An analysis of the G-Tunnel Heated Block Experiment using a compliant-joint rock-mass model

A key question in the analytical and numerical modeling of rock structures is how to account for the effects of joints, faults and other natural discontinuities on the deformation of the rock mass. In this paper, we address this question by using a continuum rock-mass model to simulate the response of a large block of jointed rock subjected to mechanical loading. The purpose of this effort is to evaluate the validity of the continuum approach to rock-mass modeling and, thus, provide at least a partial answer to the question posed above. The results of two-dimensional finite element analyses of the G-Tunnel Heated Block Experiment (Zimmerman, et al., 1986) are presented. Good quantitative agreement between the experimental and numerical results were obtained in most cases.