Fractals Investigation
Fractals Investigation
Theme: Fractals
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Table of Content
Abstract ............................................................................................................................. 4
CHAPTER 1 ..................................................................................................................... 4
4.1 Presentation of findings, including data, visuals or other relevant materials. ............. 17
4.2 Interpretation and explanation of the results. .............................................................. 17
4.3 Comparative analysis with existing research or theories ............................................ 18
CHAPTER 5 ................................................................................................................... 18
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Abstract
Fractals are geometric patterns characterized by self-similarity, intricate detail,
and infinite complexity. They have revolutionized our understanding of natural forms and
found applications in various scientific, engineering, and artistic fields. This investigation
aims to deepen our understanding of fractals, explore their applications, and contribute to
the growing body of knowledge in this field. The research objectives include
understanding the fundamental concepts and definitions related to fractals, reviewing
existing research and theories, examining notable examples and applications, and
identifying gaps in the current literature. The investigation will employ methodologies
such as iterated function systems (IFS), the Mandelbrot set, and the Julia set, along with
computer simulations and modeling. Data collection will involve reviewing scholarly
articles, books, and research papers on fractals, and data analysis techniques will be used
to interpret the gathered information. The findings of this investigation will provide
insights into the properties and applications of fractals, contributing to interdisciplinary
exploration and potential innovations across disciplines. In conclusion, fractals have
proven to be a powerful and intriguing field of study, with profound implications across
various disciplines.
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INTRODUCTION
detail, and infinite complexity. They exhibit the property of self-repetition, meaning that
smaller components within the pattern resemble the larger whole. This unique property
allows fractals to display complexity on all scales, from microscopic to macroscopic. The
study of fractals has revolutionized our understanding of natural forms, as they can be
found in various phenomena, such as coastlines, clouds, tree branches, and even the
human circulatory system. There are three types of self-similarity found in fractals: Exact
self-similarity — This is the strongest type of self-similarity; the fractal appears identical
at different scales. Fractals defined by iterated function systems often display exact self-
similarity.
History
Mandelbrot recognized that many natural forms and phenomena, previously considered
irregular or chaotic, could be accurately described and understood through the framework
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of fractal geometry. He introduced mathematical tools and algorithms to quantify and
generate fractal patterns, opening up a new field of study with vast implications across
disciplines.
Application
into complex systems, chaos theory, and non-linear dynamics. In computer science,
fractals have been employed for generating realistic graphics, simulating natural
encryption. Artists and designers have embraced fractals for their aesthetic appeal,
engineering fields. For example, in civil engineering, fractal analysis has been used to
study the structural properties of materials, understand the behavior of concrete and rock
fractures, and optimize the design of infrastructure for improved strength and durability
(Wang & Tang, 2023). Fractals have also been applied in the study of fluid dynamics,
weather patterns, ecological systems, and financial markets, providing valuable insights
into the underlying patterns and processes governing these complex phenomena.
Given the ubiquity and significance of fractals in the natural world and their
applications, and contribute to the growing body of knowledge in this fascinating field.
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1.2 Statement of the research problem or objectives
The research problem revolves around investigating the theory and applications
of fractals, exploring their significance and potential in different domains. The objectives
of this investigation include are: Understanding the fundamental concepts and definitions
notable examples and applications of fractals in various fields and, identifying limitations
1.3 Justification
The Justification of this research is Fractals Importance in science, mathematics
and real life. The necessity of fractional dimensions arises when we try to quantize the
“size” of certain sets that are not simple and are often hard to conceptualize since they are
not simple figures (squares, triangles, rhombus etc.). Fractals provide a systematic
method to capture the “roughness” of some objects. In order to utilize fractals and
understand them mathematically we will need a rigorous approach with clear, precise
Overview (1.4), Literature Review (2), Overview of existing research and theories on
fractals. (2.1), Key concepts and definitions related to fractals (2.2), Notable examples
(2.4), Methodology (3), Research design and approach (3.1), Description of data
collection methods (3.2), Explanation. Of the data analysis techniques (3.3), Ethical
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considerations (3.4), Results (4), Presentation of findings, including data, visuals or other
relevant materials (4.1), Interpretation and explanation of the results (4.2), Comparative
analysis with existing research or theories (4.3), Discussion (5), Summary of the
Significance and implications of the results (5.3), Limitations of the investigation (5.4),
Suggestion for the future research (5.5), Conclusion (6), Recap of the investigation’s main
points (6.1), Contributions to the field of fractal research (6.2), Final thoughts and
Literature Review
desiccation cracking of soil under different substrate contact and permeability conditions.
