DFN.lab

A software platform for DFN modelling

"Fractures matter"

 

DFN.lab is a modular computational suite to deal with three-dimensional Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) models from generation to simulation and analysis of connectivity, flow, mechanical and transport properties. Core modules are developed in C++ for high performances and a Python API is provided for easy use.

Features

Fracture mechanics

Linear elastic properties in and out of fractures

Flow

Steady-state and transient flow

Read the documentation

Publications

Ascione, S., Lester, D. R., Pinier, B., Le Borgne, T., & Heyman, J. (2026). Cutting and shuffling control mixing in three-dimensional discrete fracture networks. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1036, A64. https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2026.11623

Darcel, C., Courtois, Q., Svensson, U., Le Goc, R., Pinier, B., Selroos, J.-O., & Davy, P. (2026). Transformation of discrete fracture networks into equivalent continuum models for sparsely fractured rocks: comparing flow-based and geometry-based upscaling for flow and transport. Frontiers in Nuclear Engineering, 5, 1760157. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnuen.2026.1760157

Courtois, Q., Darcel, C., Le Goc, R., Davy, P., Mas Ivars, D., & Sykes, E. (2025). Impact of Tunnel Induced Stress Redistribution on Hydraulic Conductivity in Fractured Rocks. ISRM International Symposium – EUROCK 2025, Trondheim, Norway. Conference paper

Davy, P., Le Goc, R., Darcel, C., Pinier, B., Selroos, J.-O., & Le Borgne, T. (2024). Structural and hydrodynamic controls on fluid travel time distributions across fracture networks. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(47), e2414901121. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2414901121

Darcel, C., Le Goc, R., Lavoine, E., Davy, P., Mas Ivars, D., Sykes, E., & Kasani, H. A. (2024). Coupling stress and transmissivity to define equivalent directional hydraulic conductivity of fractured rocks. Engineering Geology, 342, 107739. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2024.107739

De Simone, S., Darcel, C., Kasani, H. A., Mas Ivars, D., & Davy, P. (2024). The Impact of Size-Dependent and Stress-Dependent Fracture Properties on the Biot and Skempton Coefficients of Fractured Rocks. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 57, 8929–8950. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-024-04038-7

Lavoine, E., Davy, P., Darcel, C., Mas Ivars, D., & Kasani, H. A. (2024). Assessing Stress Variability in Fractured Rock Masses with Frictional Properties and Power Law Fracture Size Distributions. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 57, 2407–2420. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-023-03683-8

De Simone, S., Darcel, C., Kasani, H. A., Mas Ivars, D., & Davy, P. (2023). Equivalent Biot and Skempton Poroelastic Coefficients for a Fractured Rock Mass from a DFN Approach. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 56, 8907–8925. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-023-03515-9

Doolaeghe, D., Darcel, C., Selroos, J.-O., Mas Ivars, D., & Davy, P. (2023). Controls on fracture openness and reactivation in Forsmark, Sweden. Scientific Reports, 13, 6686. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33619-9

Davy, P., Le Goc, R., Darcel, C., & Selroos, J.-O. (2023). Scaling of fractured rock flow. Proposition of indicators for selection of DFN based flow models. Comptes Rendus Géoscience, 355, 667–690. https://doi.org/10.5802/crgeos.174

Le Goc, R., Darcel, C., Davy, P., & Selroos, J.-O. (2022). Analysis of the Characteristics of Particle Trajectories in DFN and Consequences on Travel Time Distributions. 3rd International Discrete Fracture Network Engineering Conference, Santa Fe, USA. https://doi.org/10.56952/ARMA-DFNE-22-0048

Furtney, J. K., Thielsen, C., Fu, W., & Le Goc, R. (2022). Surrogate Models in Rock and Soil Mechanics: Integrating Numerical Modeling and Machine Learning. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 55, 2845–2859. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-021-02720-8

De Simone, S., Pinier, B., Bour, O., & Davy, P. (2021). A particle-tracking formulation of advective–diffusive heat transport in deformable fracture networks. Journal of Hydrology, 603, 127157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.127157

Lavoine, E., Davy, P., Darcel, C., & Mas Ivars, D. (2021). An Analysis of Fracture Network Intersections from DFN Models and Data: Density Distribution, Topology, and Stereology. 3rd International Discrete Fracture Network Engineering Conference, DFNE21-2351, Houston, USA. Conference paper

Doolaeghe, D., Davy, P., Darcel, C., Le Goc, R., & Hyman, J. D. (2021). Assessing Multiscale Discrete Fracture Network Flow with Graphs. 3rd International Discrete Fracture Network Engineering Conference (DFNE21). Conference paper

Doolaeghe, D., Davy, P., Hyman, J. D., & Darcel, C. (2020). Graph-based flow modeling approach adapted to multiscale discrete-fracture-network models. Physical Review E, 102(5), 053312. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.102.053312

Lavoine, E., Davy, P., Darcel, C., & Munier, R. (2020). A Discrete Fracture Network Model With Stress-Driven Nucleation: Impact on Clustering, Connectivity, and Topology. Frontiers in Physics, 8, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphy.2020.00009

Le Goc, R., Pinier, B., Darcel, C., Lavoine, E., Doolaeghe, D., De Simone, S., de Dreuzy, J.-R., & Davy, P. (2019). DFN.lab: Software platform for Discrete Fracture Network models. AGU Fall Meeting 2019, San Francisco, USA, H41H-1778. Conference poster

Lavoine, E., Davy, P., Darcel, C., & Le Goc, R. (2019). On the Density Variability of Poissonian Discrete Fracture Networks, with application to power-law fracture size distributions. Advances in Geosciences, 49, 77–83. https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-49-77-2019

Davy, P., Darcel, C., Le Goc, R., & Mas Ivars, D. (2018). Elastic Properties of Fractured Rock Masses With Frictional Properties and Power Law Fracture Size Distributions. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 123(8), 6521–6539. https://doi.org/10.1029/2017JB015329

Darcel, C., Davy, P., Le Goc, R., & Mas Ivars, D. (2018). Rock mass effective properties from a DFN approach. 2nd International Discrete Fracture Network Engineering Conference, DFNE2018-780, Seattle, USA. Conference paper

Davy, P., Darcel, C., Le Goc, R., Munier, R., Selroos, J.-O., & Mas Ivars, D. (2018). DFN, Why, How and What For, Concepts, Theories and Issues. 2nd International Discrete Fracture Network Engineering Conference, DFNE2018-310, Seattle, USA. Conference paper

Le Goc, R., Davy, P., Darcel, C., & Selroos, J.-O. (2018). Discrimination of Discrete Fracture Network models using structural and flow data. 2nd International Discrete Fracture Network Engineering Conference, DFNE2018-139, Seattle, USA. Conference paper

Tutorials

Learn how to use DFN.lab with these step by step tutorials

Team

Discover the DFN.lab team