Transversely isotropic constitutive properties of a columnar jointed rock mass
Abstract：A constitutive model of a transversely isotropic,columnar jointed rock mass is presented.The methods of composite material mechanics were used to consider staggered joints,inner disturbed belts,coordinate deflection,and other factors.Equivalent elastic parameters were calculated from the model.An in situ test at a dam for a hydro-power station showed the impact of the inner disturbed belts and of the joints of a columnar jointed rock mass.It appears that the inner disturbed belts have a large effect upon the elastic parameters of the columnar jointed basaltic mass located at the dam site.This impact reduces the elastic modulus more than 50% in the vertical direction.The effect of dip angle is obvious.In this case the dip angle is 15 degrees and so the equivalent vertical elastic modulus is reduced by about 19%.This approach allows an improved description of the anisotropic columnar jointed rock mass.The field application shows the horizontal elastic modulus is larger than the vertical elastic modulus.
Keywords：columnar jointtransversely isotropicconstitutive relationequivalent elastic parameter
Publication Date：2011-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)