Physical modelling of rock masses allows for direct observation of how joint structures affect the overall system. The feasibility of constructing an artificial jointed rock mass with discontinuous joints was examined for the ultimate purpose of representing jointed rock mass systems with discontinuous three-dimensional joint sets realistically. The materials used to create the artificial rock mass were gypsum plaster to simulate the rock material and a combination of sand, canola oil, and paraffin to simulate the joint material. Selection of the joint material was completed by qualitative feasibility testing of varied materials to find one which would maintain its structure when being placed in plaster while keeping the material properties appropriately ductile to mimic a natural geomaterial. Direct shear tests and compressive strength tests have been used to characterize the behavior of the artificial joint material under external loads. An artificial jointed rock cube was created by encasing a disc of the artificial joint material in the selected plaster to examine the interactions of these two materials.
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