ABSTRACT
A three-dimensional geometric model of rock joints can be described in terms of several parameters including orientation, shape, size, location and volumetric density. However, the complexity of the reality does not allow a deterministic description of the rock mass geometry. Stochastic modelling techniques are used to simulate joint networks, which are only statistically equivalent to the actual structure of the rock mass. The random disc model was used in the present work. In this model each joint is assumed to be circular and defined by its centre location, diameter and orientation. All joint locations are equally probable i.e., joint autocorrelation properties were not considered during simulations. Furthermore, the model assumes that joint orientation and size are independent of joint location. The simulated rock joint model can be tested with random or deterministic sectioning techniques to verify the validity of the realizations.
