Learning

Customized Training

Customized Engineering Training Courses

Itasca Educational Partnership

ITASCA Academics

Software Tutorials

FLAC3D 6.0 PFC Plugin Punch

Working with ParaView

ParaView is an open-source, multi-platform data analysis and visualization application. With ParaView you can quickly build visualizations to analyze large data sets. Itasca software can export model data to VTK format to easily work with ParaView.

Fluid Flow through Jointed Rock

As well as flow through joints, 3DEC 5.2 is capable of simulating fluid flow through the blocks or the matrix (i.e., between the joints). It is assumed that the blocks represent a saturated, permeable solid, such as soil or fractured rock mass.

Technical Papers

Connectivity, permeability, and channeling in randomly distributed and kinematically defined discrete fracture network models

A major use of DFN models for industrial applications is to evaluate permeability and flow structure in hardrock aquifers from geological observations of fracture networks. The relationship between the statistical fracture density distributions and permeability has been extensively studied, but there has been little interest in the spatial structure of DFN models, which is generally assumed to be spatially random (i.e., Poisson). In this paper, we compare the predictions of Poisson DFNs to new DFN models where fractures result from a growth process defined by simplified kinematic rules for nucleation, growth, and fracture arrest.

On the Density Variability of Poissonian Discrete Fracture Networks, with application to power-law fracture size distributions

This paper presents analytical solutions to estimate at any scale the fracture density variability associated to stochastic Discrete Fracture Networks. These analytical solutions are based upon the assumption that each fracture in the network is an independent event. Analytical solutions are developed for any kind of fracture density indicators.

Packer Testing Program Design and Management

Hydraulic testing using wireline deployed water-inflated packers is becoming a common practice for groundwater characterization at mining sites.