Numerical methods in rock mechanics

The purpose of this CivilZone review paper is to present the techniques, advances, problems and likely future development directions in numerical modelling for rock mechanics and rock engineering. Such modelling is essential for Studying the fundamental processes occurring in rock,, for assessing the anticipated and actual performance of structures built on and in rock masses, and C hence for Supporting rock engineering design. We begin by providing the rock engineering design backdrop to the review in Section 1. The states-of-the-art of different types of numerical methods are outlined in Section 2, with focus on representations of fractures in the rock mass. In Section 3, the numerical methods for incorporating couplings between the thermal, hydraulic and mechanical processes are described. In Section 4, inverse solution techniques are summarized. Finally, in Section 5, we list the issues of special difficulty and importance in the subject. In the reference Est, 'significant' references are asterisked and 'very significant' references are doubly asterisked. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.