The crack morphology under different spacing was also analyzed quantitatively using
digital image processing technology. They found that the fractal dimensions of three soil
substrate contact conditions (grease, geomembranes, and geotextiles) were between 1.238
and 1.93. When the crack network on the soil surface stops developing, the fractal
dimensions under the three experimental conditions are 1.88, 1.93, and 1.79, respectively.
Zhang et al. [6] analyzed the effect of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash
mortar by conducting compression and mercury intrusion torsimeter (MIP) tests. The
results showed that the compressive strength of geopolymer mortars decreased while the
total pore volume and total specific surface area of mortars increased with the increase in
MSWIFA content. The pore structure in the mortars showed scale-dependent fractal
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characteristics. All fractal curves were divided into four segments according to the pore
diameter, namely, Region I (<20 nm), Region II (20–50 nm), Region III (50–200 nm),
in natural phenomena and discusses their departure from traditional Euclidean geometry.
Mandelbrot and Julia sets using computer algorithms. They leverage computational
techniques to generate these fractal sets, contributing to the understanding of their visual
computer graphics, art, and visualization, enhancing the utilization of fractals in digital
imagery.
The study conducted by Negi, Garg, and Agrawal (2014) explores the construction
of 3D Mandelbrot and Julia sets using computer algorithms. The Mandelbrot set is a
famous fractal that exhibits intricate and self-similar patterns, while the Julia set is closely
related and equally captivating. The researchers propose a methodology for generating
these fractal sets in three dimensions, leveraging the power of computational algorithms
Mandelbrot and Julia sets, offering insights into their complexity and potential
applications in computer graphics, art, and visualizations. The findings of this research
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contribute to the ongoing exploration and utilization of fractals in the realm of computer
y) : x, y ∈ A}. In other words, the diameter of A is the distance between the two most
distant points of A, if such points exist. The diameter of a set will be a crucial form of
measurement used later to compute the Hausdorff dimension. The convex hull of any set
A has the same diameter as A itself. It should be noted here that the diameter of an open
scales or magnifications.
Mandelbrot Set: A specific type of fractal set defined by a mathematical formula that
Julia Set: Another type of fractal set closely related to the Mandelbrot set,
of fractals in the study and analysis of civil engineering materials. It examines the self-
that display self-similarity and have non-integer dimensions. It provides a framework for
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understanding and quantifying complex natural phenomena with irregular and intricate
structures.
Other Keywords: IFS, 3D images, 3D rendering, Mandelbrot set and Julia set, affine
There are also many examples of fractals that are constructed mathematically. One
of the most famous examples is the triadic Cantor Dust set. This set is created via the
repeated deletion of the open middle third interval of a line segment. Another very popular
example is the Seirpinski Triangle (Figure 2). The von Koch snowflake is another famous
fractal (Figure 2). Many fractals can be constructed through an iteration process and use
self-similar shapes. Take the von Koch snowflake as an example. Beginning with an
equilateral triangle one deletes the middle third of each side segment. Then two lines,
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equal to the. length of the deleted segment, are placed to create an outward facing
“triangle” on each of the original triangle sides. This process is repeated, thus forming
The fractals investigated above were not random. However, many fractals in the
complex plane seem to be very random. The Mandelbrot set is the set of all points c ∈ C
such that, upon iteration, the function fc(z) = z 2 + c, beginning at z = 0, remains close to
zero. It is impossible to note every element in the set. Even two complex numbers, that
are arbitrarily close to one another in the complex plane, may have completely different
sequences, one diverging to ∞ while the other point remains close to 0 or converges to 0.
In particular, the boundary of this set exhibits complicated structures at all levels.
detail. We do know that the Mandelbrot set is connected, though the proof is beyond the
scope of this paper. One can also note that the Mandelbrot set has a finite area. Each of
the complex numbers that lie in the Mandelbrot set, denoted M, are all within a distance
of 2 from the origin. That is, every z ∈ M lies inside the circle with radius 2, otherwise
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denoted |z| ≤ 2. However, this doesn’t tell us the area of the set M. In order to calculate
the area of the set one would have to run infinitely many iterations, all infinitely long.
