Strength and Deformational Behaviour of a Jointed Rock Mass

Summary An assessment of the strength and deformational response of jointed rock masses is an essential requirement in the site selection, design and successful execution of Civil and Mining Engineering projects. A quick estimate of these properties for preliminary evaluation of alternate sites, will reduce considerable expenditures for field tests. An attempt has been made in the present study to develop a link between strength and deformability of jointed block masses with the properties of intact specimens, obtained from simple laboratory tests, taking into account the influence of the properties of the joints. Extensive experimentation has been carried out on large specimens of jointed block masses under uniaxial compression. The model material represents a low strength rock. Various joint configurations were introduced to achieve the most common modes of failure occurring in nature. A coefficient called Joint Factor has been used to account for the weakness brought into the intact rock by jointing. Methods of computing the Joint Factor for various modes of failure of a jointed mass in an unconfined state have been established. The effect of Joint Factor on strength and tangent modulus of the mass has been studied and the values have been correlated with those of intact rock. Guidelines for assessing probable modes of failure of a jointed mass will enable one to estimate the relevant strength and tangent modulus of the mass.     

多裂隙岩体的损伤断裂模型及模型试验

对于由裂隙、岩石组成的多裂隙岩体,本文通过对裂隙岩体内的应力、应变的体积平均,提出了适合于这种岩体的等效连续模型。运用损伤力学以及断裂力学理论,定义了岩体损伤张量、有效应力张量、损伤应变等,建立了损伤演化方程,从而建立了多裂隙岩体的损伤断裂模型。对岩体裂隙的扩展方式进行了模拟试验。     

Directional Support Method for Tunnel Jointed Rock Mass

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering - In order to explore the directional support method of jointed rock mass and ensure the stable operation of roadway, the support effect of jointed rock mass...     

节理岩体中锚索加固作用分析

简要介绍了锚索加固技术的应用,并对全长粘结式锚索在节理岩体中的锚固作用机理进行初步分析,同时对节理岩体中锚索加固的抗拉粘结强度及抗剪切强度的影响因素进行了分析。     

Research on Meso-mechanism of Failure Mode of Tunnel in Jointed Rock Mass

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering - The natural rock that contains micro particles, holes, cracks, impurities, etc. has a complex composition. According to whether the crack is closed or not,...     

Failure Characteristics of Complicated Random Jointed Rock Mass Under Compressive-Shear Loading

Most natural rock masses contain a large number of random joints and fissures, and most of the rock masses at the rock engineering are commonly in both compression and shear stress environment. However, the research on the failure characteristics of complex random jointed rock mass under compressive-shear loading is still limited. To address this gap, this paper uses the particle flow code 2D to establish a discrete fractured rock mass model and carry out a series of numerical tests with different compressive-shear angles (α) and different joint geometric parameters. The effects of compressive-shear angle and joint geometric parameters on the strength and failure characteristics of fractured rock masses are studied. The results indicate that with the increase of α, the peak strength of the specimen decreases gradually, and the failure mode changes from the composite shear failure mode (Mode-I) to a plane shear failure mode (Mode-II) and then to intact shear failure mode (Mode-III). Specifically, the three failure modes occur in the specimens with α?=?15°, 30° or 45°, 60°, respectively. The existence of joints affects stress distribution on rock mass during the loading process. Furthermore, the stress at the joint tip is relatively concentrated, while on both sides of the joint is smaller. Three kinds of crack coalescence patterns are observed: tensile, shear, and tensile-shear mixed coalescence. The inclination angle of the rock bridge between adjacent joints affects the specific type of coalescence.

     

Prediction of Elastic Modulus of Jointed Rock Mass Using Artificial Neural Networks

Two artificial neural network models for the prediction of elastic modulus of jointed rock mass from the elastic modulus of corresponding intact rock and joint parameters have been demonstrated in this paper. The data collected from uniaxial and triaxial compression tests on different rocks with different joint configurations and different confining pressure conditions, reported in the literature are used as input for training the networks. Important joint properties like joint frequency, joint inclination and roughness of joints are considered separately for making the network more versatile. Two different techniques of artificial neural networks namely feed forward back propagation (FFBP) and radial basis function (RBF) are used to predict the elastic modulus ratio.     

