• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.25 no.10
• /
• pp.17-30
• /
• 2009

Underground construction such as tunneling can induce damages on the surrounding rock mass, due to the stress concentration of in situ stresses and excessive energy input during construction sequence, such as blasting. The developed damage on the rock mass can have substantial influence on the mechanical and hydraulic behaviors of the rock masses around a tunnel. In this study, investigation on the generation of damage around an opening in a jointed rock model under biaxial compression condition was conducted. The joint dip angles employed are 30, 45, and 60 degrees to the horizontal, and the synthetic rock mass was made using early strength cement and water. From the biaxial compression test, initiation and propagation of tensile cracks at norm to the joint angle were found. The propagated tensile cracks eventually developed rock blocks, which were dislodged from the rock mass. Furthermore, the propagation process of the tensile cracks varies with joint angle: lower joint angle model shows more stable and progressive tensile crack propagation. The development of the tensile crack can be explained under the hypothesis that the rock segment encompassed by the joint set is subjected to the developing moment, which can be induced by the geometric irregularity around the opening in the rock model. The experiment results were simulated by using discrete element method PFC 2D. From the simulation, as has been observed from the test, a rock mass with lower joint angle produces wider damage region and rock block by tensile cracks. In addition, a rock model with lower joint angle shows progressive tensile cracks generation around the opening from the investigation of the interacted tensile cracks.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.3 no.3
• /
• pp.15-29
• /
• 2001

For the pertinent use of NMT method, both characteristics of joints (JRC, JCS and ${\phi}_r$) and characteristics of rock mass (Q-Value) must be investigated carefully. The main objective of the study presented is to investigate how sensitive the predicted behaviour of an underground excavation is to various realistic assumptions about some input parameter for the jointed rock mass. Joint pattern in the tunnel is predicted by statistical approach (chi-square test). In this paper, sensitivity studies involving in joint characteristics were carried out. The parametric studies involving change in Barton-Bandis joint model have shown that JCS is relatively insensitive to JRC and ${\phi}_r$. An increase in JRC value may not, according to the Barton-Bandis model, necessarily lead to a decrease in displacement. The importance of dilation in predicting the behaviour of a rock mass around an excavation is emphasized from a comparison of the Barton-Bandis joint behaviour model with the Mohr-Coulomb model. The Barton-Bandis model predicted higher stress, which allow for the build-up of stress caused by dilatant behaviour.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.573-586
• /
• 2023

Joints or weak planes can induce anisotropy in the strength and deformability of fractured rock masses. Comprehending this anisotropic behavior is crucial to engineering geology. This study used plaster as a friction material to mold specimens with a single joint. The strength and deformability of the specimens were measured in true triaxial compression tests. The measured results were compared with three-dimensional numerical analysis based on the distinct element method, conducted under identical conditions, to assess the reliability of the modeled values. The numerical results highlight that the principal stress conditions in the field, in conjunction with joint orientations, are crucial factors to the study of the strength and deformability of fractured rock masses. The strength of a transversely isotropic rock mass derived numerically considering changes in the dip angle of the joint notably increases as the intermediate principal stress increases. This increment varies depending on the dip of the joint. Moreover, the interplay between the dip direction of the joint and the two horizontal principal stress directions dictates the strength of the transversely isotropic rock mass. For a rock mass with two joint sets, the set with the steeper dip angle governs the overall strength. If a rock bridge effect occurs owing to the limited continuity of one of the joint sets, the orientation of the set with longer continuity dominates the strength of the entire rock mass. Although conventional three-dimensional failure criteria for fractured rock masses have limited applicability in the field, supplementing them with numerical analysis proves highly beneficial.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.561-577
• /
• 2021

The ten standard roughness profiles suggested by Barton and Choubey (1977) were extended to make three-dimensional (3D) joint models whose profiles were identical at any cross section. Replicas of joint models were produced using plaster of Paris, and direct shear tests were performed to verify the joint roughness coefficients (JRC) of the standard roughness profiles. Joint shear strengths measured by direct shear tests were compared with those predicted by the shear failure criterion suggested by Barton (1973) based on JRC, joint compressive strength (JCS), and joint basic friction angle (𝜙_b). Shear strengths measured from joints of the first and fourth standard roughness profiles were close to predicted values; however, shear strengths measured from the other joint models were lower than predicted, the differences increasing as the roughness of joints increased. Back calculated values for JRC, JCS, and from the results of the direct shear tests show measured shear strengths were lower than predicted shear strengths because of the JRC values. New JRC were back calculated from the measured shear strength and named JRC_m. Values of JRC_m were lower than the JRC for the standard roughness profiles but show a strong linear relationship to JRC. Corrected JRC_m values for the standard roughness profiles are provided and revised relationships between JRC_m and JRC, and new shear strength criterion are suggested.