Small World Property of a Rock Joint(Complexity of Frictional Interfaces: A Complex Network Perspective)

TL;DR

This paper investigates the complex network properties of rock joints to understand their shear strength and stick-slip behavior, revealing the importance of correlation patterns and network metrics in fault mechanics.

Contribution

It introduces a novel network-based approach to analyze correlation patterns in rock joint interfaces, linking network properties with mechanical behavior during slip events.

Findings

Correlation among network properties relates to fracture attributes.

Spread of node degree and clustering coefficients indicates slip sequences.

Network analysis can predict stick-slip behavior in faults.

Abstract

The shear strength and stick-slip behavior of a rough rock joint are analyzed using the complex network approach. We develop a network approach on correlation patterns of void spaces of an evolvable rough fracture (crack type II). Correlation among networks properties with the hydro -mechanical attributes (obtained from experimental tests) of fracture before and after slip is the direct result of the revealed non-contacts networks. Joint distribution of locally and globally filtered correlation gives a close relation to the contact zones attachment-detachment sequences through the evolution of shear strength of the rock joint. Especially spread of node's degree rate to spread of clustering coefficient rate yielded possible stick and slip sequences during the displacements. Our method can be developed to investigate the complexity of stick-slip behavior of faults as well as energy /stress localization on crumpled shells/sheets in which ridge networks are controlling the energy distribution.