Abstract
Because of its special structure, the anisotropic properties of columnar jointed rock mass (CJRM) are complicated, which brings difficulty to engineering construction. To comprehensively study the anisotropic characteristics of CJRM, uniaxial compression tests were conducted on artificial CJRM specimens. Quadrangular, pentagonal and hexagonal prism CJRM models were introduced, and the dip direction of the columnar joints was considered. Based on the test results and the structural features of the three CJRM models, the deformation and strength characteristics of CJRM specimens were analyzed and compared. The failure modes and mechanisms of artificial specimens with different dip directions were summarized in accordance with the failure processes and final appearances. Subsequently, the anisotropic degrees of the three CJRM models in the horizontal plane were classified, and their anisotropic characteristics were described. Finally, a simple empirical expression was adopted to estimate the strength and deformation of the CJRM, and the derived equations were used in the Baihetan Hydropower Station project. The calculated values are in good agreement with the existing research results, which reflects the engineering application value of the derived empirical equations.
Highlights
The complex structure and pronounced anisotropy of columnar jointed rock mass (CJRM) pose challenges to the stability and safety of related projects [1,2]
In the Baihetan Hydropower Station, columnar joints are widely distributed in the dam foundation [5,6]
Field investigations have indicated that the CJRM has significant anisotropic deformation and strength properties, which caused the relaxation of local stresses [7,8] and collapse failure during construction [9,10]
Summary
The complex structure and pronounced anisotropy of columnar jointed rock mass (CJRM) pose challenges to the stability and safety of related projects [1,2]. Understanding the anisotropic strength and deformation characteristics of the CJRM is important for the design and construction of engineering projects. Physical model tests on rock-like materials provide a simple and straightforward approach to solving the mechanical problems [11,12,13,14]. The rock-like materials are widely used to simulate the actual engineering geology and reflect the mechanical characteristics of simulated rock mass. Tien [12] prepared the artificial transversely isotropic rock mass using plaster as the model material, and analyzed its failure mechanism. Li [13] conducted several direct shear tests on the specimens with different dip angles to investigate the anisotropy of closely
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
