Practical Equivalent Continuum Model for Simulation of Jointed Rock Mass Using FLAC3D
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 7, Issue 5
Abstract
A simple practical equivalent continuum numerical model for simulating the behavior of jointed rock mass has been extended to three-dimensional using FLAC3D. This model estimates the properties of jointed rock mass from the properties of intact rock and a joint factor , which is the integration of the properties of joints to take care of the effects of frequency, orientation, and strength of joint. A new FISH function has been written in FLAC3D specifically for modeling jointed rocks using the Duncan and Chang hyperbolic model. This model has been validated first with simple element tests at different confining pressures for different rocks with different joint configurations. Explicit modeling of the joints has also been done in element tests and results obtained compare well with the results of equivalent continuum model and also with experimental results. Further, this has been applied for a case study of a large underground power house cavern in the Himalayas. The analysis has been done under various stages of excavation, assigning a null model available in FLAC3D for simulating the excavation.
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Acknowledgments
The writers thank the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for financial support through the project entitled “Practical Equivalent Continuum Modeling of Jointed Rocks and Analysis of Large-Scale Excavations in Rock-Mass” [Ref. No. 70(0046)/ 03/ EMR-II under extramural research division].
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 7 • Issue 5 • September 2007
Pages: 389 - 395
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Nov 17, 2005
Accepted: Jul 11, 2006
Published online: Sep 1, 2007
Published in print: Sep 2007
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