Traction problems on an elastic jointed rock half-space

Abstract

Traction Problems on an Elastic Jointed Rock Half-Space A rock mass with a major set of parallel, planar joints is considered for the case when the joint spacing is small compared with the length scales of interest, and large compared with the relative displacements across the joints. A continuum theory is adopted and under the additional assumption that the joints have finite elastic stiffnesses associated with their tangential and normal response prior to slip, the rock may be shown to be transversely isotropic about the direction of the joint normal. The class of problems for which analytic solutions are available for a transversely isotropic medium is very limited. However, for the case of low joint stiffnesses an approximate potential theory, analogous to that of inextensible fibre reinforced elastic materials, is available and may be applied to a much more general set of domains. Both the approximate theory and the exact transversely isotropic theory for low joint stiffnesses are applied to plane strain traction problems on a half-space in which the joints are inclined at varying angles to the boundary. Comparisons of the two theories are made for various values of the rock parameters and the joint angle.