HOMGENISATION AND DISCRETE FRACTURE NETWORKS

BAE has conducted extensive research in the area of rock property estimation, rock strength scaling and homogenisation.

One technique applied for these tasks is numerical homogenisation. This involves constructing a model of the rock mass using a Discrete Fracture Network.

The load-deformation response of the ‘synthetic’ specimen can be tested under static and dynamic loading conditions in order to investigate the complete stress strain response of the rock at different length scales.

Figure: Stress-strain response of a simulated rock mass specimen (8m diameter) at varying levels of confinement. The yield state of discontinuities and the deformation of the specimen at milestones of yield are shown.

The simulations allow the development of homogenised material properties using laboratory scale measurements and representative DFNs. The models also show how confinement and scale affect the stress-strain and seismic response of the simulated rock specimens, reproducing a number of known rock phenomena that are often poorly captured in geotechnical modelling.

BAE is applying this technology now to real-world projects. Already, BAE has proven the procedure can produce the same material properties as those derived by calibration of mine-scale models where many thousands of seismic, displacement and damage measurements were available.

For more information about these exciting new developments, please contact dbeck@beckarndt.com.au