Analysis of rock masses with plenty of weakness planes and joints with numerical methods based on meshes encounters difficulties. In the analysis when even only a few meshes are involved, mesh generation can consume more time and effort compared to the construction and solution of the discrete set of equations. Continuous remeshing of the domain in order to avoid the break down of the calculati...

The joint surface is widely distributed in the rock, thus leading to the nonlinear characteristics of rock mass strength and limiting the effectiveness of the linear model in reflecting characteristics. The JRC/JCS model is the nonlinear failure criterion and generally believed to describe the characteristics of joints better than other models. In order to develop the numerical program for JRC/...

The existing failure criteria to evaluate discontinuous rocks are predominatly based on the relations between principal stresses at failure. None of the criteria has a direct reference to the magnitude of deformation as a major parameter in rock Several reasons are identified indicating that the selection of peak stress as a major parameter, which is obtained through the evaluation of a failure...

The Geological Strength Index (GSI) system, proposed in 1995, is now widely used for the estimation of the rock mass strength and the rock mass deformation parameters. The GSI system concentrates on the description of two factors, rock structure and block surface conditions. The guidelines given by the GSI system are for the estimation of the peak strength parameters of jointed rock masses. The...

This paper presents a modeling approach for three-dimensional simulation of hydraulic fracturing of jointed rock. Dynardo developed a 3D-hydraulic fracturing simulator and coupled the simulator with leading edge calibration and optimization algorithms to offers the software base to optimize gas production with computer simulation. With the integrated approach, an effective 3D numerical reservoi...

We develop a model for the propagation of a fluid-filled crack in a porous medium. The problem is motivated by the mechanism whereby drainage networks may form in partially molten rock below the Earth‘s lithosphere. Other applications include the propagation of hydraulic fractures in jointed rocks and in oil drilling operations, and the formation of dessication cracks in soils. Motivated by the...