Modelling of Rock Mass Fractures and Two Quarrying Applications

A 3-D model of rock-mass discontinuities is presented which is based on the usual representation of discontinuity systems (joints, fractures or faults) followed in geology. In this model, fracture surfaces are considered as an indefinite or finite planes and their orientation is identified by its normal (pole). Each fracture set is characterized through the following parameters: prevalent direction of the poles belonging to the given set , angular dispersion frequency of poles around the prevalent pole, spacing frequency distribution and spatial correlation on the regionalized spacing variable. In this model, fracture sets present a hierarchic structure. The first hierarchy level corresponds to indefinite fracture planes, while the second and following levels correspond to definite planes, lying within the polyhedrons of the upper level. Using such a model, simulation of fracture rock mass is quite easy, since fracture distributions of different sets are generally independent. Simulation constitutes the basis for different technical applications. Two examples of such applications are presented in the paper