Representative Element Aggregation Of The Rock Mass Mechanical Properties In Engineering Applications

Because of the complexity of rock structures that makes it too large for the characterized element representing the rock mass, it is difficult for sampling and testing. Therefore, experiential and analogical methods are always adopted to estimate the mechanical parameters for rock mass in engineering. However, the difficulties can be overcome by numerically simulating with computer. In this paper, the conception and model of Representative Element Aggregation for jointed rock mass are presented. By numerically simulating for the elements, the deformation and strength behaviors under conditions of loading and unloading for jointed rock mass are studied, and both an elastic model and an elastic-plastic model are developed for the jointed rock mass. Simulating methods with computer to predict the macroscopic equivalent elastic parameters and shear strength parameters are presented and applied to the stability analyses for rock engineering. Just like that of loading, the process of unloading can also result in the failure and instability of rock mass. The effects of unloading process for the strength behaviors ofjointed rock mass are preliminarily discussed in this paper. Method of anisotropic non-linear unloading rock mechanics is introduced to study the deformation during excavating and unloading processes for slope in engineering.