Study on the Strength of Jointed Rock Mass

Abstract

Based on the structure of the rock mass surrounding a highway tunnel under construction, a new methodology for defining the strength of jointed rock mass is proposed. The laboratory experiments and numerical simulations of rock samples, including both intact rock and rock with a single typical joint, are carried out to ensure that the mechanical parameters of the rock and the joint can be obtained. In addition, the strength of the rock mass surrounding the tunnel, without resorting to the difficult task of sampling and testing of large-scale rock mass, is evaluated by using the proposed method. It is shown that the strength reduction of rock mass is governed by the geometric configurations as well as the mechanical properties of the joints, and that the presence of joints results in the non-linearity of the pre-peak region.