Analysis of fracture patterns constrained by suitable geological model.

This work describes a conceptual and technical approach used to obtain a satisfactory description, representation and geometrical simulation of the fracture network of a poly-deformed blocky rock mass, characterized by tectonically coupled metamorphic and sedimentary rock units in the Ligurian Alps (Italy). The geological knowledge of the study area (about one hundred square kilometres) was obtained from recent researches that allowed relatively continuous mapping of the main macroscopic structural features and a description of their associated fault and fracture patterns to be made. An analysis of aerial photo and satellite lineaments was performed to complete the reference framework of the collected data and allowed an analysis of the fractal properties of the fracture pattern to be made. A statistical evaluation of the natural jointing parameters was carried out on the basis of the geological knowledge using different steps and techniques for the analysis and geometrical modelling for the joint set separation and their characterization, the jointing intensity measures and the joint size. This characterization enables a definition to be made of the suitable parameters of the fracture sets, the construction of a 3D geometrical model and its validation through a comparison with the original geological constraints.