The Fracturing of Rock Mass and Its Risks to Engineering Objects

Abstract Good knowledge of the fracturing rock environment is an essential boundary condition in the event that it will be used as foundation soil. Each fault is a sign of deterioration in physical-mechanical parameters of rock, reducing uniaxial compressive strength and a number of other negative effects that we will have to deal with during construction work. Also important is the prediction of changes in the rock environment that occur during the implementation of excavations, tunneling, etc. Predisposition stress in the rock environment causes instability of the slope or bulging at the bottom of the excavation. The rock mass is a heterogeneous environment that is at each moment influenced by a number of factors and is characterized by the action of normal and tangential stress components. The rock massif is able to rearrange its composition to more or less resist environmental influences. This is the effect of mechanical weathering, chemical weathering, stress-deformation changes and the effect of geodynamic processes. A rock massif can develops surfaces of discontinuity to varying extents and points may be affected by tectonic failure. This can cause the accumulation of groundwater, acceleration of groundwater or deep weathering. Unsuitably orientated fissure systems can be a significant influence as well. This can cause slipping out of the massif in open cuts of roads or tunnels. Wrong filling can be also very problematic. It may cause permeability through the geological environment or accumulation of water. The aim is to characterize the factors, which influence the behavior of the rock mass, like foundation soil. Understanding this issue is important in realizing each construction work. It is very difficult to generalize individual factors. A simplification of this problem is used to study this issue in greater depth. Without an awareness of the basic issues and their description, it is not possible to perform a deeper analysis.