TY  - JOUR
EP  - 746
ID  - eprints1968
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00603-007-0148-5
AV  - none
TI  - Size-Scale effects on strength, friction and fracture energy of faults: a unified interpretation according to fractal geometry
KW  - Faults
KW  -  friction
KW  -  size-scale effects
KW  -  fractals
KW  -  geomechanics
KW  -  contact mechanics.
N2  - Experimental results clearly indicate that large faults involved in earthquakes possess low strength, low friction coefficient and high fracture energy, in comparison with data obtained from small scale laboratory tests on rock samples. The reasons for such an unexpected anomalous behaviour have been the subject of several studies in the past and are still under debate in the Scientific Community. In this paper we propose a unifying interpretation of these size-scale effects on the basis of fractal geometry, which represents the proper mathematical framework for the analysis of multi-scale properties of rough surfaces in contact. A rather good agreement between the proposed scaling laws and the experimental data ranging from the laboratory scale up to the planetary scale typical of natural faults is achieved.
SN  - 0723-2632
VL  - 41
IS  - 5
JF  - Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering
Y1  - 2008///
SP  - 735
A1  - Carpinteri, Alberto
A1  - Paggi, Marco
PB  - Springer
ER  -