Document Type : Review Paper
Authors
Faculty of Mining Engineering, Petroleum and Geophysics, Shahrood University of Technology, Iran.
Abstract
The deformation modulus of jointed rock masses plays a crucial role in determining the stability and deformation of rock engineering structures. Owing to its engineering significance and the complexity of discontinuity-controlled deformation, numerous approaches have been developed to estimate this parameter with varying levels of physical and computational rigor. This review critically evaluates twenty analytical and semi-analytical models published between 1968 and 2010. The models are classified into seven categories: compliance-based, orthorhombic and three-dimensional equivalent, tensorial crack or fabric, random isotropic averaging, laboratory-calibrated stiffness, non-orthogonal and dilatancy-inclusive, and hybrid nonlinear formulations, according to their mathematical structures and mechanical assumptions. The results show that joint stiffness, spacing, and orientation are the primary factors governing the deformation behavior of jointed rock masses, with shear compliance exerting the dominant influence. However, most analytical models still rely on simplified geometries, linear elasticity, and small-strain assumptions, which may limit their applicability to highly heterogeneous rock masses. Future research should focus on integrating analytical transparency with data-driven adaptability, particularly through physics-informed machine learning frameworks that combine mechanistic understanding with predictive flexibility.
Keywords
- Analytical Models
- Semi-Analytical Models
- Deformation Modulus
- Jointed Rock Masses, Equivalent Continuum Models
Main Subjects
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