Skip to main content
Log in

Quantitative Measurements of Fracture Aperture and Directional Roughness from Rock Cores

  • Technical Note
  • Published:
Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Notes

  1. http://www.gom.com/metrology-systems/system-overview/atos.html.

  2. New technological developments in the latest version of the system allow it to acquire data regardless of ambient lighting conditions.

  3. http://www.python.org/.

References

  • Auradou H, Drazer G, Hulin JP, Koplik J (2005) Permeability anisotropy induced by the shear displacement of rough fracture walls. Water Resour Res 41(9):W09423

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aydan Ö, Shimizu Y, Kawamoto T (1996) The anisotropy of surface morphology characteristics of rock discontinuities. Rock Mech Rock Eng 29(1):47–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker BR, Gessner K, Holden E-J, Squelch AP (2008) Automatic detection of anisotropic features on rock surfaces. Geosph 4(2):418–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barton N (2004) The theory behind high pressure grouting. Tunn Tunn Int, Part 1, Sept., pp 28–30, Part 2, Oct., pp 33–35

  • Barton N, Bandis S (1990) Review of predictive capabilities of JRC-JCS model in engineering practice. In: Barton N, Stephansson O (eds) Rock Joints; Proceedings of the International Symposium on Rock Joints, Loen, Norway, 4–6 June 1990. A. A Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 603–610

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton N, Choubey V (1977) The shear strength of rock joints in theory and practice. Rock Mech Rock Eng 10(1):1–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton N, Lien R, Lunde J (1974) Engineering classification of rock masses for the design of tunnel support. Rock Mech Rock Eng 6(4):189–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton N, Bandis S, Bakhtar K (1985) Strength, deformation and conductivity coupling of rock joints. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 22(3):121–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Basagaoglu H, Meakin P, Succi S, Redden GR, Ginn TR (2008) Two-dimensional lattice Boltzmann simulation of colloid migration in rough-walled narrow flow channels. Phys Rev E 77(3):031405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beer AJ, Stead D, Coggan JS (2002) Estimation of the joint roughness coefficient (JRC) by visual comparison. Rock Mech Rock Eng 35(1):65–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berkowitz B (2002) Characterizing flow and transport in fractured geological media: a review. Adv Water Resour 25(8–12):861–884

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bieniawski ZT (1989) Engineering rock mass classifications. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Boutt DF, Grasselli G, Fredrich JT, Cook BK, Williams JR (2006) Trapping zones: the effect of fracture roughness on the directional anisotropy of fluid flow and colloid transport in a single fracture. Geophys Res Lett 33(21):L21402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown SR (1987) Fluid flow through rock joints: the effect of surface roughness. J Geophys Res 92((B2)):1337–1347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown SR (1995) Simple mathematical model of a rough fracture. J Geophys Res 100(B4):5941–5952

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown SR, Scholz CH (1985) Broad bandwidth study of the topography of natural rock surfaces. J Geophys Res 90(B14):2575–2582

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eker E, Akin S (2006) Lattice boltzmann simulation of fluid flow in synthetic fractures. Transp Porous Media 65(3):363–384

    Google Scholar 

  • Fardin N, Feng Q, Stephansson O (2004) Application of a new in situ 3D laser scanner to study the scale effect on the rock joint surface roughness. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 41(2):329–335

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fecker E, Rengers N (1971) Measurement of large scale roughness of rock planes by means of profilograph and geological compass. In: Proceedings of the Symposium on Rock Fracture, Nancy, France, 1971, pp 1–18

  • Gentier S, Hopkins DL (1997) Mapping fracture aperture as a function of normal stress using a combination of casting, image analysis and modeling techniques. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 34(3–4):132.e1–132.e14

