ABSTRACT
The rock massif as a rule consists of rocks of various geological origin with varying degrees of disturbance and water saturation and is almost always dissected by cracks including tectonic ones. The foundations are an integral part of the structures and as a rule are considered as a whole when designing. The concept of “foundation” includes both enormous volumes of natural soil receiving forces from structures, coastal abutments of arch and arch-gravity dams, and banks of reservoirs, as well as natural and artificial slopes in the area of construction and operation of structures. Rock masses as a rule consist of solids of various geological origins with varying degrees of fracture and disturbance and are almost always dissected by tectonic cracks and faults. In addition, the movements of the earth’s crust that have taken place cause the presence of natural stresses of different magnitude and direction, which significantly affect the mechanical properties of rock masses.