Mechanical Behaviour of Cyclically Heated Fine Grained Rock

Summary The most vital difference between rock and rock mass are fractures and fissures. They affect the behaviour and strength of rock masses. According to their origin, size, and shape, rock mass contains several types of weakness planes varying from microfissure to faults. Other parameters such as underground water, temperature, time and stress state affect the rock's behaviour in its natural environment. The frequency of discontinuities in fractured rock is one of the basic parameters for reducing its strength. However it is generally difficult to test undisturbed fractured rock in a laboratory environment. In this study it was tried to open and loosen the grain boundaries of fine-grained rock specimens by cyclical heating and cooling. This should serve as a physical simulation of fractures in the rock mass and enables a discussion of the changes in mechanical behaviour of fractured rock. For this reason, laboratory test specimens of Carrara marble and Buchberger sandstone were used. The heating cycles were varied from 0 to 16. From the results of uniaxial compression, Brazilian and “Continuous Failure State” triaxial tests, it was pointed out that all of the mechanical parameters decreased gradually with an increasing number of heating cycles. Uniaxial compressive strength was reduced to about 50%, while the tensile strength decreased to about 60% for both types of rock. It was also observed that the variations of strength parameters were higher after the first heating cycles. As a result of cyclical heating, the slopes of pre-failure and post-failure curves in the stress-strain plane changed similarly, but the variations of modulus of elasticity were higher than the slopes of the post-failure curves for sandstone. The ratio between compressive and indirect tensile strength rose to a value of 98 after the last heating cycle. For unheated specimens of Carrara marble this ratio is 20. The axial strain at the failure point increased suddenly after the first heating cycle and the failure developed entirely intergranular in cyclically heated specimens.     

Mechanical Behaviour of Reservoir Rock Under Brine Saturation

Acoustic emissions (AE) and stress–strain curve analysis are well accepted ways of analysing crack propagation and monitoring the various failure stages (such as crack closure, crack initiation level during rock failure under compression) of rocks and rock-like materials. This paper presents details and results of experimental investigations conducted for characterizing the brittle failure processes induced in a rock due to monocyclic uniaxial compression on loading of two types of sandstone core samples saturated in NaCl brines of varying concentration (0, 2, 5, 10 and 15 % NaCl by weight). The two types of sandstone samples were saturated under vacuum for more than 45 days with the respective pore fluid to allow them to interact with the rocks. It was observed that the uniaxial compressive strength and stress–strain behaviour of the rock specimens changed with increasing NaCl concentration in the saturating fluid. The acoustic emission patterns also varied considerably for increasing ionic strength of the saturating brines. These observations can be attributed to the deposition of NaCl crystals in the rock’s pore spaces as well some minor geo-chemical interactions between the rock minerals and the brine. The AE pattern variations could also be partly related to the higher conductivity of the ionic strength of the high-NaCl concentration brine as it is able to transfer more acoustic energy from the cracks to the AE sensors.     

Effect of Excavation-Induced Groundwater Level Drawdown on Tunnel Inflow in a Jointed Rock Mass

Analytical and empirical methods used in current engineering practice for estimating inflow rate into a tunnel do not adequately account for the effect of groundwater level drawdown which triggers changes of the flow pattern as well as reductions of the hydraulic head. When there is no reservoir or a large body of water near the tunnel alignment, the groundwater recharge above the tunnel might not be fast enough to avoid a significant excavation-induced water level drawdown. This paper provides analytical methods for estimating groundwater inflow rate taking into account the groundwater table drawdown. The proposed analytical solutions presented here compare well with field observations as well as with results from numerical analysis using distinct element method which can adequately simulate the hydro-mechanically coupled behavior of joints in a rock mass.     

The Use of Rock Mass Classification Systems to Estimate the Modulus and Strength of Jointed Rock

Three-dimensional, elastic and elasto-plastic finite element (FE) programs have permitted calculation of the displacements and the factor of safety (FOS) for the excavation for a tower, 132.70 m high (above foundation) on the island of Tenerife. The tower is supported by a 2 m thick reinforced concrete slab on jointed, vesicular and weathered basalt and scoria. The installation of rod extensometers at different depths below the slab has permitted comparison between measured and calculated displacements and the estimation of in situ deformation modulus. The moduli deduced from the simple empirical equations proposed by Hoek et al. (In: NARMS-TAC, 2002) and Gokceoglu et al. (Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 40:701–710, 2003) as a function of GSI, and Nicholson and Bieniawski (Int J Min Geol Eng 8:181–202, 1990) as a function of RMR, provide an acceptable fit with the measured settlements in this type of rock. Good correlation is also obtained with the empirical equation presented by Verman et al. (Rock Mech Rock Eng 30(3):121–127, 1997) that incorporates the influence of confining stress in the deformation modulus. The FOS obtained from different correlations with geomechanical classifications is within a relatively narrow range. These results increase our confidence in the use of classification schemes to estimate the deformation and stability in jointed rock.     

