Strength and deformational behaviour of a jointed rock mass

An assessment of the strength and deformational response of jointed rock masses is an essential requirement in the site selection, design and successful execution of Civil and Mining Engineering projects. A quick estimate of these properties for preliminary evaluation of alternate sites, will reduce considerable expenditures for field tests. An attempt has been made in the present study to develop a link between strength and deformability of jointed block masses with the properties of intact specimens, obtained from simple laboratory tests, taking into account the influence of the properties of the joints. Extensive experimentation has been carried out on large specimens of jointed block masses under uniaxial compression. The model material represents a low strength rock. Various joint configurations were introduced to achieve the most common modes of failure occurring in nature. A coefficient called Joint Factor has been used to account for the weakness brought into the intact rock by jointing. Methods of computing the Joint Factor for various modes of failure of a jointed mass in an unconfined state have been established. The effect of Joint Factor on strength and tangent modulus of the mass has been studied and the values have been correlated with those of intact rock. Guidelines for assessing probable modes of failure of a jointed mass will enable one to estimate the relevant strength and tangent modulus of the mass.