classified as either eruptive or non‐eruptive (i.e., cracks). Tectonic strain estimated from corrected fault heaves suggests that faulting plays a negligible role in the plate separation on crust younger than 72 kyr (<4 km from the ridge axis). Pre‐ and post‐eruption surveys show that most fissures were reactivated during the eruptions in 2005–2006. Variable eruptive fissure geometry could be explained by the frequency with which each fissure is reactivated and partially infilled. Fissure swarms and lava plateaus in low‐relief areas >2 km from the ridge are spatially associated with off‐axis lower‐crustal magma lenses identified in multichannel seismic data. Deep, closely spaced fissures overlie a relatively shallow portion of the axial magma lens. The width of on‐axis fissures and inferred subsurface dike geometry imply a ∼9‐year long diking recurrence interval to fully accommodate plate spreading, which is broadly consistent with cycle intervals obtained from estimates of melt extraction rates, eruption volumes, and spreading rate.

A model volcanic fissure with adjustable geometry and wall temperature

Fissure eruptions initiate with magma ascending and spreading through cracks in the ground that can extend for kilometres at the surface. Eruptions eventually localise to form one or a few persistent conduits and ultimately an array of discrete cones or craters. We built a new experimental apparatus to investigate the influences of fissure shape and wall-rock temperature on localisation within a volcanic fissure, and the thermal feedbacks associated with variability of these parameters. Our artificial fissure, or “Artfish,” has a slot geometry with adjustable shape and wall temperature. We can simulate both starting variability in fissure geometry and wall temperature, as well as changes in these parameters during an experiment to replicate, for example, blockage by wall-rock collapse, widening by wall-rock erosion, and warming by adjacent intrusions. We use polyethylene glycol (PEG 600) for our analogue fluid. A variable-speed pump allows for a range of fluid injection and ascent rates. Initial tests showcase the capabilities of the model and the types of data that may be acquired. Additional key features achieved include a stable and planar injection system, fluid recycling, and the use of particle tracers for monitoring flow patterns and velocities. The thermal evolution of the fluid-wall interface is quantitatively measured with thermal sensors, and the change in state of the PEG provides a clear visual indication of flow behaviour and solidification progress recorded on video. The potential experiments that can be conducted with this highly versatile model are numerous and will be used to gain a better understanding of the thermal controls on flow localisation and conduit development. This will assist hazard modellers to assess controls on eruption evolution and potentially to forecast sites where an initial fissure eruption may focus.

Structural Characteristics and Formation Mechanism of the Earth Fissures as a Geohazard in Birjand, Iran

Earth fissure structures are a common type of geohazard associated with geotechnical surface ruptures that can occur almost anywhere on the ground surface due to a variety of different mechanisms, and in most cases, these hazardous cracks have resulted in severe damage to infrastructure. Investigation of the structural characteristics of fissures in an active tectonic area (such as Birjand in eastern Iran) can improve our understanding of connections between the fissures and structural geology. The first reported earth fissures in NW Birjand are distributed along the North Birjand fault. Field observations and analysis of the detailed topography cross-sections using the real-time kinematic (RTK) technique have been used to infer the fissure development. Morphometric analysis of faults and fissures shows that the long axis of most fissure structures is distributed perpendicular to the strike of the North Birjand fault. The average volume strain in the study area was calculated to be 14.68 percent based on fissure geometry studies, with the maximum volume strain corresponding to the location of the North Birjand fault’s youngest splay. This splay formed fault-propagation folds with exposed fissure structures. This study shows that the fault-propagation folds in this system are subjected to the activity and evolution of the ground fissure as a result of the expansion of tensile stress.

Experimental Investigation of the Mechanical Behavior of Layer-Crack Specimens under Cyclic Uniaxial Compression

It is generally acknowledged that the failure of the layer-crack structure is closely related to rock bursts (a layer-crack structure means a coal or rock rib that is cut by fractures that are parallel or sub-parallel to the surface of the rib). Understanding the mechanical behavior of the layer-crack structure under cyclic loading is beneficial for rock burst mitigation. This study experimentally investigated the influence of the geometry of vertical fissure (i.e., width, length and number) on the mechanical properties of layer-crack rock specimens. The results show that the sensitivity of parameters with respect to the geometry of the fissure from strong to weak is the number, length and width. First, the peak stress under cyclic loading increases by approximately 7.82–17.35%, thereby exerting an obvious strengthening effect. Second, the fissure geometry slightly affects the energy evolution of the layer-crack specimen, i.e., the input energy density, elastic energy density and dissipated energy density all gradually increase with the increase of the number of cycles. However, when approaching a specimen failure, the increasing rates from quick to slow are the dissipated energy, input energy and elastic energy. Third, the damage variable of the layer-crack specimen shows a concave increasing trend with the increase of the number of cycles. When the number of cycles is equal, the damage increases with the increase of the number of fissures, but it decreases with the increase of the fissure length. Fourth, AE events occur shortly before specimen failures, but rapidly increase near the specimen failures. The accumulated AE events that lead to specimen failures decrease with the increase in the number of fissures. These results can provide some basic data for the research of rock bursts related to the failures of layer-crack structures.