Application of Rock Mass Characterization for Determining the Mechanical Properties of Rock Mass: a Comparative Study

The results of geotechnical explorations, engineering geological investigation (including laboratory and in situ tests) and field observations have been used, along with borehole logging charts, to obtain the rock mass geotechnical data. Based on the data, the rock mass along the Sabzkuh water conveyance tunnel route was classified by rock mass rating (RMR), Q-system (Q), rock mass index (RMi) and geological strength index (GSI) (3 methods). A new series of correlations were established between the systems based on the data collected from the study area. These relationships were then compared with those reported in the literature, and two new relations were recommended. The classifications were utilized to calculate mechanical properties (rock mass strength and deformation modulus) of the rock mass along the tunnel according to available empirical relations, and to distinguish the upper-bound and lower-bound relations.     

Groundwater Behaviour in Layered Slope Rock Mass And Finite Element Simulation

The paper deals with the relatively weak permeable layer in a layered structure of a slope rock mass and itseffect on groundwater behaviour in the rock mass. When the whole groundwater table is declined in such typeof slope rock mass, the permeability of the relatively weak permeable layer in the middle will be several timeslower than that of the upper and lower permeable layers and consequently the water level in layers of differentpermeability will fall in different rates which will lead to a discontinuous phenomenon of the water body. Amethod of finite element simulation on a vertical two-dimensional profile is suggested for the study of the phe-nomenon and its application to practical situation is described. The calculation result shows that the existingweak permeable layer in a layered slope rock mass exerts unnegligible influence on the variation of water levelin the rock mass of a slope. The result also proves the applicability of the finite element simulation method.     

Experimental Study of Mechanical Behaviour of Rock Joints Under Cyclic Loading

Summary Evaluation of the effects of small repetitive earthquakes on the strength parameters of rock joints in active seismic zones is of interest of the designers of underground constructions. In order to evaluate these effects, it is necessary to study the behaviour of rock joints under dynamic and cyclic loadings. This paper presents the results of a systematic study on the behaviour of artificial rock joints subjected to cyclic shearing. More than 30 identical replicas have been tested using triaxial compression devices under different conditions of monotonic and cyclic loading. At the first stage a few samples have been tested in monotonic loading modes under various confining pressures and rate of displacement. In the second series of tests, small cyclic loads were applied on the samples for increasing number of cycles, frequency levels and stress amplitudes. These were then followed by monotonic loading again. The variations of maximum and residual shear strengths for each test have been studied. The results show increase of shear strength as a result of the increase in confining pressure and they display decrease of shear strength due to the increase of rate of loading, number of cycles, frequency levels and stress amplitudes.     

冻融循环作用下节理岩体锚固性能退化机理和模式

岩土锚固的长期性能和耐久性是当前岩土工程界普遍关注的热点问题,也是影响锚固工程长期安全性的关键问题之一。节理岩体存在不同尺度、程度的损伤和缺陷,为地下水的存储和运移提供场所和通道。当达到孔隙水和裂隙水的冻结温度时,岩体中产生冻胀,并伴随着水分迁移,影响锚固系统的锚固性能,在冻融循环作用下,引起锚固系统长期性能和耐久性的退化。依据孔隙介质的冻结理论,建立了砂浆、岩石、砂浆-钢筋和砂浆岩石接触面静水压力学模型,分析其冻结机理。在总结岩石冻融损伤劣化研究成果基础上,深入系统地分析了节理岩体锚固系统的冻融损伤劣化机理及其影响因素,并建立冻融循环作用下节理岩体锚固性能退化的6种模式及其数学模型。     

Study on Smooth Blasting Results in Jointed and Fractured Rock

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