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A Numerical Study on Wave Transmission Across Multiple Intersecting Joint Sets in Rock Masses with UDEC

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Abstract

This paper presents a numerical study on wave transmission across jointed rock masses with UDEC, where multiple intersecting joint sets exist. The capability of UDEC of studying wave transmission across rock joints is validated through comparison with analytical solutions and experimental data. Through parametric studies on wave transmission across jointed rock masses, it is found that joint mechanical and spatial parameters including joint normal and shear stiffnesses, nondimensional joint spacing, joint spacing ratio, joint intersecting angle, incident angle, and number of joint sets together determine the wave transmission. And for P wave incidence, compared with other parameters, joint normal stiffness, nondimensional joint spacing, and joint intersecting angle have more significant effects on wave transmission. The physical reasons lying behind those phenomena are explained in detail. Engineering applications and indications of the modeling results are also mentioned.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the two anonymous reviewers and the Editor, Professor Giovanni Barla, for their constructive comments. Dr. Yingxin Zhou is acknowledged for the sharing of field measured data. This research is financially supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (200021-116536) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (40702046).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Aeronautical Laboratories and Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA

    J. B. Zhu

  2. Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), Laboratory for Rock Mechanics (LMR), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland

    X. F. Deng & J. Zhao

  3. NJU-ECE Institute for Underground Space and Geo-environment, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China

    X. B. Zhao

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  1. J. B. Zhu
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  2. X. F. Deng
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  3. X. B. Zhao
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  4. J. Zhao
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Correspondence to J. B. Zhu.

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Zhu, J.B., Deng, X.F., Zhao, X.B. et al. A Numerical Study on Wave Transmission Across Multiple Intersecting Joint Sets in Rock Masses with UDEC. Rock Mech Rock Eng 46, 1429–1442 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-012-0352-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-012-0352-9

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