Experimental study on mechanical properties and failure modes of low-strength rock samples containing different fissures under uniaxial compression

Uniaxial compressive tests (UCS) were carried out to investigate the influence of pre-existing fissure geometry parameters (various dip angles, lengths, widths, and numbers) on the mechanical properties and deformation failure modes of low-strength rock samples. The results suggested that UCS, elastic modulus and axial peak strain were reduced by pre-existing fissures, but the reduction degree was strongly associated with the pre-existing fissure geometry. In addition, the UCS and elastic modulus of the low-strength rock samples were very sensitive to fissure dip angle and number, while the fissure number had the greatest effect on both of them. The axial peak strain was mainly influenced by the fissure dip angle. Moreover, due to the influence by the pre-existing fissures, the stress-strain curves of low-strength rock specimens usually changed from rapid drop to multistage decline, and even to horizontal extension slow decline. This indicated that low-strength specimens usually can change from brittle failure to ductile failure, and even had ductile flow deformation damage occurring under the influence of the pre-existing fissures. This change did not occur in high-strength rock mass. The fracture morphology of low-strength rock specimens was primarily affected by the fissure dip angle, and the influence of the fissure number on the fracture morphology was constrained by the fissure dip conditions, while the fissure length and width had fairly little effects on the fracture morphology of low-strength rock samples. This paper may provide new insights into the principle features of rock failure under uniaxial compression for future studies.

Enceladus Plume Structure and Time Variability: Comparison of Cassini Observations.

During three low-altitude (99, 66, 66 km) flybys through the Enceladus plume in 2010 and 2011, Cassini's ion neutral mass spectrometer (INMS) made its first high spatial resolution measurements of the plume's gas density and distribution, detecting in situ the individual gas jets within the broad plume. Since those flybys, more detailed Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) imaging observations of the plume's icy component have been reported, which constrain the locations and orientations of the numerous gas/grain jets. In the present study, we used these ISS imaging results, together with ultraviolet imaging spectrograph stellar and solar occultation measurements and modeling of the three-dimensional structure of the vapor cloud, to constrain the magnitudes, velocities, and time variability of the plume gas sources from the INMS data. Our results confirm a mixture of both low and high Mach gas emission from Enceladus' surface tiger stripes, with gas accelerated as fast as Mach 10 before escaping the surface. The vapor source fluxes and jet intensities/densities vary dramatically and stochastically, up to a factor 10, both spatially along the tiger stripes and over time between flyby observations. This complex spatial variability and dynamics may result from time-variable tidal stress fields interacting with subsurface fissure geometry and tortuosity beyond detectability, including changing gas pathways to the surface, and fluid flow and boiling in response evolving lithostatic stress conditions. The total plume gas source has 30% uncertainty depending on the contributions assumed for adiabatic and nonadiabatic gas expansion/acceleration to the high Mach emission. The overall vapor plume source rate exhibits stochastic time variability up to a factor ∼5 between observations, reflecting that found in the individual gas sources/jets. Key Words: Cassini at Saturn—Geysers—Enceladus—Gas dynamics—Icy satellites. Astrobiology 17, 926–940.

