• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.227-236
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• 2020

Non-destructive exploration using elastic waves has been widely used to characterize rock mass properties. Wave propagation in jointed rock masses is significantly governed by the characteristics and orientation of discontinuities. The relationship between spatial heterogeneity (i.e., joint spacing) and wavelength for elastic waves propagating through jointed rock masses have been investigated previously. Discontinuous rock masses can be considered as an equivalent continuum material when the wavelength of the propagating elastic wave exceeds the spatial heterogeneity. However, it is unclear how stress-dependent long-wavelength elastic waves propagate through a repetitive rock-joint system with multiple joints. A preliminary numerical simulation was performed in in this study to investigate long-wavelength elastic wave propagation in regularly jointed rock masses using the three-dimensional distinct element code program. First, experimental studies using the quasi-static resonant column (QSRC) testing device are performed on regularly jointed disc column specimens for three different materials (acetal, aluminum, and gneiss). The P- and S-wave velocities of the specimens are obtained under various normal stress levels. The normal and shear joint stiffness are calculated from the experimental results using an equivalent continuum model and used as input parameters for numerical analysis. The spatial and temporal sizes are carefully selected to guarantee a stable numerical simulation. Based on the calibrated jointed rock model, the numerical and experimental results are compared.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2009.09a
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• pp.420-429
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• 2009

This study concerns bearing capacity of shallow and deep foundations on jointed rock mass. The main focus of this research lies on getting insight into the applicability of bearing capacity estimation methods developed by other researchers. First, an extensive literature review was performed on previous studies concerning bearing capacity of foundation on jointed rock mass. Second, a parametric study on a number of jointed rock conditions using the finite-element analysis. The results of the analysis were then compared with those computed by the bearing capacity estimation method.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 1996

Back analysis model, capable of calculating the mechanical properties and the in-situ stresses of jointed rock mass, was developed based on the inverse method using a continuum theory. Constitutive equation for the behavior of jointed rock contains two unknown parameters, elastic modulus of intact rock and stiffness of joint, hence algorithm which determines both parameters simultaneously cannot be established. To avoid algebraic difficulties elastic modulus of intact rock was assumed to be known, since the representative value of which would be quite easily determined. Then, the ratio ($\beta$) of joint stiffness to elastic modulus of intact rock was assigned and back analysis for the behavior of jointed rock was carried-out. The value $\beta$ was repeatedly modified until the elastic modulus from back analysis became very comparable to the predetermined value. The joint stiffness could be calculated by multipling the ratio $\beta$ to the final result of elastic modulus. Accuracy and reliability of back analysis procedure was successfully testified using a sample model simulating the underground opening in the jointed rock mass. Applicability of back analysis model for the underground excavation in practice was also verified by analyzing the mechanical properties of jointed rock in which underground oil storage cavern were under construction.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.438-447
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• 2007

This technical report is to introduce the research on SRM (Synthetic Rock Mass) which was presented in 2007 ISRM Congress at Lisbon by Prof, Fairhurst who speak with emphasis on its importance and potential in rock engineering. The Synthetic Rock Mass approach to jointed rock mass characterization (Pierce et al. 2007) is reviewed relative to existing empirical approaches and current understanding of jointed rock mass behaviour. The review illustrates how the key factors affecting the mechanical behaviour of jointed rock masses may be considered and demonstrates that the SRM approach constitutes a significant step forward in this field. This technique, based on two well-established methods, Bonded Particle Modelling in PFC-3D (Potyondy and Cundall, 2004) and Discrete Fracture Network simulation, employs a new sliding joint model that allows for large rock volumes containing thousands of pre-existing joints to be subjected to any non-trivial stress path. Output from SRM testing includes rock mass brittleness and strength, evolution of the full compliance matrix and primary fragmentation.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.17-26
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• 2017

Tunnel excavation in jointed rock mass induces a displacement along tunnel excavation line and its assessment is very important to ensure the stability of tunnel and a demanded space. Tunnel displacement is directly related to the deformation modulus of ground and therefore it is essential to know the value of the parameter. However, most rock masses where tunnels are constructed are generally jointed and it is difficult to find out the deformation modulus of jointed rock mass simply based on an homogeneous isotropic elastic medium because the deformation modulus is highly affected by joint condition as well as rock type. Accordingly, this study carried out extensive numerical parametric studies to examine the variation of deformation modulus in different joint conditions and rock types under the condition of tunnel excavation. The study results were compared with existing empirical relationships and also shown in the chart of deformation modulus variation in different jointed rock mass conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.59-69
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• 2015

This study examined the magnitude and distribution of earth pressure on the support system in a jointed rock mass due to the different joint sets as well as varying the rock type and joint condition (joint shear strength and joint inclination angle). Based on a physical model test and its numerical simulation, a series of numerical parametric analyses were conducted using a discrete element method. The results showed that the induced earth pressure was affected significantly by a joint set depending on the inclusion of the joint inclination angle, which induces a joint sliding condition, but the number of joint sets alone was not important, even though the earth pressure could be increased slightly as the number of joint sets is increased. In addition, the study results were compared with Peck's earth pressure for soil ground, which indicated that the earth pressure in a jointed rock mass could be considerably different from that in soil ground. The study suggests that the effects of joint sets as well as rock type and joint condition are important factors affecting the earth pressure in a jointed rock mass and they should be considered when designing a support system in a jointed rock mass.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.333-344
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• 2013

