Non-linear global elastic behaviour of a periodically jointed material

Making use of the definition of the constitutive law for an elastic multilayered material expressed, in the case of finite deformations, by means of a macroscopic potential, a non-linear elastic behaviour formulated within the context of small perturbations for the homogenized material is obtained us a limiting case of the multilayered model. This non-linearity originates from the fact that the joint material undergoes large strains while at the same time its thickness tends to zero. The model is applied to joint rock masses, the elastic anisotropy of which, due to the preferential orientations of the joints, is clearly evidenced.