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Estimation of REV Size for Fractured Rock Mass Based on Damage Coefficient

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Abstract

Estimation of representative elementary volume (REV) is significant to analyze fractured rock mass in the framework of continuum mechanics. Engineers can therefore simplify the analysis by using an equivalent rock block with an average property, and the influence of fractures can be neglected in finite element modelling. The indicators to determine the REV size based on the joint geometrical parameters include the volumetric fracture intensity (P 32) and the fracture tensor, but this type of calculation generally provides a lower bound evaluation. A novel conceptual framework of damage coefficient is introduced in this paper to consider the mechanical properties of fractures, such as joint aperture and roughness. A parametric study has been performed to establish the correlation between the proposed dimensionless damage coefficient and the traditional derived P 32 value. The effectiveness of the developed method is demonstrated by a case study, where a larger mechanical REV size is indeed calculated based on the damage coefficient.

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Acknowledgements

This work was conducted with supports from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51474050 and 51179031), Projects of International Cooperation and Exchanges NSFC (Grant Nos. 51250110531 and 51350110534), State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (Grant Nos. SKLGP2012K009 and SKLGP2014K011), the Program for Liaoning Excellent Talents in University (Grant No. LN2014006) to Dr Shuhong Wang.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, China

    Pengpeng Ni, Shuhong Wang, Cungen Wang & Simiao Zhang

  2. GeoEngineering Centre at Queen’s-RMC, Department of Civil Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada

    Pengpeng Ni

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  1. Pengpeng Ni
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  2. Shuhong Wang
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  3. Cungen Wang
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  4. Simiao Zhang
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Correspondence to Shuhong Wang.

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Ni, P., Wang, S., Wang, C. et al. Estimation of REV Size for Fractured Rock Mass Based on Damage Coefficient. Rock Mech Rock Eng 50, 555–570 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-016-1122-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-016-1122-x

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