DFN

DFN provides two discrete-fracture-network model types:

• Simple creates the slope-based joint-patch model from assigned joint sets and DFN-only custom sets.
• Baecher creates a seeded stochastic fracture-disc model using Baecher-style fracture counts, Fisher orientation scatter, radius distributions, and optional P32/P10 intensity targets.

The canonical unassigned label is No Set and is excluded from assigned sets. The label U is an ordinary user-defined set name.

Inputs

DFN Set Controls

Assigned sets are sourced from orientation sets other than No Set. Their set label, colour, count, mean dip, and mean dip direction are read-only in DFN. Visibility, spacing, length, and persistence are editable for DFN output.

Custom DFN sets are created in the DFN left pane. They have editable set label, colour, dip, dip direction, visibility, spacing, length, and persistence, and can be deleted from DFN without changing orientation data.

For Simple DFN, Length is the side length of each square joint patch. Persistence is the linear fraction of the in-plane pitch occupied by a patch. The patch pitch and gap are:

pitch = length / persistence
gap = pitch - length

For example, a 10 m joint length gives a 90 m gap at persistence 0.1, a 10 m gap at persistence 0.5, and no gap at persistence 1. The same square-patch relationship is applied along both in-plane axes. Spacing is separate: it controls the distance between parallel joint planes. Persistence must be between 0.01 and 1.

Custom set labels must be non-empty, unique across assigned and custom DFN sets, and cannot be No Set.

Simple DFN keeps slope geometry and joint-set inputs in the left pane. The 3D volume fills the main viewport; the slope face and dip section appear in the right Results pane. Drag to rotate, right-drag to pan and scroll to zoom. Zoom to fit accounts for the open sidebars; the corner button restores the fitted view. The upper-right DFN settings control volume, fractures, traces and scanline visibility.

Baecher Workspace

When Baecher is opened for the first time, it is seeded from the current assigned sets other than No Set and custom DFN sets. After that, Baecher settings are independent until Reset from current DFN sets is used. The left pane groups its inputs into Domain, Fractures and Intensity tabs.

Tab edits are staged until Apply settings is clicked. Switching tabs, panes or workspaces preserves unfinished input, including invalid text. Discard edits restores the last applied settings. Baecher Regenerate validates the applied inputs, updates the rendered model, and preserves the previous generated model if validation fails. File → DFN Fractures CSV downloads the generated fractures.

Reported P32 is the sum of the full generated fracture-disc areas divided by the rectangular domain volume. Disc centres lie inside the domain, but disc areas are not clipped where a disc extends beyond a domain boundary.

Visual Outputs

The DFN output is illustrative. It does not calculate stability, factor of safety, block removability, or support demand.