Estimation of the Mechanical Properties of Rock Masses

摘要

The report describes research activities in three separate areas related to the overall aim of improving the estimation of the mechanical properties of rock masses. These three fields are broadly classified as: the intrinsic properties of rock fracture, the mechanical failure of block jointed models of rock masses and the continuum characterization of rock masses for deformation calculations. The fracture of brittle rock is considered as an energy absorbing process where the 'work of fracture' is the dominent material property. An associated material property 'the effective crack length' is defined as a through-the-structure crack which develops after the application of load but controls the maximum load carrying capacity at the structure. Numerical analytical procedures are outlined to predict the complete force deformation response of a structure failing due to an extending through-the-structure crack. These predicted force deformation curves are compared with experimentally derived results for three commonly used tensile strength tests. (Author Modified Abstract)