ABSTRACT
Various actual applications of rock mechanics involve mass transportation phenomena such as seepage, diffusion, static and dynamic stability assessment of structures, and heat flow. Water is always present in rock mass, and it strongly affects the stability of rock engineering structures. Furthermore, rock excavations, which are generally of large scale, may disturb groundwater regime and may have some environmental impacts. Some rocks such fine-grain sandstone, mudstone and siltstone start to fracture when losing its water content, as observed in many laboratory tests and in-situ. The situation is similar to the reverse problem of swelling. It is considered that rock shrinks as it loses its water content. In any case, the governing equation for seepage flow in rock mass is derived from the mass conservat.