A robotic approach to mapping post-eruptive volcanic fissure conduits

VolcanoBot was developed to map volcanic vents and their underlying conduit systems, which are rarely preserved and generally inaccessible to human exploration. It uses a PrimeSense Carmine 1.09 sensor for mapping and carries an IR temperature sensor, analog distance sensor, and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) inside a protective shell. The first field test succeeded in collecting valuable scientific data but revealed several needed improvements, including more rugged cable connections and mechanical couplers, increased ground clearance, and higher-torque motors for uphill mobility. The second field test significantly improved on all of these aspects but it traded electrical ruggedness for reduced data collection speed. Data collected by the VolcanoBots, while intermittent, yield the first insights into the cm-scale geometry of volcanic fissures at depths of up to 25m.VolcanoBot was deployed at the 1969 Mauna Ulu fissure system on Kīlauea volcano in Hawai'i. It collected first-of-its-kind data from inside the fissure system. We hypothesized that 1) fissure sinuosity should decrease with depth, 2) irregularity should be persistent with depth, 3) any blockages in the conduit should occur at the narrowest points, and 4) the fissure should narrow with depth until it is too narrow for VolcanoBot to pass or is plugged with solidified lava. Our field campaigns did not span enough lateral or vertical area to test sinuosity. The preliminary data indicate that 1) there were many irregularities along fissures at depth, 2) blockages occurred, but not at obviously narrow locations, and 3) the conduit width remained a consistent 0.4–0.5m for most of the upper 10m that we analyzed.

Mechanical behavior and failure analysis of granite specimens containing two orthogonal fissures under uniaxial compression

The mechanical behavior, crack initiation stress, cracking modes, and crack coalescence process due to uniaxial compressive loading for brittle granite specimens (70 × 140 × 29 mm in size) containing two orthogonal fissures with different “virtual ligament length” were first modeled experimentally. Intact granite specimens present typical axial splitting failure, and the ultimate failure of specimens containing a single fissure results mainly from tensile cracks initiated from the fissure tips. Basically, mechanical parameters of granite specimens containing two orthogonal fissures are lower than the values for intact specimens, and the reduction extent is distinctly related to the virtual ligament length. The uniaxial compressive strength, peak axial strain, Young’s modulus, secant Young’s modulus, and crack initiation stress of granite specimens containing two orthogonal fissures present the same trend with the increasing virtual ligament length, i.e., first decrease and then increase, finally once again decrease. The effect of virtual ligament length on the crack initiation type and ultimate failure modes of granite specimens containing two orthogonal fissures is analyzed. Crack types based on the fissure geometry and crack propagation mechanism are identified, and three different crack initiation types are summarized. The crack coalescence is observed and characterized from tips of pre-existing fissures. Relation between the real-time cracking process and axial stress–strain curves of granite specimens containing two orthogonal fissures for the entire deformation process is captured, and the corresponding axial stress for crack coalescence is also obtained. Each sharp stress drop in axial stress–strain curves indicates an obvious crack coalescence.

Modeling of earth fissures caused by land subsidence due to groundwater withdrawal

Abstract. Land subsidence and earth fissures are phenomena related to groundwater withdrawal in a sedimentary basin. If the rock basement or basin lithology is irregular, both vertical and horizontal displacements can be induced due to differential settlement and tensile stresses appearing in the soil mass. If the differential settlement is of sufficient magnitude, earth fissuring can occur within tensile zones. The magnitudes of compaction and fissure geometry are closely related to the thickness and skeletal compressibility of fine-grained sediments within the aquifer system. Land subsidence and earth fissuring were modeled by employing a two-dimensional (2-D) coupled seepage and stress-strain finite element analysis. The basin bedrock geometry, lithological variation, measurements of surface displacements, and changes in hydraulic head were the critical input parameter for the subsidence modeling. Simulation results indicate that strain had exceeded the approximate threshold for fissure formation of 0.02 to 0.06 % in the area of the identified fissures. The numerical model was used to predict future subsidence and potential earth fissures for flood control structures within the metro Phoenix area.

Corrections of surface fissure effect on apparent resistivity measurements

Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is a useful tool to detect and track water flow paths in the subsoil. However, measurements are strongly affected by subsurface heterogeneities such as fissures of different sizes and genesis (shrinking-swelling, macropores and deformation). In this work, we focus on surface fissures characterized by dimensions lower than the interelectrode spacing and correct their effect on apparent resistivity pseudo-sections by incorporating fissure geometry in the topography. We show that fissures with depths greater than 0.10 times the interelectrode spacing for a dipole–dipole array and equal to 0.16 for the gradient array and the Wenner–Schlumberger arrays create significant anomalies (greater than 5 per cent) in the pseudo-section. Surface fissure widths and dip angles have little effect with respect to the fissure depths which can increase the apparent resistivity up to 200 per cent. The clogging of the fissures with water or soil material decreases the anomaly effect linearly with the percentage of filling. The correction of apparent resistivity values is possible for relatively simple fissure geometries and only requires a manual survey of the surface fissures. It allows to improve the quality of the inverted resistivity section by mitigating the inversion artefacts and therefore a better interpretation.

