Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers ISSN:2288-0291(Print) 2288-2790(Online) 한국자원공학회지

This study presents a three-dimensional joint model based on the stochastic method for analyzing the influence of discontinuities on hydraulic properties of rock masses. The three-dimensional joint model developed in this study is based on the assumptions that the joints are planar, circular in shape and randomly distributed in space. Joint orientation is assumed to have Fisher distribution. Joint size is stereologically inferred from the trace length data of joints. To obtain the three-dimensional joint network for groundwater flow, the disconnected joints is removed through the method checking the connectivity of joints. Using the three-dimensional joint network, calculated are the hydraulic conductivities of the rock masses having anisotropy and inhomogeneity. The joint network is also analyzed to predict the water inflow into a circular tunnel. The results are compared with the existing analytic solution and the difference is discussed and explained.