Influence of geometrical distribution of rock joints on deformational behavior of underground opening

Mechanisms of deformation and failure of underground opening in jointed rock masses are governed by the characteristics of the geometrical distribution of discontinuities. In this paper, the extracting method of geometrical distribution of discontinuities in rock masses by image processing is presented and used to make networks of rock joints from the construction field. Next, using those networks, fractal characteristics of the discontinuities are described by using the box-counting method for quantitatively evaluating the state of the discontinuous distribution. Finally, numerical analysis based a case of the excavation of underground power plant is carried out to find the relation between geometrical distribution of rock joints and deformational behavior of underground opening by using distinct element method.