Homogenization of mechanical properties of fractured rocks by DEM modeling

http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/3314032

Effects of the initial stress and spalling strength on spalling around deposition holes and tunnels

Abstract Spalling in the deposition holes and tunnel stability are of concern for the design of deep geological repositories for spent nuclear fuel. A 3D numerical stress model, including a single deposition tunnel and multiple deposition holes to analyse the potential for spalling resulting from the excavation phase, was developed for the proposed repository location at the Forsmark site. Several potential initial stress field cases and spalling strengths of the intact rock were considered. The magnitudes of the factor of safety, the spalling depth, the minor principal stress, and the differential stress were evaluated. The results showed that no spalling in the central deposition hole is indicated for the most likely stress field, and the occurrence of spalling and the spalling depth are minimised for a maximum horizontal stress aligned approximately parallel to the tunnel axis. For spalling occurrence and depth of spalling, the magnitude of the maximum horizontal stress is more critical than its orientation, and the spalling strength is more critical than the magnitude of the maximum horizontal stress. No instability problems were indicated in the vicinity of the roof for all analysed stress cases.</jats:p

Peak Shear Strength of Natural, Unfilled Rock Joints in the Field Based on Data from Drill Cores – A Conceptual Study Based on Large Laboratory Shear Tests

Significant uncertainties remain regarding the field assessment of the peak shear strength of rock joints. These uncertainties mainly originate from the lack of a verified methodology that would permit prediction of rock joints’ peak shear strength accounting for their surface area, while using information available from smaller samples. This paper investigates a methodology that uses objective observations of the 3D roughness and joint aperture from drill cores to predict the peak shear strength of large natural, unfilled rock joints in the field. The presented methodology has been tested in the laboratory on two natural, unfilled rock joint samples of granite. The joint surface area of the tested samples was of approximately 500 × 300 mm. In this study, the drill cores utilised to predict the peak shear strength of the rock joint samples are simulated based on a subdivision of their digitised surfaces obtained through high-resolution laser scanning. The peak shear strength of the tested samples based on the digitised surfaces of the simulated drill cores is predicted by applying a peak shear strength criterion that accounts for 3D roughness, matedness, and specimen size. The results of the performed analysis and laboratory experiments show that data from the simulated drill cores contain the necessary information to predict the peak shear strength of the tested rock joint samples. The main benefit of this approach is that it may enable the prediction of the peak shear strength in the field under conditions of difficult access.</p

The importance of accounting for matedness when predicting the peak shear strength of rock joints

Abstract The contribution from both surface roughness and matedness in the peak shear strength of rock joints is not yet well understood. To be able to account for the influence of matedness on the peak shear strength of rock joints, both surface roughness and aperture need to be considered. Technical developments over the past few decades have shown that both surface roughness and aperture can be accurately measured using optical scanning. This technique has been utilized to account for surface roughness parameters in various shear strength criteria that assume a perfect match between joint surfaces. This paper investigates and compares the capabilities of two shear strength criteria to predict the peak shear strength of rock joints with different matedness. The analysis performed shows that both approaches have their strengths and limitations. For instance, accounting for the matedness of unmated rock joints based on their surface aperture gives better predictions of the peak shear strength. On the other hand, accounting for shearing failure mode becomes relevant at high normal loads. A possible way forward to reduce the limitations of these criteria could be to combine their strengths.</jats:p