  • Gentier S, Billaux D, van Vliet L (1989) Laboratory testing of the voids of a fracture. Rock Mech Rock Eng 22(2):149–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Gentier S, Riss J, Archambault G, Flamand R, Hopkins DL (2000) Influence of fracture geometry on shear behavior. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 37(1–2):161–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Grasselli G, Egger P (2003) Constitutive law for the shear strength of rock joints based on three-dimensional surface parameters. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 40(1):25–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hakami E, Larsson E (1996) Aperture measurements and flow experiments on a single natural fracture. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 33(4):395–404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haneberg W (2007) Directional roughness profiles from three-dimensional photogrammetric or laser scanner point clouds. In: Eberhardt E, Stead D, Morrison T (eds) Rock Mechanics: Meeting Society’s Challenges and Demands; proceedings of the 1st Canada-US rock mechanics symposium, Vancouver, Canada, 27–31 May 2007. Taylor and Francis, London, pp 101–106

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hoek E, Kaiser PK, Bawden WF (1995) Support of Underground Excavations. A. A Balkema, Rotterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Hong ES, Lee IM, Lee JS (2006) Measurement of rock joint roughness by 3D scanner. Geotech Test J 29(6):482–489

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang TH, Doong YS (1990) Anisotropic shear strength of rock joints. In: Barton N, Stephansson O (eds) Rock Joints, Loen, Norway, 4–6 June 1990. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 211–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang SL, Oelfke SM, Speck RC (1992) Applicability of fractal characterization and modelling to rock joint profiles. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 29(2):89–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Itasca International Inc (2011) 3DEC. http://www.itascacg.com/3dec/overview.php. Accessed 12 Dec 2011

  • Iwai K (1976) Fundamental Studies of the Fluid Flow Through a Single Fracture. PhD., University of California, Berkeley

  • Jessell MW, Cox SJD, Schwarze P, Power WL (1995) The anisotropy of surface roughness measured using a digital photogrammetric technique. Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ 92(1):27–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Jing L, Nordlund E, Stephansson O (1992) An experimental study on the anisotropy and stress-dependency of the strength and deformability of rock joints. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 29(6):535–542

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johns RA, Steude JS, Castanier LM, Roberts PV (1993) Nondestructive measurements of fracture aperture in crystalline rock cores using X-ray computed tomography. J Geophys Res 98(B2):1889–1900

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keller A (1998) High resolution, non-destructive measurement and characterization of fracture apertures. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 35(8):1037–1050

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ketcham RA, Slottke DT, Sharp JM (2010) Three-dimensional measurement of fractures in heterogeneous materials using high-resolution X-ray computed tomography. Geosph 6(5):499–514

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kulatilake PHSW, Shou G, Huang TH, Morgan RM (1995) New peak shear strength criteria for anisotropic rock joints. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 32(7):673–697

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kulatilake PHSW, Balasingam P, Park J, Morgan RM (2006) Natural rock joint roughness quantification through fractal techniques. Geotech Geol Eng 24(5):1181–1202

    Google Scholar 

  • Lanaro F (2000) A random field model for surface roughness and aperture of rock fractures. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 37(8):1195–1210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee H-S, Ahn K-W (2004) A prototype of digital photogrammetric algorithm for estimating roughness of rock surface. Geosci J 8(3):333–341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maerz NH, Franklin JA, Bennett CP (1990) Joint roughness measurement using shadow profilometry. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 27(5):329–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McWilliams PC, Kerkering JC, Miller SM (1990) Fractal characterization of rock fracture roughness for estimating shear strength. In: Rossmanith HP (ed) Mechanics of Jointed and Faulted Rock, Vienna, 18–20 April 1990. A.A Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 331–336

    Google Scholar 

  • Milne D, Germain P, Potvin Y (1992) Measurement of rock mass properties for mine design. In: Hudson JA (ed) Proceedings of the ISRM symposium on Rock Characterization: Eurock ‘92, Chester, England, 1992. Thomas Telford, London, pp 245–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Nasseri MHB, Tatone BSA, Grasselli G, Young R (2009) Fracture toughness and fracture roughness interrelationship in thermally treated Westerly granite. Pure and Appl Geophys 166(5):801–822