Segmentation and eruptive activity along the East Pacific Rise at 16°N, in relation with the nearby Mathematician hotspot

AbstractThe 16°N segment of the East Pacific Rise is the most overinflated and shallowest of this fast‐spreading ridge, in relation with an important magma flux due to the proximity of the Mathematician hotspot. Here, we analyze the detailed morphology of the axial dome and of the Axial Summit Trough (AST), the lava morphology, and the geometry of fissures and faults, in regard to the attributes of the magma chamber beneath and of the nearby hotspot. The data used are 1 m resolution bathymetry combined with seafloor photos and videos. At the dome summit, the AST is highly segmented by 10 third‐order and fourth‐order discontinuities over a distance of 30 km. Often, two contiguous and synchronous ASTs coexist. Such a configuration implies a wide (1100 m minimum) zone of diking. The existence of contiguous ASTs, their mobility, their general en echelon arrangement accommodating the bow shape of the axial dome toward the hotspot, plus the existence of a second magma lens under the western half of the summit plateau, clearly reflect the influence of the hotspot on the organization of the spreading system. The different ASTs exhibit contrasted widths and depths. We suggest that narrow ASTs reflect an intense volcanic activity that produces eruptions covering the tectonic features and partially filling the ASTs. AST widening and deepening would indicate a decrease in volcanic activity but with continued dike intrusions at the origin of abundant sets of fissures and faults that are not masked by volcanic deposits.

Fracture mechanical behavior of red sandstone containing a single fissure and two parallel fissures after exposure to different high temperature treatments

A detailed understanding of the brittle deformation behavior of sandstone containing pre-existing flaws at elevated temperatures is a key concern in underground engineering. In this research, uniaxial compression tests were performed to evaluate the effect of high temperature treatments (300, 600 or 900 °C) on the strength, deformability and fracture coalescence behavior of a sandstone containing either a single fissure or two parallel fissures. All experiments focused on rectangular prismatic (80 × 160 × 30 mm) specimens of red sandstone. Constant strain rate experiments were performed on either: (1) specimens that contained a single 2 mm-wide fissure or (2) specimens that contained two 2 mm-wide parallel fissures. The specimens containing either one or two fissures were either left at room temperature (i.e., no heat treatment), or heat treated to 300, 600 or 900 °C prior to experimentation. The results demonstrated that, in all cases, the strength and stiffness of red sandstone was increased at 300 °C, before decreasing up to our maximum temperature of 900 °C. However, the peak strain at failure always showed an increase when the temperature was increased. The crack initiation, propagation and coalescence process were monitored during the deformation using both photographic monitoring and acoustic emission (AE) monitoring techniques. The monitoring results showed that the cracking process depended on both the fissure geometry and the heat treatment temperature. The potential mechanisms causing the differences in the mechanical behavior observed with increasing temperature are discussed, as is the influence of the single fissure and the two parallel fissures on the crack evolution process. These results are important and valuable to understand the fracture mechanism of rock engineering in deep underground mining excavations and nuclear waste depositories.

Coupling ground-penetrating radar and flowmeter investigations for the characterization of a fissured aquifer

We test the integration of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) borehole investigation and electromagnetic flowmeter surveys to characterize fissured or complex aquifers. Borehole GPR investigation allows assessment of the lateral continuity of the porous and permeable zones between closely spaced boreholes, whereas flowmeter tests are adopted to identify the inflow–outflow zones in the boreholes. We apply the coupled approach in a portion (between 10 and 20 m below ground surface) of a complex aquifer hosted in a calcareous–gypsiferous formation. The hydro-geophysical characterization was aimed to detect the most conductive levels and to estimate the hydrodynamic properties of the aquifer. The integration of single-hole flowmeters and GPR measurements accurately distinguished different productive levels of high porosity and permeability in the aquifer. Two aquifer systems characterized by a complex geometry of fissures and permeable layers have been recognized, establishing the role of the drilled boreholes in the short-circuiting of the two systems. Interpretation of the GPR survey in cross-hole configuration gave values of total porosity of the order of 0.35 and 0.5 in the two more productive levels, which were detected by the flowmeter investigation.

