Fractal Approach of Structuring by Fragmentation

The paper addresses the problem of fingerprints of fragmentation processes, showing that structuring by fragmentation can be detected and investigated fruitfully if approached with a proper methodology, of which fractal instruments represent an important part. Studied aspects include fragments size distributions, fragments size-position relations, and long-range correlations in fracture profiles and fracture patterns. The choice of experiments (comminution of flat samples and fragmentation by desiccation cracking) was directed by the aim to complement existing studies from the point of view of fragmentation energy application, being also intended to provide data from processes where different mechanisms are at work. Power-law fragments size distributions were found, but also fragments clusters on dominant size intervals that point towards a fractal character of the size distribution from the point of view of the positions of the distribution maxima. The self-affine character of fractures and of fracture patterns could be emphasised on certain scale intervals, separated by thresholds that are important for studies concerning the implied mechanisms. Fragments size-position correlations indicate a high probability of neighbouring fragments to be of comparable size. The features highlighted for structuring by fragmentation were found in all the studied experiments, their generality pointing towards useful implications for geoscientific research.