EFFECTIVE ELASTIC PROPERTIES FOR A RANDOMLY JOINTED ROCK MASS

In this note, a constitutive model is derived for a randomly jointed rock mass behaving elastically. The joints are modelled as one dimensionally deforming elements, while the intact rock is modelled as a three-dimensional continuum. An averaging procedure suggested by R. M. Christensen and F. M. Waals for fiber composites is used to derive an isotropic elastic constitutive model with the effective moduli depending on joint spacing and joint and intact rock elastic properties. An example illustrating how the joint spacing affects these moduli is presented.