Buoyant convection from a discrete source in a leaky porous medium

AbstractThe application of turbulent plume theory in describing the dynamics of emptying filling boxes, control volumes connected to an infinite exterior through a series of openings along the upper and lower boundaries, has yielded novel strategies for the natural ventilation of buildings. Making the plume laminar and having it fall through a porous medium yields a problem of fundamental significance in its own right, insights from which may be applied, for example, in minimizing the contamination of drinking water by geologically sequestered $\def \xmlpi #1{}\def \mathsfbi #1{\boldsymbol {\mathsf {#1}}}\let \le =\leqslant \let \leq =\leqslant \let \ge =\geqslant \let \geq =\geqslant \def \Pr {\mathit {Pr}}\def \Fr {\mathit {Fr}}\def \Rey {\mathit {Re}}{\mathrm{CO}}_2$ or the chemicals leached from waste piles. After reviewing the theory appropriate to rectilinear and axisymmetric plumes in porous media, we demonstrate how the model equations may be adapted to the case of an emptying filling box. In this circumstance, the long-time solution consists of two ambient layers, each of which has a uniform density. The lower and upper layers comprise fluid that is respectively discharged by the plume and advected into the box through the upper opening. Our theory provides an estimate for both the height and thickness of the associated interface in terms of, for example, the source volume and buoyancy fluxes, the outlet area and permeability, and the depth-average solute dispersion coefficient, which is itself a function of the far-field horizontal flow speed. Complementary laboratory experiments are provided for the case of a line source plume and show very good agreement with model predictions. Our measurements also indicate that the permeability, $k_f$, of the lower opening (or fissure) decreases with the density of the fluid being discharged, a fact that has been overlooked in some previous studies, wherein $k_f$ is assumed to depend only on the fissure geometry.

A new model for the growth of basaltic shields based on deformation of Fernandina volcano, Galápagos Islands

Space-geodetic measurements of surface deformation produced by the most recent eruptions at Fernandina – the most frequently erupting volcano in the Galápagos Archipelago – reveal that all have initiated with the intrusion of subhorizontal sills from a shallow magma reservoir. This includes eruptions from fissures that are oriented both radially and circumferentially with respect to the summit caldera. A Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image acquired 1–2 h before the start of a radial fissure eruption in 2009 captures one of these sills in the midst of its propagation toward the surface. Galápagos eruptive fissures of all orientations have previously been presumed to be fed by vertical dikes, and this assumption has guided models of the origin of the eruptive fissure geometry and overall development of the volcanoes. Our findings allow us to reinterpret the internal structure and evolution of Galápagos volcanoes and of similar basaltic shields. Furthermore, we note that stress changes generated by the emplacement of subhorizontal sills feeding one type of eruption may control the geometry of subsequent eruptive fissures. Specifically, circumferential fissures tend to open within areas uplifted by sill intrusions that initiated previous radial fissure eruptions. This mechanism provides a possible explanation for the pattern of eruptive fissures that characterizes all the western Galápagos volcanoes, as well as the alternation between radial and circumferential fissure eruptions at Fernandina. The same model suggests that the next eruption of Fernandina will be from a circumferential fissure in the area uplifted by the 2009 sill intrusion, just southwest of the caldera rim.

Experimental investigation on fracture coalescence behavior of red sandstone containing two unparallel fissures under uniaxial compression

Natural rock usually contains a lot of flaws, such as fissures, joints, weak surfaces and faults, which have a significant effect on the strength, deformability and crack coalescence behaviors of rock material [1–5]. In order to improve the understanding of fracture mechanism of rock engineering containing intermittent structures, a lot of experimental studies have been performed for all kinds of rock materials or rock-like materials containing two fissures [6–10]. Wong and Chau [6] investigated the crack propagation and coalescence on rock-like materials containing two inclined open or closed fissures, which obtained three main modes of crack coalescence in two fissured specimens under uniaxial compression. Feng et al. [7] carried out a number of experimental studies to explore the mechanism of multi-crack interaction in limestone specimens (the size of the specimen was 15 30 3 mm) with two fissures of different geometries under the coupled uniaxial compressive stress and chemical solutions with different ionic concentrations and pH values. Yang et al. [8] made uniaxial compression tests for cylindrical marble specimens with different pre-existing fissures, which analyzed the effect of fissure geometry on strength and deformation failure behaviors of brittle marble material. Wong and Einstein [9] summarized the effects of the flaw angle, ligament angle and length on the cracking processes and coalescence patterns of Carrara marble specimens containing two open fissures and used a high speed camera to observe the specimens at a macroscopic scale. Yang [10] performed an experimental study on the influence of coplanar fissure angle on the strength, deformation

Strength failure and crack coalescence behavior of brittle sandstone samples containing a single fissure under uniaxial compression

