A fracture damage model for Jointed rock masses and its application to the stability analysis of dam abutments

Based on continuum damage mechanics, for jointed rock masses, a fracture damage model is presented in this paper. First, the damage tensors are defined through the elastic-flexibility of intact rock and the equivalent elastic-damage flexibility for rock mass. Then, by the self-consistent principle of solid mechanics, the equivalent elastic-damage flexibility tensors involving the interaction between multicracks are deduced. The damage evolution law is proposed involving the mechanism of crack propagation process: frictional sliding, crack kinking, growing of branched tension cracks, interlinking of the microcracks near branched crack tips leading to the breakthrough of macro-cracks and finally the failure of rock mass. Thus the evolution of damage variables reasonably unified with the process of crack propagation is given. Finally, a plastic-brittle damage constitutive relation including brittle coupled strain rate, developed and applied to the stability analysis of complicated rock foundation of a dam in China, is described in this paper.