Small World Property of a Rock Joint(Complexity of Frictional Interfaces: A Complex Network Perspective)

Abstract: The shear strength and stick-slip behavior of a rough rock joint are analyzed using the 8 complex network approach. We develop a network approach on correlation patterns of void 9 spaces of an evolvable rough fracture (crack type II). Correlation among networks properties 10 with the hydro -mechanical attributes (obtained from experimental tests) of fracture before and 11 after slip is the direct result of the revealed non-contacts networks. Joint distribution of locally 12 and globally filtered correlation gives a close relation to the contact zones attachment13 detachment sequences through the evolution of shear strength of the rock joint. Especially spread 14 of node’s degree rate to spread of clustering coefficient rate yielded possible stick and slip 15 sequences during the displacements. Our method can be developed to investigate the complexity 16