STRENGTH, DEFORMATION AND CONDUCTIVITY COUPLING OF ROCK JOINTS

Construction of dams, tunnels and slopes in jointed, water-bearing rock causes complex interactions between joint deformation and effective stress. Joint deformation can take the form of normal closure, opening, shear and dilation. The resulting changes of aperture can cause as much as three orders of magnitude change in conductivity at moderate compressive stress levels. Even the heavily stressed joints found in oil and gas reservoirs may also exhibit significant stress-dependent conductivity during depletion, and during waterflood treatments. The magnitudes of the above processes are often strongly dependent on both the character and frequency of jointing. In this paper the results of many years of research on joint properties are synthesized in a coupled joint behaviour model. Methods of joint characterization are described for obtaining the necessary input data. The model simulates stress-and size-dependent coupling of shear stress, displacement, dilation and conductivity, and of normal stress, closure and conductivity. These processes are the fundamental building blocks of rock mass behaviour. Model simulations are compared with experimental behaviour and numerous examples are given. (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01489062
• Corporate Authors:

  Pergamon Press, Incorporated

  Headington Hill Hall
  Oxford OX30BW,    
• Authors:
  • Barton, N
  • Bandis, S
  • Bakhtar, K
• Publication Date: 1985-6

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 121-140
• Serial:
  • Intl J of Rock Mech & Mining Sci & Geomechanic Abs
  • Volume: 22
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Pergamon Press, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0148-9062

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Couplers; Deformation; Dilation; Dislocation (Geology); Friction; Mathematical models; Rock jointing; Rocks; Shear strength; Shear stress; Simulation; Size; Strength of materials; Stresses; Temperature
• Uncontrolled Terms: Conductivity
• Old TRIS Terms: Rock joints
• ITRD Terms: 5595: Deformation; 9014: Dimension; 5452: Friction; 4089: Joint (geomorphol); 6473: Mathematical model; 4154: Rock; 5531: Shear; 9103: Simulation; 5544: Strength (mater); 5575: Stress (in material); 6722: Temperature
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Geotechnology; Highways; I25: Design of Tunnels; I43: Rock Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00450885
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 27 2004 9:57PM