The constitutive relation of joints and boundary surfaces in geomechanics
Abstract
Considering the joints and weak surfaces and other displacement discontinuous surfaces as the limit cases of a thin mass layer with zero thickness, we deduce its constitutive relation from the constitutive law of a continuous medium. Various features, such as dilation and softness (strain soften and permeation soften), are properly described in this constitutive relation. The joint elements based on this constitutive relation are used successfuly in some rock engineering analysis.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Rock Mechanics and Modeling
Soil
Finite Element Methods
Numerical methods in engineering
Publication details
- Journal / source
- CRC Press eBooks
- Pages
- 919–922
- Publication date
- 24 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter