Numerical Study on Anisotropic Influence of Joint Spacing on Mechanical Behavior of Rock Mass Models under Uniaxial Compression

Xin Chen, Zhongliang Feng and Cheng Cheng
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Xin Chen: State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics & Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
Zhongliang Feng: State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics & Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
Cheng Cheng: School of Engineering and Technology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 24, 1-28

Abstract: Mechanical properties of rock masses are dominated by the nonlinear response of joints and their arrangement. In this paper, combined influences of joint spacing ( s ) and joint inclination angle ( β ) on mechanical behavior of rock mass models with large open joints under uniaxial compression were investigated by PFC modeling. With a large amount of local measurement circles placed along the pre-defined measurement lines (ML), stresses and joint response parameters at different scales (the measurement circles, the MLs and the whole specimen) were defined and calculated. It was found that macroscopic behaviors of the jointed specimens, such as four types of deformation behaviors, four failure modes, strength, deformability modulus and ductility index, are dominated by nonlinear response of the joint system, especially the interaction between the joints and rock bridges. The joints may experience three stages, i.e., starting to close, closed and opening again. On the joint plane, the peak stresses of the rock bridges and those of the joints may not be reached at the same time; i.e., joint strength mobilization happens with the loss of the rock bridges’ resistance. The influence of s on specimen behavior is little for β = 90°, obvious for β = 0° or 30° and significant for β = 45° or 60°, and this can be related to their different microscopic damage mechanisms.

Keywords: joint spacing; non-persistent open joints; PFC modeling; smooth-joint; measurement circle (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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