ABSTRACT
Due to the presence of joints, jointed rock masses show anisotropic and scale (size) dependent mechanical properties. The available literature on the topic up to 1992 shows that satisfactory procedures are not available in the rock mechanics literature to estimate the anisotropic, scale-dependent deformability properties of jointed rock. A brief description of a recently suggested technique which has the capability of estimating the anisotropic, scale-dependent deformability properties of jointed rock is given. Based on this technique, the following have been obtained: (a) 3-D plots to show the variation of deformability parameters of jointed rock with joint geometry parameters, (b) a relation between the deformability properties of jointed rock and fracture tensor parameters, (c) an incrementally linear elastic, orthotropic constitutive model to represent the pre-failure mechanical behaviour of jointed rock, and (d) some insight to estimate the representative elementary volumes (REVs) and REV property values with respect to the deformability properties of jointed rock. The new constitutive model has captured the anisotropic, scale-dependent behaviour of jointed rock. Limitations of the model are identified. Further work required to improve the model is mentioned.
