JRMGE / Vol 10 / Issue 4

Article

Multiscale hierarchical analysis of rock mass and prediction of its mechanical and hydraulic properties

Xiaoli Liu, Guofeng Han, Enzhi Wang, Sijing Wang, Kumar Nawnit


2018, 10(4): 694-702. doi:10.1016/j.jrmge.2018.04.003


Received: 2017-08-03 / Revised: 2018-03-18 / Accepted: 2018-04-09 / Available online: 2018-05-22

2018, 10(4): 694-702.

doi:10.1016/j.jrmge.2018.04.003


Received: 2017-08-03

Revised: 2018-03-18

Accepted: 2018-04-09

Available online: 2018-05-22


Abstract: Engineering geological and hydro-geological characteristics of foundation rock and surrounding rock mass are the main factors that affect the stability of underground engineering. This paper presents the concept of multiscale hierarchical digital rock mass models to describe the rock mass, including its structures in different scales and corresponding scale dependence. Four scales including regional scale, engineering scale, laboratory scale and microscale are determined, and the corresponding scale-dependent geological structures and their characterization methods are provided. Image analysis and processing method, geostatistics and Monte Carlo simulation technique are used to establish the multiscale hierarchical digital rock mass models, in which the main micro- and macro-structures of rock mass in different geological units and scales are reflected and connected. A computer code is developed for numerically analyzing the strength, fracture behavior and hydraulic conductivity of rock mass using the multiscale hierarchical digital models. Using the models and methods provided in this paper, the geological information of rock mass in different geological units and scales can be considered sufficiently, and the influence of downscale characteristics (such as meso-scale) on the upscale characteristics (such as engineering scale) can be calculated by considering the discrete geological structures in the downscale model as equivalent continuous media in the upscale model. Thus the mechanical and hydraulic properties of rock mass may be evaluated rationally and precisely. The multiscale hierarchical digital rock mass models and the corresponding methods proposed in this paper provide a unified and simple solution for determining the mechanical and hydraulic properties of rock mass in different scales.

Download PDF:


Keywords: Multiscale hierarchical digital rock mass models, Numerical analysis, Evaluation of rock mass quality

Share and Cite

Xiaoli Liu, Guofeng Han, Enzhi Wang, Sijing Wang, Kumar Nawnit, 2018. Multiscale hierarchical analysis of rock mass and prediction of its mechanical and hydraulic properties. J. Rock Mech. Geotech. Eng. 10 (4), 694-702.

Author(s) Information

Prof. Xiaoli Liu
xiaoli.liu@tsinghua.edu.cn

Xiaoli Liu obtained his BSc and MSc degrees from Liaoning Technical University, China in 2001 and 2004, respectively, and his PhD degree from Tsinghua University, China in 2009. He serves as associate dean for the School of Civil Engineering at Tsinghua University. He serves on the editorial boards of several renowned international journals, including Tunneling and Underground Space Technology, and Environmental Geotechnics. His research interests include geotechnical and geo-environmental engineering, thermo-hydro-mechanical and chemical (THMC) coupling mechanism in geological system, tunnel boring machine (TBM) tunneling technique and underground storage of energies and resources. He has authored/coauthored over 180 papers published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and conferences in these areas. He is active in academic activities and consultancies and has served as a member of many projects and conference committees. He obtained the National Natural Science Foundation Outstanding Youth Foundation in 2015.