Bruchsystems
Bruchsystems are networks of fractures within a material, such as rock or concrete, that control its strength, deformability, and fluid flow. The term is used across geology, geotechnical engineering, and civil engineering to describe the spatial arrangement and connectivity of cracks, joints, faults, and other discontinuities. A bruchsystem may develop through tectonic stresses, cooling and contraction, weathering, or loading and unloading, resulting in fracture sets with preferred orientations and varying apertures.
Fracture systems are described by measures such as fracture density (number of fractures per unit volume or
In practice, bruchsystems are central to many applications. In mining and tunneling, fracture networks affect stability,
Characterization relies on field mapping, borehole imaging, outcrop fracture surveys, LiDAR and photogrammetry, and geophysical methods.