Relationships between fractures

摘要: Abstract Fracture systems comprise many fractures that may be grouped into sets based on their orientation, type and relative age. The are often arranged in a network involves fracture branches interact with one another. Interacting termed geometrically coupled when they share an intersection line and/or kinematically the displacements, stresses strains of influences those other. interactions characterised terms following. 1) type: for example, whether have opening (e.g., joints, veins, dykes), closing (stylolites, compaction bands), shearing faults, deformation bands) or mixed-mode displacements. 2) Geometry orientations) topology (the arrangement fractures, including connectivity). 3) Chronology: ages fractures. 4) Kinematics: displacement distributions interacting It is also suggested interaction can mechanics, e.g., effects stress field. insufficient to describe only components network, fuller understanding coming from determining between different network.