Three-Dimensional Crack Recognition by Unsupervised Machine Learning

Many macrocracks are usually generated during the fracturing of rocks. Elucidating the spatial distribution of cracks provides the basis for understanding crack nucleation and fracture formation in rock mechanics. Considering either a single microcrack or all the microcracks provides a limited interpretation of rock mass failure that is often induced by different macrocracks. Here we recognize macrocracks based on a three-dimensional (3D) crack...