Fractures and Fracture Networks

This monograph on Fractures and Fracture Networks provides a systematic treatment of their geometrical and transport properties. Emphasis is put on the statistical analysis of complex three-dimensional structures and on the development of numerical tools to solve transport equations in real structures. The book is divided into four parts. Part one introduces an analysis of random objects and transport and mechanical properties. Part two covers the geometrical and topological properties of single fractures and fracture networks. The third part deals with transport processes in fractured media. The final part contains some recent developments on coupled processes: e.g. the impact of external stress and deposition/dissolution processes on fracture development. Audience: This volume is of interest to academics and professionals working in environmental and civil engineering and reservoir engineering, and those working on contaminant and radio-nuclide transport.