Distinct Element Model Analysis of Mechanical Behavior of Rock with Interconnected Non-Persistent Joints

The presence of joints complicates the mechanical response of rock. Thus, an understanding of the influence of different mechanical and geometrical properties of joints on rock mechanical behavior is required for the design of rock structures. This paper investigates the mechanical behavior of rock with one nonpersistent joint, and two interconnected nonpersistent joints, for different degrees of persistence of nonpersistent joints, using distinct element model analysis. The results reveal that increasing persistency of nonpersistent joints decreases the strength for both singly and doubly jointed specimens. The strength of singly jointed specimens is greater than that of doubly jointed specimens for any considered persistency and the difference is more pronounced with increasing persistency. The characteristics of the failure of specimens show that failure initiates from discontinuous termini of joint segments and considerable intact material failure occurs for nonpersistent joints with smaller persistency.