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FracMan Applications: Civil Engineering

Discrete fracture geometry and mechanical behavior plays a key role in determining stability and deformation of critical engineering decisions for civil structures such as underground caverns, tunnels, rock slopes, and dam foundations. Rock blocks and rock wedges formed formed by fracture intersections are the key to classical rock mechanics stability approaches such as key block analysis (Goodman and Shi, 1980) and wedge analysis (Hoek and Bray, 1974). The deformation of foundations on fractured and faulted rock frequently depends more on the formation of the discrete features than on the elastic modulus of the rock itself (Dershowitz and Einstein, 1979).

Traditional rock mechanics analysis frequently are based on assumptions on infinite fracture size, and do not consider the fracture location pattern. FracMan extends these analysis by directly considering fracture size and location as modeled in FracMan/FracWorks. Thus, fractures can have any size and shape, and can be located deterministically, stochastically, or conditioned to field measurements.

FracMan Rock Mechanics Software

The following analyses can be carried out on any discrete fracture model generated using FracMan/FracWorks.

• RockBlock identifies completely defined rock blocks formed by finite fractures on rock slopes and caverns. Slopes may be simple, benched, or 3D, and caverns may be circular or horseshoe, or more complex shapes. RockBlock uses the engine of Unwedge to determine kinematic and limit equilibrium stability. RockBlock provides 3D visualization of blocks and wedges

• Block2D transforms a 2D section through a 3D FracMan/FracWorks model into a format which can be used for distinct element stability/deformation with UDEC or DDA.

• MASIC uses the 3D boundary element method to calculate stress and deformation in a 3D rock mass containing up to 100,000 fractures. MASIC works directly with FracMan/FracWorks fracture patterns or MAFIC finite element models..

• DefRock calculates and visualizes surface deformation and subsidence due to surface stresses applied to rock foundations containing FracMan/FracWorks fractures. Defrock directly calculates the shear and normal deformations on fracture planes due to stress applied at the surface (under development).

• EdMesh facilitates refinement of finite elements, modifies solution specifications and boundary conditions, and adjusts material properties, including specification of stochastic continuum properties on fracture surfaces.

Follow these links to find out more about the rock mechanics software which has been used with FracMan:

• UDEC/3DEC (2D distinct element method) from Itasca Consulting Group
• Unwedge (key block stability) from University of Toronto
• DDA (2D distinct element method) from University by California/Berkeley

Typical Rock Mechanics Applications