Abstract Determining the mechanical parameters of jointed rock mass is a critical problem in rock mechanics. The techniques to study the size effect and the spatial anisotropy of the mechanical parameters of jointed rock mass through three-dimensional distinct element simulations were discussed and the methods to solve the problems encountered in the simulation were proposed. The size effect on mechanical parameters of jointed rock mass was investigated on the basis of a three-dimensional fracture network model through a case study by considering the effect of model location. The normal and the shear constitutive models of actual joints were established according to the laboratory test results. These constitutive models were used to represent the mechanical property of joints via a program written with Fish language. The variation of the normalized rock block strength,the deformation modulus,the shear modulus and the bulk modulus with the location and block size were obtained and the representative elementary volume(REV) size was determined to be 18 m. Finally,the anisotropy of jointed rock mass in the studied area was revealed by rotating the REV block size of 18 m in every 45°in 3D to determine the mechanical parameters in different directions.
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Received: 25 November 2013
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