Choice Reviews Online · 2012 · 308 citations · 0 references
Rock TestingFluid TransportEngineeringStructural GeologyNatural ResourcesCivil EngineeringFractured Rock MechanicsRock FracturesGeomechanicsRock BurstGeologyRock PhysicWater-rock InteractionEngineering GeologyRock MechanicsTectonics
Rock fractures govern key Earth processes such as plate‑boundary evolution, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and crustal fluid transport, and they are crucial for exploiting groundwater, geothermal, and petroleum resources. The book seeks to explore and explain fracture processes and fluid transport in the crust by integrating insights from fracture mechanics, materials science, rock mechanics, structural geology, hydrogeology, and fluid mechanics. It develops first‑principle concepts illustrated with worked examples that link geological models to field observations, and provides online exercises for quantitative model testing. The resulting text serves as a vital resource for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, researchers, and industry professionals studying fractures and fluid transport in the Earth's crust.
Rock fractures control many of Earth's dynamic processes, including plate-boundary development, tectonic earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and fluid transport in the crust. An understanding of rock fractures is also essential for effective exploitation of natural resources such as ground water, geothermal water, and petroleum. This book combines results from fracture mechanics, materials science, rock mechanics, structural geology, hydrogeology, and fluid mechanics to explore and explain fracture processes and fluid transport in the crust. Basic concepts are developed from first principles and illustrated with worked examples linking models of geological processes to real field observations and measurements. Many additional examples and exercises are provided online, allowing readers to practise formulating and quantitative testing of models. Rock Fractures in Geological Processes is designed for courses at the advanced undergraduate and graduate level but also forms a vital resource for researchers and industry professionals concerned with fractures and fluid transport in the Earth's crust.