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Stochastic analysis of progressive failure of fractured rock masses containing non-persistent joint sets using key block analysis

journal contribution
posted on 2024-11-02, 04:25 authored by Guoyang Fu, Guowei Ma, XiaoLei Qu, Da Huang
A stochastic key block method is developed for the analysis of complex blocky rock masses containing non-persistent joint sets. A robust block generation program is developed to model the non-persistent discontinuities. Various uncertainties of geological and geometrical parameters of the discontinuities are considered and Monte Carlo simulations of key blocks are performed. Based on the present analysis, progressive failure of a rock mass can be evaluated in a stochastic manner and the statistics of the key blocks including the total number and volume, the maximum and mean volume, shape and failure mechanism, etc. can be assessed. This approach is applied to a hypothetical horseshoe shaped tunnel in a highly fractured rock mass. Three scenarios with varying mean discontinuity size are analyzed to consider size effect on the predicted blocks and key blocks. It is shown quantitatively that a persistent discontinuity network assumption causes over-fragmentation of predicted blocks, overestimation of key blocks, and underestimation of the largest key block volume compared with non-persistent ones. More realistic representation of the discontinuities by considering the non-persistence is important to give out more reliable failure estimation of fractured rock mass. In addition, a case study application to a slope at the right bank of the Jinping I hydropower station has been conducted. Key block statistics is also helpful in support design.

History

Journal

Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology

Volume

51

Start page

258

End page

269

Total pages

12

Publisher

Elsevier

Place published

United Kingdom

Language

English

Copyright

© 2015 Elsevier Ltd.

Former Identifier

2006075421

Esploro creation date

2020-06-22

Fedora creation date

2017-07-13

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