Three-dimensional modeling of fault geological structure using generalized triangular prism element reconstruction

Faults divide the strata into discontinuous blocks, making describing the spatial relationship between geological bodies more difficult. However, the literature still lacks simplification methods for addressing this issue. Long-term geological information research has accumulated many spatial models for building engineering geological objects. The low degree of sharing of various geological models and complex data operations has weakened the spatial analysis ability of three-dimensional geological information models. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate a new data structure and algorithm to maintain its consistency before and after the three-dimensional fault modeling so that it is possible to conduct geological analysis. This study develops a three-dimensional stratum model based on the previous research results and the GTP (generalized triangular prism) model. It includes fault data to simulate stratum fracture and proposes a three-dimensional fault modeling method under GTP element reconstruction. First, the types of GTP elements for fault cutting are analyzed. Auxiliary lines and nodes are inserted into the polyhedron with a complex shape generated after the GTP element is sectioned. The polyhedron is reconstructed into the GTP model, maintaining the consistency of the data structure. This method achieves good results in building three-dimensional geological structure models of faults at different spatial positions, indicating that the GTP model and its reconstruction method are very flexible in data storage and expression and are suitable for geological modeling. The results have significant implications for modeling and sharing operations of complex geological structures, including faults.