Therefore, finite estimates of the area is where mathematics is currently at. The circle
with radius 2 gives an upper bound area of 12.6. Using the points furthest from the origin
can be applied to exactly self-similar objects. The following analysis of the Koch
The total length of a number, N, of small steps, L, is the product NL. Applied to the
boundary of the Koch snowflake this gives a boundless length as L approaches zero. But
this distinction is not satisfactory, as different Koch snowflakes do have different sizes.
::::::::A solution is to measure, not in meter, m, nor in square meter, m², but in some
other power of a meter, mx. Now 4N(L/3)x = NLx, because a three times shorter step
length requires four times as many steps, as is seen from the figure. Solving that
More generally, suppose that a fractal consists of N identical parts that are similar to
the entire fractal with the scale factor of L and that the intersection between part is of the
and so on. Even more generally one may assume that each of N parts is similar to the
fractal with a different scale factor Li, i = 1...N. Then the Hausdorff dimension can be
Methodology
The methodology section will outline the research design and approach employed
in this investigation. It will describe the process of data collection, which may involve
reviewing scholarly articles, books, and research papers on fractals. The section will also
explain the data analysis techniques used to interpret the gathered information. Ethical
addressed as well.
enthusiasts to study their properties, analyze their behavior, and create visually
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- Escape-Time Algorithm
- Box-Counting Method
- Multifractal Analysis
However, we will describe the main three methodologies: Mandelbrot set, Julia Set
and IFS.
generating self-similar fractals. The formula for generating fractals using IFS involves
formula is as follows:
The formula used to generate the Mandelbrot Set is based on complex number
Zₙ₊₁ = Zₙ² + c
The Julia Set is also generated using complex number iteration, but with a
constant value c throughout the computation. The formula for the Julia Set is similar to
Zₙ₊₁ = Zₙ² + c
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Ex 3. Fractals in Cartography
Here, (xₙ, yₙ) represents the coordinates of the point at iteration n, and (xₙ₊₁, yₙ₊₁)
represents the coordinates of the point at the next iteration. The coefficients aᵢ, bᵢ, cᵢ, dᵢ,
eᵢ, and fᵢ correspond to the parameters of the affine transformations, which determine
typically denoted as {fᵢ(x, y)}, where i ranges from 1 to N. In this case, the formula
becomes:
The choice of coefficients and affine transformations determines the specific fractal
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Here, Zₙ represents the complex number at iteration n, and Z₀ is usually set to 0.
indicating that it tends towards infinity. The color or shading assigned to each point in
the complex plane corresponds to the number of iterations taken to reach the threshold.
Here, Zₙ represents the complex number at iteration n, and the initial value of Z₀
varies across the complex plane. The color or shading assigned to each point
Here, N represents the number of boxes of size ε that intersect with the fractal
object or pattern. By varying the size of the boxes and observing how N changes, the
fractal dimension can be approximated. It's important to note that there are numerous
other formulas associated with different types of fractals, such as the formulas for
generating the Sierpinski Triangle, the Koch Snowflake, and the Cantor Set. These
research practices and protect the interests of participants and stakeholders. While fractals
research may not always involve direct human subjects, there are still important ethical
One aspect is the responsible use of data. Fractals investigations often involve
simulations. Researchers must ensure that the data they use is obtained in an ethical
manner, respecting privacy, confidentiality, and consent. If the research involves human
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subjects, appropriate consent procedures should be followed, and data should be
research findings. Researchers should strive for transparency and accuracy in reporting
investigations may have implications in fields such as art, design, finance, or technology.
Researchers should be mindful of the potential impact of their findings and ensure that
In the 20th century more so than in preceding ones, mathematics is influenced and often
dominated by the search for generality for its own sake. The results that this search
achieves (for example, the properties true of all curves) are typically of little use in
science. Science had exhausted the old curves of Euclid and was in dire need of new ones,
but it needed curves that are sufficiently special to have interesting properties subject to
around 1900 involved a cache of curves and other shapes that the “mainstream” had
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leapfrogged much too hastily, and fractal geometry is the new discipline that is being built
Discussion
actuals. The results showed us the diverse applications of Fractals in real life. Fractals
have practical implications in areas such as civil engineering, materials science, fluid
dynamics, computer science, and visual arts. The investigation has provided notable
examples of these applications, showcasing how fractals can be used to analyze and
optimize structures, simulate natural phenomena, generate realistic graphics, and enhance
artistic creations.
