Discontinuities and rock mass geometry

Hudson, John; Priest, Stephen D.

doi:10.1016/0148-9062(79)90001-9

Cited by 196 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Bibliographic research confirms the prevalence of exponential and lognormal distributions (Priest and Hudson, 1976;Hudson and Priest, 1979;Priest and Hudson, 1981;Sen and Kazi, 1984;Grossmann, 1988;Ericsson and Ronge, 1988;Kulatilake, 1988;Priest, 1993;Froldi and Tebaldi, 1995;Hadjigeorgiou et al, 1995;Abu-Zei and Vuillermin, 1997;Hudson and Harrison, 1997). Gamma and Weibbul distributions are less numerous (Rouleau and Gale, 1985;Bardsley et al, 1990;Kulatilake et al, 1993), and normal distributions are unusual.…”

Section: Joint Spacingmentioning

confidence: 79%

Granite fracture index to check suitability of granite outcrops for quarrying

Sousa

2007

Engineering Geology

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A correct knowledge of fracture patterns previous to quarrying is important for economical exploitation. This work comprises the general characterization of the discontinuities of 10 granite rock masses in NE Portugal. During the study some discontinuity characteristics such as orientation, persistence, aperture, trace length and spacing were evaluated. The differences in the characteristics of the selected granites were described, and the most important exploration factors were identified. In the granites studied, most of the joints are oriented from N10°E to N50°E, which is compatible with the regional fracture pattern. Concerning joint termination, the XX type is common, while the RR type is rare; the persistence index ranges from 3.5% to 25.4%. Closed joints are predominant in the granites studied (N 72.4%), and openings of the others are about 1-2 mm as a result of superficial displacement of the granite blocks. The percentage of filled joints, usually by quartz and pegmatite, is different from one granite to another, but most are b 20%. The average joint length ranges from 11.1 m in post-tectonics granites to 4.6 m in syntectonic granites. Joint spacing varies from 0.98 to 2.8 m with higher values in post-tectonic granites. Joint-space distributions of the granites studied are close to log-normal and exponential distributions. Volumetric joint count (Jv) ranges from 0.8 to 2.1 joints/m 3 and is used for categorizing the places of each granite. The relationships between Jv and other joint characteristics, such as length, spacing and number of joint sets, were investigated. A Granite Fracturing Index (GFI) is introduced, computed on the basis of volumetric joint count, number of joint sets and true joint spacing. The GFI classification of studied places allows us evaluate the suitability for profitable exploitation.

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Section: Joint Spacingmentioning

confidence: 79%

Granite fracture index to check suitability of granite outcrops for quarrying

Sousa

2007

Engineering Geology

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“…The lognormal distribution model, applied in several studies [Priest and Hudson, 1976;Baecher and Lanney, 1978;Hudson and Priest, 1979], implies a maximum of occurrence probability for a finite fault length. This contradicts geological observations that show that the number of faults increases as their length decreases.…”

Section: Geometrical Characteristics Of Natural Fault Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Connectivity of random fault networks following a power law fault length distribution

Bour¹,

Davy²

1997

Water Resources Research

353

242

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Abstract. We present a theoretical and numerical study of the connectivity of fault networks following power law fault length distributions, n(l) --• al -a, as expected for natural fault networks. Different regimes of connectivity are identified depending on a. For a > 3, faults smaller than the system size rule the network connectivity and classical laws of percolation theory apply. On the opposite, for a < 1, the connectivity is ruled by the largest fault in the system. For 1 < a < 3, both small and large faults control the connectivity in a ratio which depends on a. The geometrical properties of the fault network and of its connected parts (density, scaling properties) are established at the percolation threshold. Finally, implications are discussed in the case of fault networks with constant density. In particular, we predict the existence of a critical scale at which fault networks are always connected, whatever a smaller than 3, and whatever their fault density.

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“…This was achieved using the equation proposed by Hudson and Priest (1979) to relate total joint frequency to RQD:…”

Section: Joint Spacings Gmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rock mass mechanical property estimations for the Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Project; Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Project

Hardy¹,

Bauer²

1993

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Rock mass mechanical properties are important in the design of drifts and ramps. These properties are used in evaluations of the impacts of thermomechanical loading of potential host rock within the Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Project. Representative intact rock and joint mechanical properties were selected for welded and nonwelded tuffs from the currently available dat_ sources. Rock mass qualities were then estimated using both the Norwegian Geotechnica_ Institute (Q) and Geomechanics Rating (RMR) systems. Rock mass mechanical properties were developed based on estimates of rock mass quality, the current • knowledge of intact properties, and fracture/joint characteristics. Empirical relationships developed to correlate the rock mass quality indices and the rock mass mechanical properties were then used to estimate the range of rock mass mechanical properties.

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Discontinuities and rock mass geometry

Cited by 196 publications

References 6 publications

Granite fracture index to check suitability of granite outcrops for quarrying

Granite fracture index to check suitability of granite outcrops for quarrying

Connectivity of random fault networks following a power law fault length distribution

Rock mass mechanical property estimations for the Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Project; Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Project

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