Fractal dimension of fault systems in Japan: Fractal structure in rock fracture geometry at various scales

Based on fault maps, whether or not the fracture geometry of rocks is self-similar, was examined by using a box-counting algorithm. The statistical self-similarity (fractal structure) of the fault fracture systems holds well at the scale of about 2 to 20 km. The fractal dimension in Japan varied from 1.05 to 1.60. The fractal dimension is about 1.5–1.6 at the central part of the Japan Arc, and decreases with distance from the center. At a smaller scale, the fractal structure also holds well in the rock fracture geometry. The fractal dimension of the North Izu Peninsula fault system (branching faults) is 1.49 at the scale of 0.625 to 10 km, the fractal dimension of rock fracture geometry at the scale order of 10^–1 to 10^–2 meters is about 1.49–1.61. The upper limit of the fractal dimension of rock fracture geometry is about 1.6, judging from the estimation of fractal dimension on actual fracture geometry of rocks. This value may impose a restraint on modeling of faulting and the fracture process of rocks.