Open AccessElastic Response of Regularly Jointed Media
Author(s) -
Morland L. W.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
geophysical journal of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0016-8009
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1974.tb04095.x
Subject(s) - joint (building) , isotropy , rock mass classification , elasticity (physics) , anisotropy , geology , orientation (vector space) , geometry , mathematics , geotechnical engineering , materials science , structural engineering , physics , optics , composite material , engineering
Summary A continuum description of a rock mass containing one or more sets of regularly spaced parallel joints is adopted for length scales large compared with joint spacing. It is also supposed that relative displacements across joints are small compared with joint spacing. An elastic joint assumption is considered; namely, that relative displacements across joints are functions of the tractions on the joint plane. The overall anisotropic elasticity of a rock mass containing one or more joint sets is determined, assuming that the intact rock blocks are isotropic elastic. Effects of joint orientation are illustrated by simple loading responses with one and two joint sets.