Uniaxial compression experiments were performed for brittle sandstone samples containing a single fissure by a rock mechanics servo-controlled testing system. Based on the experimental results of axial stress-axial strain curves, the influence of single fissure geometry on the strength and deformation behavior of sandstone samples is analyzed in detail. Compared with the intact sandstone sample, the sandstone samples containing a single fissure show the localization deformation failure. The uniaxial compressive strength, Young’s modulus and peak axial strain of sandstone samples with pre-existing single fissure are all lower than that of intact sandstone sample, which is closely related to the fissure length and fissure angle. The crack coalescence was observed and characterized from tips of pre-existing single fissure in brittle sandstone sample. Nine different crack types are identified based on their geometry and crack propagation mechanism (tensile, shear, lateral crack, far-field crack and surface spalling) for single fissure, which can be used to analyze the failure mode and cracking process of sandstone sample containing a single fissure under uniaxial compression. To confirm the subsequence of crack coalescence in sandstone sample, the photographic monitoring and acoustic emission (AE) technique were adopted for uniaxial compression test. The real-time crack coalescence process of sandstone containing a single fissure was recorded during the whole loading. In the end, the influence of the crack coalescence on the strength and deformation failure behavior of brittle sandstone sample containing a single fissure is analyzed under uniaxial compression. The present research is helpful to understand the failure behavior and fracture mechanism of engineering rock mass (such as slope instability and underground rock burst).

Rock fabric, pore geometry and mineralogy effects on water transport in fractured dolostones

The combined influence of rock fabric, pore geometry and mineralogy (petrological parameters) on transport properties in complex and heterogeneous naturally fractured rocks was studied experimentally. As fissure geometry quantification has rarely been addressed in most theoretical studies of transport properties, emphasis was placed on the effects of fissure geometry on both non-saturated media (capillary rise) and saturated media (permeability). We proved that prediction of transport properties in complex rocks is not guaranteed by the estimation of the classic micro-structural variables considered in the literature and that accurate prediction can only be attained when petrological parameters are first quantified in depth, and then combined. Principal component analysis and the regression models proposed here clearly demonstrated on the one hand that, a meaningful porous network in non-saturated media must be modelled with a combination of different geometrical capillary tubes representing the matrix (cylindrical) and the fissure (rectangular prism) and on the other hand, that in saturated media a well-in-deep fissure size quantification enabled a more accurate prediction of permeability to be made. The experimental data confirm that transport properties and its anisotropy are closely dependent on fissure typology, textural characteristics, mineralogy and spatial distribution of the whole rock fabric elements. Enlarged-fissures weakly exert capillary suction due to the retarding effect of gravitational forces, but they are vital in controlling permeability. Cracklebreccias with small clasts, high dolomite cement content and high inter-clast fissure density exhibit strong capillary suction. However, high calcite cement produces abnormally low rates of capillary rise, due to possible pore surface contamination, together with a high contact angle effect. Good agreement between permeability and geometric factors provided a suitable basis for identifying preferred permeable directions. Additionally, we found a critical fissure density which defined the isotropic matrix permeability. We also present a new practical and simple linear model relating permeability to capillarity with meaningfully and easily estimated petrological parameters. Results obtained in the present study demonstrated the correct identification and use of more directly related petrological variables for modelling transport properties. Moreover, the analysis of these results using multivariate analysis is considerably more demanding compared to the conventional approaches.

Nucleation of water vapor in microcracks on the surface of β-AgI aerosol particles: 2. Thermodynamics of nucleation

Free energy, entropy, and the work of formation of condensation nuclei at 260 K in microcracks of β-AgI crystal structure at the initial stage of nucleation preceding crystallization are calculated by the Monte Carlo method. Unlike ideal crystal surface, nuclei in microcracks are thermodynamically stable and the barrier of free energy of nucleation is absent. Conditions of microcrack are favorable for the crystallization that qualitatively changes the regime and rate of nucleation. Stable size of nuclei at the humidity corresponding to natural atmosphere is sufficient for the filling of nanoscopic microcracks and the attainment of substrate surface. The probability of nucleus formation in microcracks by the fluctuation mechanism is incomparably higher than the probability of their formation on the defect-free surface. High crystallization ability of the particles of βAgI aerosol is ensured by multiple surface microcracks acting as active sites in combination with its complementary crystal structure. The efficiency of aerosols as stimulants of the nucleation of water vapor at negative Celsius temperatures is determined by the surface density and geometry of nanoscopic cracks and fissures on the particle surface.