Fractals serve as a bridge between mathematics and the natural world. The
investigation has revealed the prevalence of fractal patterns in various natural phenomena,
such as soil cracking, geopolymer mortar, and the structure of materials. This
understanding can lead to improved analysis and prediction of natural processes, as well
In conclusion, this investigation into fractals has provided significant insights into
implications for multiple disciplines and highlight the importance of further research in
this fascinating field. By deepening our understanding of fractals, we can unlock new
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5.2 Evaluation of research questions or objectives
The investigation by Wang and Tang successfully addressed the research objective of
effectively evaluated and quantified the fractal dimension of these materials, providing
patterns in natural phenomena. The research questions were effectively answered through
The study by Negi, Garg, and Agrawal achieved its research objective of constructing
3D Mandelbrot and Julia sets. The proposed methodology facilitated the generation of
these fractal sets, contributing to the understanding of their visual and mathematical
properties.
fields. Fractals are complex geometric patterns with self-similarity and infinite
literature, identifying gaps, and examining examples. The literature review covers studies
Current limitations include unstudied fractals and the complexities of the Mandelbrot set.
The methodology involves data collection and analysis using Iterated Function Systems
and formulas. The study aims to advance understanding, contribute to knowledge, and
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5.4 Limitations of the investigation
The evaluation of gaps and limitations in the current literature on fractals has
highlighted areas for further research and exploration. The investigation has identified the
need for more in-depth studies on complex fractal sets, such as the Mandelbrot set, and
the field.
fractals dimensions.
Conclusion
fractal geometry. It highlights the need for continued exploration of the mathematical
methods, and the investigation of new applications in emerging fields. These future
research directions aim to expand our knowledge and leverage the potential of fractals for
Methodological Contributions
The methodology section of the investigation has presented various data collection
methods and analysis techniques used in fractal research. The description of techniques
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such as Iterated Function Systems (IFS), Mandelbrot set, Julia set, and computer
simulations provides researchers with valuable tools and approaches for studying fractals
geometric patterns. The significance of this research lies in the ability of fractals to
capture the intricacies of natural forms and phenomena, offering a systematic approach
to understanding complexity.
for future research. Firstly, there is a need for further exploration of unstudied fractals in
the complex plane, as they appear to exhibit random behavior and require more detailed
analysis. Additionally, the complexities of the Mandelbrot set, such as its connectedness
and finite area, warrant deeper investigation to uncover their mathematical intricacies.
domains. While they have already found utility in mathematics, computer science, art,
and engineering, there may be untapped potential in fields such as biology, finance, and
social sciences. Exploring these avenues could lead to innovative solutions and novel
approaches to problem-solving.
patterns and mathematical beauty. From the captivating visuals of the Mandelbrot set to
the practical applications in diverse fields, fractals continue to captivate researchers and
enthusiasts alike. As we delve deeper into the complexities of these self-similar structures,
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we gain a deeper appreciation for the inherent order within chaos. The exploration of
fractals is an ongoing journey, with endless possibilities for discovery and application. By
unlock the secrets of fractal geometry and pave the way for new insights, innovations,
and understanding in the world around us. So, what new frontiers and breakthroughs will
the future hold in the study of fractals? Only time will tell.
References:
Wang, L., & Tang, S. (2023). Investigation and Application of Fractals in Civil
…..Engineering Materials. Fractal and Fractional, 7(5), 369.
https://doi.org/10.3390/fractalfract7050369
Mandelbrot, B. B., & Mandelbrot, B. B. (1982). The fractal geometry of nature (Vol.
….1). New York: WH freeman.
https://users.math.yale.edu/~bbm3/web_pdfs/encyclopediaBritannica.pdf
Negi, A., Garg, A., & Agrawal, A. (2014). Construction of 3d Mandelbrot set and Julia
set. International Journal of Computer Applications, 85(15).
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