Stress Distribution in Anisotropic Compliance of Jointed Rock

Abstract

In order to determine the deformational response of a rock mass, the rock mass is often considered and characterized as an anisotropic composite material. This compliance is generally defined in terms of deformation; the effects of stress distributions within the rock mass are not considered. Two simple models are used in this paper to define the total rock mass compliance. The one model represents the deformational mode where the stresses within the composite material are equal and the second model represents the stress distributions within the composite material where the strains between the composite material are equal. In addition to neglecting the effects of stress distribution on the compliance of the rock mass, relative volumes of the intact and joint material and their spatial distribution are generally neglected. These relative volumes and their spatial distribution relative to the applied loads are an important part of the rock mass compliance, especially when shear tractions are applied.