Discrete modeling of rock joints with a smooth-joint contact model
Structural defects such as joints or faults are inherent to almost any rock mass. In many situations those defects have a major impact on slope stability as they can control the possible failure mechanisms. Having a good estimate of their strength then becomes crucial. The roughness of a structure i...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2014-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674775513001194 |
| _version_ | 1818513687086891008 |
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| author | C. Lambert C. Coll |
| author_facet | C. Lambert C. Coll |
| author_sort | C. Lambert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Structural defects such as joints or faults are inherent to almost any rock mass. In many situations those defects have a major impact on slope stability as they can control the possible failure mechanisms. Having a good estimate of their strength then becomes crucial. The roughness of a structure is a major contributor to its strength through two different aspects, i.e. the morphology of the surface (or the shape) and the strength of the asperities (related to the strength of the rock). In the current state of practice, roughness is assessed through idealized descriptions (Patton strength criterion) or through empirical parameters (Barton JRC). In both cases, the multi-dimensionality of the roughness is ignored. In this study, we propose to take advantage of the latest developments in numerical techniques. With 3D photogrammetry and/or laser mapping, practitioners have access to the real morphology of an exposed structure. The derived triangulated surface was introduced into the DEM (discrete element method) code PFC3D to create a synthetic rock joint. The interaction between particles on either side of the discontinuity was described by a smooth-joint model (SJM), hence suppressing the artificial roughness introduced by the particle discretization. Shear tests were then performed on the synthetic rock joint. A good correspondence between strengths predicted by the model and strengths derived from well-established techniques was obtained for the first time. Amongst the benefits of the methodology is the possibility offered by the model to be used in a quantitative way for shear strength estimates, to reproduce the progressive degradation of the asperities upon shearing and to analyze structures of different scales without introducing any empirical relation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T00:05:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-585aed87bd75423eb0e3cb6dc6cd28eb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1674-7755 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T00:05:03Z |
| publishDate | 2014-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-585aed87bd75423eb0e3cb6dc6cd28eb2022-12-22T01:28:21ZengElsevierJournal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering1674-77552014-02-016111210.1016/j.jrmge.2013.12.003Discrete modeling of rock joints with a smooth-joint contact modelC. Lambert0C. Coll1Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New ZealandGolder Associates, Christchurch, New ZealandStructural defects such as joints or faults are inherent to almost any rock mass. In many situations those defects have a major impact on slope stability as they can control the possible failure mechanisms. Having a good estimate of their strength then becomes crucial. The roughness of a structure is a major contributor to its strength through two different aspects, i.e. the morphology of the surface (or the shape) and the strength of the asperities (related to the strength of the rock). In the current state of practice, roughness is assessed through idealized descriptions (Patton strength criterion) or through empirical parameters (Barton JRC). In both cases, the multi-dimensionality of the roughness is ignored. In this study, we propose to take advantage of the latest developments in numerical techniques. With 3D photogrammetry and/or laser mapping, practitioners have access to the real morphology of an exposed structure. The derived triangulated surface was introduced into the DEM (discrete element method) code PFC3D to create a synthetic rock joint. The interaction between particles on either side of the discontinuity was described by a smooth-joint model (SJM), hence suppressing the artificial roughness introduced by the particle discretization. Shear tests were then performed on the synthetic rock joint. A good correspondence between strengths predicted by the model and strengths derived from well-established techniques was obtained for the first time. Amongst the benefits of the methodology is the possibility offered by the model to be used in a quantitative way for shear strength estimates, to reproduce the progressive degradation of the asperities upon shearing and to analyze structures of different scales without introducing any empirical relation.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674775513001194Rock jointShear strengthDEM simulationsSmooth-joint model |
| spellingShingle | C. Lambert C. Coll Discrete modeling of rock joints with a smooth-joint contact model Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Rock joint Shear strength DEM simulations Smooth-joint model |
| title | Discrete modeling of rock joints with a smooth-joint contact model |
| title_full | Discrete modeling of rock joints with a smooth-joint contact model |
| title_fullStr | Discrete modeling of rock joints with a smooth-joint contact model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Discrete modeling of rock joints with a smooth-joint contact model |
| title_short | Discrete modeling of rock joints with a smooth-joint contact model |
| title_sort | discrete modeling of rock joints with a smooth joint contact model |
| topic | Rock joint Shear strength DEM simulations Smooth-joint model |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674775513001194 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT clambert discretemodelingofrockjointswithasmoothjointcontactmodel AT ccoll discretemodelingofrockjointswithasmoothjointcontactmodel |