• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.03a
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• pp.515-520
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• 2005

The behavior of jointed rock mass is much different from that of intact rock due to the presence of joints. Similarly, the characteristics of elastic wave propagation in jointed rock are considerably different from those of intact rock. The propagation of elastic waves in jointed rock is greatly dependent on the state of stress. The roughness, filling materials, and spacing of joints also affect wave propagation in jointed rock. If the wavelength of elastic waves is much larger than the spacing between joints, wave propagation in jointed rock mass can be considered as wave propagation in equivalent continuum. A rock resonant column testing apparatus is made to measure elastic waves propagating through jointed rock in the state of equivalent continuum. Three types of wave, i.e, torsional, longitudinal and flexural waves are monitored during rock resonant column tests. Various roughness and filling materials are applied to joints, and rock columns with various spacings are used to understand how these factors affect wave propagation under a small strain condition. The experimental results suggest that the characteristics of wave propagation in jointed rock mass are governed by the state of stress and influenced by roughness, filling materials and joint spacings.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.627-638
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• 2019

Estimation of representative elementary volume (REV) of jointed rock masses is critical to predict the mechanical behavior of field-scale rock masses. The REV of jointed rock masses at site is strongly influenced by stress state. The paper proposed a method to systematically studied the influence of confining stress on the REV of jointed rock masses with various strengths (weak, medium and strong), which were sourced from the water inlet slope of Xiaowan Hydropower Station, China. A finite element method considering material heterogeneity was employed, a series of two-dimensional (2D) models was established based on the Monte-Carlo method and a lot of biaxial compressive tests were conducted. Numerical results showed that the REV of jointed rock masses presented a step-like reduction as the normalized confining stress increased. Confining stress weakened the size effect of jointed rock masses, indicating that the REV determined under uniaxial compression test can be reasonably taken as the REV of jointed rock masses under complexed in-situ stress environment.

• 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.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.13-21
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• 2018

The magnitude and distribution of earth pressure on the excavation wall in jointed rock mass were examined by considering different wall permeability conditions as well as rock types and joint inclination angles. The study was numerically extended based on a physical model test (Son & Park, 2014), considering rock-structure interactions with the discrete element method, which can consider various characteristics of rock joints. This study focused on the effect of the permeability condition of excavation wall on the earth pressure in jointed rock masses under a groundwater condition, which is important but has not been studied previously. The study results showed that the earth pressure was highly influenced by wall permeability as well as rock type and joint condition. Earth pressure resulted from the study was also compared with Peck's earth pressure in soil ground, and the comparison clearly showed that the earth pressure in jointed rock mass can be greatly different from that in soil ground.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.281-291
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• 2022

Complex rock masses include various joint planes, bedding planes and other weak structural planes. The existence of these structural planes affects the mechanical properties, deformation rules and failure modes of jointed rock masses. To study the influence of the parameters of a nonpersistent joint network on the mechanical properties and failure modes of jointed rock masses, synthetic rock mass (SRM) technology based on discrete elements is introduced. The results show that as the size of the joints in the rock mass increases, the compressive strength and the discreteness of the rock mass first increase and then decrease. Among them, the joints that are characterized by "small but many" joints and "large and clustered" joints have the most significant impact on the strength of the rock mass. With the increase in joint density in the rock mass, the compressive strength of rock mass decreases monotonically, but the rate of decrease gradually decreases. With the increase in the joint dip angle in rock mass, the strength of the rock mass first decreases and then increases, forming a U-shaped change rule. In the analysis of the failure mode and deformation of a jointed rock mass, the type of plastic zone formed after rock mass failure is closely related to the macroscopic displacement deformation of the rock mass and the parameters of the joints, which generally shows that the location and density of the joints greatly affect the failure mode and displacement degree of the jointed rock mass. The instability mechanism of jointed surrounding rock is revealed.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2016

This study examined the magnitude and distribution of earth pressure on the support system in a jointed rock mass due to the different joint spacing 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 magnitude and distribution of earth pressure were strongly affected by the different joint spacing as well as the rock type and joint condition. 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 joint spacing as well as the 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.

• 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.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.791-801
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• 2014

The effects of anchor on fractured specimens in splitting test are simulated by DDARF method, the results of which are compared with laboratory test results. They agree well with each other. The paper contents also use the laboratory model test. The main research objects are three kinds of specimens, namely intact specimens, jointed specimens and anchored-jointed specimens. The results showed that with the joint angle increased, the weakening effects of jointed rock mass are more obvious. At these points, the rock bolts' strengthening effects on the specimens have become more significant. There is a significant impact on the failure modes of rock mass by the joint and the anchorage.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.33-43
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• 2015

This paper investigated the magnitude and distribution of earth pressure on the support system in jointed rock mass by considering different earth pressure coefficients, rock types and joint inclination angles. The study mainly focused on the effect of the earth pressure coefficients on the earth pressure. Based on a physical model test (Son & Park, 2014), extended studies were conducted considering rock-structure interactions based on the discrete element method, which can consider the joints characteristics of rock mass. The results showed that the earth pressure was highly influenced by the earth pressure coefficients as well as the rock type and joint inclination angles. The effects of the earth pressure coefficients increased when the rock suffered more weathering and has no joint slide. The test results were also compared with Peck's earth pressure for soil ground, and clearly showed that the earth pressure in jointed rock mass can be greatly different from that in soil ground. This study indicated the earth pressure coefficients considering the rock types and joint inclination angles are important parameters influencing the magnitude and distribution of earth pressure, which should be considered when designing the support systems in jointed rock mass.