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piteau DR (1970) Geological factors significant to the stability of slopes cut in rock. In: van Rensburg PWJ (ed) Proceedings of the Symposium on Planning Open Pit Mines, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1970. A.A Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 33–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Priest SD (1983) Computer generation of inclined hemisphere projections. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 20(1):43–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Priest SD (1985) Hemispherical Projection Methods in Rock Mechanics. George Allan and Unwin, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Pyrak-Nolte LJ, Myer LR, Cook NGW, Witherspoon PA (1987) Hydraulic and mechanical properties of natural fractures in low permeability rock. In: Herget G, Vongpaisal S (eds) Proceedings of the 6th International Congress of Rock Mechanics, Montreal, 1987. A.A Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 225–232

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasouli V, Harrison JP (2004) A comparison of linear profiling and an in-plane method for the analysis of rock surface geometry. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 41(3):377–378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Re F, Scavia C (1999) Determination of contact areas in rock joints by X-ray computer tomography. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 36(7):883–890

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reeves MJ (1985) Rock surface roughness and frictional strength. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 22(6):429–442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Renard F, Voisin C, Marsan D, Schmittbuhl J (2006) High resolution 3D laser scanner measurements of a strike-slip fault quantify its morphological anisotropy at all scales. Geophys Res Lett 33:L04305

    Google Scholar 

  • Riss J, Gentier S (1990) Angularity of a natural rock fracture. In: Rossmanith HP (ed) Mechanics of Jointed and Faulted Rock, Vienna, 18–20 April 1990. A.A Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 399–406

    Google Scholar 

  • Sagy A, Brodsky EE, Axen GJ (2007) Evolution of fault-surface roughness with slip. Geology 35(3):283–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seidel JP, Haberfield CM (1995) Towards an understanding of joint roughness. Rock Mech Rock Eng 28(2):69–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stimpson B (1982) A rapid field method for recording joint roughness profiles. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 19(6):345–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tatone BSA (2009) Quantitative Characterization of Natural Rock Discontinuity Roughness In situ and in the Laboratory. MASc., University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

  • Tatone BSA, Grasselli G (2009a) A method to evaluate the three-dimensional roughness of fracture surfaces in brittle geomaterials. Rev Sci Instrum 80(12), paper no. 125110

    Google Scholar 

  • Tatone BSA, Grasselli G (2009) Use of a stereo-topometric measurement system for the characterization of rock joint roughness in situ and in the laboratory. In: Diederichs MS, Grasselli G (eds) Rock Engineering in Difficult Conditions; Proceedings of 3rd Canada-US Rock Mechanics Symposium, Toronto, Canada, 9–15 May 2009b, p 4145

  • Tatone BSA, Grasselli G (2010) A new 2D discontinuity roughness parameter and its correlation with JRC. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 47(8):1391–1400

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tatone BSA, Grasselli G, Cottrell B (2010) Accounting for the influence of measurement resolution on discontinuity roughness estimates. In: Eurock 2010: Rock Mechanics in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Lausanne, Switzerland, 15–18 June 2010. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 203–206

  • Tsang YW (1984) The effect of tortuosity on fluid flow through a single fracture. Water Resour Res 20(9):1209–1215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsang YW, Tsang CF (1989) Flow channeling in a single fracture as a two-dimensional strongly heterogeneous permeable medium. Water Resour Res 25(9):2076–2080

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weissbach G (1978) A new method for the determination of the roughness of rock joints in the laboratory. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 15(3):131–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman RW, Bodvarsson GS (1996) Hydraulic conductivity of rock fractures. Transp Porous Media 23(1):1–30

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work has been supported by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada in the form of Discovery Grant No. 341275 and RTI Grant No. 345516 held by G. Grasselli and by an OGSST Graduate Scholarship held by B.S.A. Tatone.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giovanni Grasselli.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tatone, B.S.A., Grasselli, G. Quantitative Measurements of Fracture Aperture and Directional Roughness from Rock Cores. Rock Mech Rock Eng 45, 619–629 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-011-0219-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-011-0219-5

Keywords

Navigation