This paper discussed about the effect of permeability reduction of the jointed rock mass in the vicinity of a tunnel which is one of the reasons making large difference between the estimated ground-water inflow rate and the measured value. Current practice assumes that the jointed rock mass around a tunnel is a homogeneous, isotropic porous medium with constant permeability. However, in actual condition the permeability of a jointed rock mass varies with the change of effective stress condition around a tunnel, and in turn effective stress condition is affected by the ground water flow in the jointed rock mass around the tunnel. In short time after tunnel excavation, large increase of effective tangential stress around a tunnel due to stress concentration and pore-water pressure drop, and consequently large joint closure followed by significant permeability reduction of jointed rock mass in the vicinity of a tunnel takes place. A significant pore-water pressure drop takes place across this ring zone in the vicinity of a tunnel, and the actual pore-water pressure distribution around a tunnel shows large difference from the value estimated by an analytical solution assuming the jointed rock mass around the tunnel as a homogeneous, isotropic medium. This paper presents the analytical solution estimating pore-water pressure distribution and ground-water inflow rate into a tunnel based on the concept of hydro-mechanically coupled behavior of a jointed rock mass and the solution is verified by numerical analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.17-26
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• 2014

Tunneling-induced displacement in a jointed rock mass is an important factor to control tunnel stability and to secure a demanded space and construction quality. The magnitude of the inducible displacements is significantly affected by an elastic modulus and therefore, in a rock mass where a joint controls tunnel behavior, it is very important to estimate an elastic modulus of jointed rock mass reliably. Elastic modulus of jointed rock mass is affected by many factors such as rock type, joint condition, and loading condition. Nevertheless, most existing studies were focused on rough empirical relationships based on compressive loading conditions, which are different from tunnel excavation loading conditions, without a systematic approach of rock, joint, and loading conditions together. Therefore, this study considered rock and joint conditions systematically to estimate an elastic modulus of jointed rock mass under tunnel excavation loading. The controlled factors considered in this study are rock types and joint conditions (joint shear strength, joint inclination angle, number of joint sets, and joint spacing). Numerical parametric studies have been carried out with a consideration of different rock and joint conditions; the results have been compared with existing empirical relationships; and charts of elastic modulus change of different rock and joint conditions have been provided. The results are expected to have a great practical use for estimating the convergence induced by tunnel excavation in jointed rockmass.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.215-228
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• 2004

Rock mass contains discontinuities such as faults and joints, and their mechanical properties and spatial distribution dominate the stability of rock mass. Because the deformation of rock mass occurs discontinuities in many cases. However in the case of poor quality rock mass under high stresses, the deformation along intact rock can also influence the structure's stability. In this study, two dimensional finite element program was developed with a rheological model to analyze the stability of the structure excavated in jointed rock mass. The “equivalent material” approach was used assuming intact rock, joints and rock bolts as visco-plastic materials. The program was verified by analysing an intact rock model, a jointed rock mass model and a reinforced jointed rock mass model. The displacement was examined in each model with changing the intact rock behaviour as elastic and visco-plastic. In the case of poor quality rock mass under high stresses, e assumption of visco-plastic behaviour of intact rock resulted in larger displacement than when assuming elastic behaviour for intact rock. Therefore it is recommended to add intact rock's visco-plastic behaviour to the existing model, which only assumes visco-plastic behaviour of joints and rock bolts.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.77-94
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• 2016

A forked tunnel, as a special complicated underground structure, is composed of big-arch tunnel, multi-arch tunnel, neighborhood tunnels and separate tunnels according to the different distances between two separate tunnels. Due to the complicated process of design and construction, surrounding jointed rock mass stability of the big-arch tunnel which belongs to the forked tunnel during excavation is a hot issue that needs special attentions. In this paper, an elasto-plastic damage constitutive model for jointed rock mass is proposed based on the coupling method considering elasto-plastic and damage theories, and the irreversible thermodynamics theory. Based on this elasto-plastic damage constitutive model, a three dimensional elasto-plastic damage finite element code (D-FEM) is implemented using Visual Fortran language, which can numerically simulate the whole excavation process of underground project and perform the structural stability of the surrounding rock mass. Comparing with a popular commercial computer code, three dimensional fast Lagrangian analysis of continua (FLAC3D), this D-FEM has advantages in terms of rapid computing process, element grouping function and providing more material models. After that, FLAC3D and D-FEM are simultaneously used to perform the structural stability analysis of the surrounding rock mass in the forked tunnel considering three different computing schemes. The final numerical results behave almost consistent using both FLAC3D and D-FEM. But from the point of numerically obtained damage softening areas, the numerical results obtained by D-FEM more closely approach the practical behaviors of in-situ surrounding rock mass.