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Determining Crack Aperture Distribution in Rocks Using the 14 C‐PMMA Autoradiographic Method: Experiments and Simulations
Author(s) -
Bonnet M.,
Sardini P.,
Billon S.,
SiitariKauppi M.,
Kuva J.,
Fonteneau L.,
Caner L.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: solid earth
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.983
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 2169-9356
pISSN - 2169-9313
DOI - 10.1029/2019jb018241
Subject(s) - tilt (camera) , aperture (computer memory) , monte carlo method , materials science , distribution (mathematics) , geology , optics , mineralogy , geometry , acoustics , physics , mathematics , statistics , mathematical analysis
Abstract Because cracks control the global mechanical and transport properties of crystalline rocks, it is of a crucial importance to suitably determine their aperture distribution, which evolves through alteration processes and rock weathering. Due to the high variability of crack networks in rocks, a multiscale approach is needed. The 14 C‐PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate) method was developed to determine crack apertures using a set of artificial crack samples with different controlled apertures and tilt angles and also using Monte Carlo simulations. The experiments and simulations show the same result: the estimation of apparent aperture w A was successful regardless of tilt angle, even if the estimates are less accurate for low tilt angles (<30°). The uncertainties on the estimation of the real crack aperture w R arise from the unknown tilt angle. The ability of the 14 C‐PMMA autoradiography method to estimate crack aperture distributions in rock samples was successfully confirmed on a sample of Grimsel granodiorite.