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Experimental Investigation of the Anisotropic Mechanical Properties of a Columnar Jointed Rock Mass: Observations from Laboratory-Based Physical Modelling

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Abstract

Because of the complex geological structure, determination of the field mechanical parameters of the columnar jointed rock mass (CJRM) was a challenging task in the design and construction of the Baihetan hydropower plant. To model the mechanical behaviour of the CJRM, uniaxial compression tests were conducted on artificial CJRM specimens with geological structure similar to that found in the actual CJRM. Based on the test results, the anisotropic deformation and strength were mainly analysed. The empirical correlations of evaluating the field mechanical parameters were derived based on the joint factor approach and the modulus reduction factor method. The findings of the physical model tests were then used to estimate the field moduli and unconfined compressive strengths of the Baihetan CJRM. The results predicted by physical model tests were compared with those obtained from the field tests and the RMR classification system. It is concluded that physical model tests were capable of providing valuable estimations on the field mechanical parameters of the CJRM.

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Abbreviations

β :

Dip of columns

\(m_{\text{c}} ,{\kern 1pt} {\kern 1pt} m_{\text{s}} ,{\kern 1pt} {\kern 1pt} m_{\text{w}} ,m_{\text{p}}\) :

Quantities of the cement, fine sand, water and polycarboxylate superplasticizer, respectively

ρ :

Density

E i :

Elastic modulus of cement mortar/intact rock

ν i :

Poisson’s ratio of cement mortar/intact rock

σ ci :

Uniaxial compressive strength of cement mortar/intact rock

c i :

Cohesion of cement mortar/intact rock

φ i :

Friction angle of cement mortar/intact rock

c j :

Cohesion of white cement slurry/joint

φ j :

Friction angle of white cement slurry/joint

E β :

Tangent modulus

ν β :

Poisson’s ratio

ɛ a :

Per cent axial strain

ɛ l :

Per cent lateral deformation

A E :

Degree of anisotropy in modulus

A s :

Degree of anisotropy in strength

σ cβ :

Uniaxial compressive strength

α :

Loading angle

J f :

Joint factor

J n :

Joint frequency

n :

Joint inclination parameter

r :

Joint shear strength

E m :

Tangent modulus of the artificial CJRM, or field tangent modulus of the natural CJRM

σ cm :

Uniaxial compressive strength of the artificial CJRM, or field unconfined compressive strength of natural CJRM

E re :

Modulus reduction factor (MRF)

σ re :

Strength reduction factor (SRF)

a :

Gradient of the line between \({ \log }\left( {E_{m} /E_{i} } \right){ \sim }log\left( {\sigma_{cm} /\sigma_{ci} } \right)\)

\({\text{RMR}}\) :

Rock Mass Rating

ν m :

Field Poisson’s ratio of the natural CJRM

P :

Pressure applied to the field test plate

D :

Diameter of the steel plate

d e :

Recoverable elastic displacement measured in a plate jacking test

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Acknowledgements

The work presented in this paper was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51479049, 51679069, 11572110 and 51609070) and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2015M580388).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China

    H. Ji, W. Y. Xu, R. B. Wang, H. L. Wang, L. Yan & Z. N. Lin

  2. College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China

    J. C. Zhang

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  1. H. Ji
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  2. J. C. Zhang
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  3. W. Y. Xu
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  4. R. B. Wang
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Correspondence to J. C. Zhang.

Appendix: Empirical Equations for Estimating the Field Mechanical Parameters

Appendix: Empirical Equations for Estimating the Field Mechanical Parameters

See Table 9.

Table 9 Empirical relations between RMR, field tangent modulus E m and unconfined compressive strength σ cm for jointed rock masses
Full size table

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Ji, H., Zhang, J.C., Xu, W.Y. et al. Experimental Investigation of the Anisotropic Mechanical Properties of a Columnar Jointed Rock Mass: Observations from Laboratory-Based Physical Modelling. Rock Mech Rock Eng 50, 1919–1931 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-017-1192-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-017-1192-4

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