Effect of Joint Morphology on Fracture Behavior for Rock Mass: DEM Investigation on a Single Joint

This study proposes a novel discrete element modelling (DEM) framework for investigating the fracture behavior of jointed rock masses, with particular emphasis on rock specimens containing a single pre-existing joint. The proposed method explicitly represents joint geometry through constrained mesh generation, enabling accurate simulation of joint-controlled fracture processes without introducing additional joint constitutive models. The reliability of the numerical approach is validated by comparison with laboratory uniaxial compression tests on rock specimens containing a single closed joint. On this basis, the influences of joint dip angle, length and width on the mechanical response and fracture evolution of single-jointed rock specimens are systematically examined. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can effectively capture stress–strain behavior, crack initiation, propagation, and coalescence governed by joint geometry. Owing to its high computational efficiency, straightforward implementation, and accurate geometric representation, the proposed framework shows strong potential for simulating brittle fracture processes in jointed rock masses.