Particle Flow Modeling of Rock Blocks with Nonpersistent Open Joints under Uniaxial Compression
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 16, Issue 6
Abstract
In this study, numerical simulation of rock blocks with nonpersistent open joints under uniaxial compression was undertaken using the particle flow modeling method. First, the micromechanical parameter values of intact material were calibrated through a trial-and-error process using macromechanical laboratory test results. Then, a back-analysis procedure was used to calibrate the joint gap and joint micromechanical parameter values using laboratory test results conducted on jointed rock blocks. Afterward, the effects of joint dip angle, joint persistency, and joint gap on the mechanical behavior of block models having nonpersistent open joints was investigated using the calibrated micromechanical parameter values. The joint dip angle and joint persistency were found to play significant roles in the failure mode, strength, and stress–strain relationship of jointed blocks. The joint gap played a significant to negligible role in the mechanical behavior of jointed block models gradually when the joint dip angle was increased from 0 to 90°. The contact and interaction of joint surfaces were found to have a significant influence on the mechanical behavior of jointed blocks.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The research reported in this paper was financially supported by the State Key Laboratory for Geo-mechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology, Contract No. SKLGDUEK1416 given to the second author and the National Natural Science Foundation of China Grant No. 11102224 given to the third author (as the Principal Investigator) and the second author (as the Foreign Investigator). The research was also partially funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, through Contract No. 200-2011-39886 given to the second author. The first author of the paper is grateful to the Chinese Scholarship Council for providing a scholarship to conduct the research described in this paper as a Visiting Research Student at the University of Arizona. The research was also partially supported by the National Basic Research 973 Program of China (Grant No. 2013CB036003), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51374198), and the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University, China (Grant No. NCET-12-0961).
References
Bahaaddini, M., Hagan, P., Mitra, R., and Hebblewhite B. K. (2015). “Numerical study of the mechanical behavior of non-persistent jointed rock masses.” Int. J. Geomech., 04015035.
Bahaaddini, M., Sharrock, G., and Hebblewhite, B. K. (2013). “Numerical investigation of the effect of joint geometrical parameters on the mechanical properties of a non-persistent jointed rock mass under uniaxial compression.” Comput. Geotech., 49, 206–225.
Bahaaddini, M., Sharrock, G., Hebblewhite, B. K., and Mitra, R. (2012). “Direct shear tests to model the shear behaviour of rock joints by PFC2D.” Proc., 46th U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symp., American Rock Mechanics Association, Chicago.
Chen, X., Liao, Z. H., and Li, D. J. (2011). “Experimental study on the effect of joint orientation and persistence on the strength and deformation properties of rock masses under uniaxial compression.” Chin. J. Rock Mech. Eng., 30(4), 781–789.
Chen, X., Liao, Z. H., and Peng, X. (2012). “Deformability characteristics of jointed rock masses under uniaxial compression.” Int. J. Min. Sci. Technol., 22(2), 213–221.
Ghazvinian, A., Sarfarazi, V., Schubert, W., and Blumel, M. (2012). “A study of the failure mechanism of planar non-persistent open joints using PFC2D.” Rock Mech. Rock Eng., 45, 677–693.
Itasca Consulting Group Inc. (2008). PFC3D–Particle flow code in 3 dimensions, version 4.0. Minneapolis.
Jamil, S. M. (1992). “Strength of non-persistent rock joints.” Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Illinois, Urbana, IL.
Jennings, J. E. (1970). “A mathematical theory for the calculation of the stability of open cast mines.” Proc., Symp. on Theoretical Background to the Planning of Open Pit Mines, A. A. Balkema, Johannesburg, 87–102.
Kulatilake, P. H. S. W., Malama, B., and Wang, J. L. (2001). “Physical and particle flow modeling of jointed rock block behavior under uniaxial loading.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 38(5), 641–657.
Mas Ivars, D. M., et al. (2011). “The synthetic rock mass approach for jointed rock mass modelling.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 48(2), 219–244.
Mughieda, O. (1997). “Failure mechanics and strength of non-persistent rock joints.” Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Illinois, Urbana, IL.
Pierce, M., Cundall, P. A., Potyondy, D. O., and Mas Ivars, D. A. (2007). “Synthetic rock mass model for jointed rock.” Rock Mechanics, Meeting Society’s Challenge and Demands, 1st Canada-U.S. Rock Mechanics Symp., Taylor & Francis, Vancouver, Canada.
Potyondy, D. O., and Cundall, P. A. (2004). “A bonded-particle model for rock.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 41(8), 1329–1364.
Prudencio, M., and Van Sint Jan, M. (2007). “Strength and failure modes of rock mass models with non-persistent joints.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 44(6), 890–902.
Sarfarazi, V., Ghazvinian, A., Schubert, W., Blumel, M., and Nejati, H. R. (2014). “Numerical simulation of the process of fracture of echelon rock joints.” Rock Mech. Rock Eng., 47(4), 1355–1371.
Wong, R. H. C., Lin P, Tang, C. A., and Chau, K. T. (2002). “Creeping damage around an opening in rock-like material containing non-persistent joints.” Eng. Fract. Mech., 69(17), 2015–2027.
Yang, S. Q., Huang, Y. H., Jing, H. W., and Liu, X. R. (2014). “Discrete element modeling on fracture coalescence behavior of red sandstone containing two unparallel fissures under uniaxial compression.” Eng. Geol., 178, 28–48.
Yang, X., Kulatilake, P. H. S. W., Jing, H., and Yang, S. (2015). “Numerical simulation of a jointed rock block mechanical behavior adjacent to an underground excavation and comparison with physical model test results.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol., 50, 129–142.
Zhang, X. P., and Wong, L. N. Y. (2012). “Cracking process in rock-like material containing a single flaw under uniaxial compression: a numerical study based on parallel bonded-particle model approach.” Rock Mech. Rock Eng., 45, 711–737.
Zhang, X. P., and Wong, L. N. Y. (2013). “Crack initiation, propagation and coalescence in rock-like material containing two flaws: a numerical study based on bonded-particle model approach.” Rock Mech. Rock Eng., 46(5), 1001–1021.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 16 • Issue 6 • December 2016
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 27, 2015
Accepted: Jan 4, 2016
Published online: Mar 3, 2016
Discussion open until: Aug 3, 2016
Published in print: Dec 1, 2016
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.