Scholarlink

<p>The representative elementary volume concept (REV) is fundamental for selecting rock mass mechanical parameters at relevant scale, somewhere beyond most laboratory test or sampling scales. Based on geometrical structure and mechanical behavior, REVs are classified into geometrical REV and mechanical REV. The relationship between geometrical REV and mechanical REV remains unclear in existing studies, and there is no unified standard for the quantitative indicators and threshold values used to determine REV. This study introduces the coefficient of variation (<i>C</i><sub><i>V</i></sub>) and the variation rate (<i>ε</i>) as dual indicators for REV determination. A discrete fracture network (DFN) and a GPU-based block discrete element method (CoSim-DEM) were employed to obtain both geometrical and mechanical REVs. The intrinsic relationship between REV and the geometrical properties of the rock mass was explored. The study revealed that when both the <i>C</i><sub><i>V</i></sub> and the <i>ε</i> are below 10%, the approach effectively captures the randomness of the DFN and the size effect of rock mass. In the study area, the geometrical REV is 7&#xa0;m × 7&#xa0;m × 7&#xa0;m, while the mechanical REV is 9&#xa0;m × 9&#xa0;m × 9&#xa0;m, indicating that the geometrical REV serves as the lower bound of the mechanical REV. The mechanical REV establishes the critical threshold above which continuum-based methods become applicable, with the equivalent mechanical parameters obtained at this scale being applicable for slope stability analysis. The REV size is approximately 3–10 times the trace length of dominant rock joints. Among the evaluated parameters, volumetric fracture intensity (<i>P</i><sub>32</sub>) and uniaxial compressive strength are the most suitable for determining both geometrical and mechanical REVs. The findings of this study provide a useful reference for the acquisition of mechanical parameters of rock masses and related geotechnical investigations.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Insights to Geometrical and Mechanical Representative Elementary Volume (REV) from a DFN Approach: A Case Study of the Lanping Lead–Zinc Mine

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月22日

查看全文
  • Yan Gu,
  • Rui Yong,
  • Nick Barton,
  • Wen-Jie Xu,
  • Ze Li,
  • Changshuo Wang,
  • Jibo Qin

摘要

The representative elementary volume concept (REV) is fundamental for selecting rock mass mechanical parameters at relevant scale, somewhere beyond most laboratory test or sampling scales. Based on geometrical structure and mechanical behavior, REVs are classified into geometrical REV and mechanical REV. The relationship between geometrical REV and mechanical REV remains unclear in existing studies, and there is no unified standard for the quantitative indicators and threshold values used to determine REV. This study introduces the coefficient of variation (CV) and the variation rate (ε) as dual indicators for REV determination. A discrete fracture network (DFN) and a GPU-based block discrete element method (CoSim-DEM) were employed to obtain both geometrical and mechanical REVs. The intrinsic relationship between REV and the geometrical properties of the rock mass was explored. The study revealed that when both the CV and the ε are below 10%, the approach effectively captures the randomness of the DFN and the size effect of rock mass. In the study area, the geometrical REV is 7 m × 7 m × 7 m, while the mechanical REV is 9 m × 9 m × 9 m, indicating that the geometrical REV serves as the lower bound of the mechanical REV. The mechanical REV establishes the critical threshold above which continuum-based methods become applicable, with the equivalent mechanical parameters obtained at this scale being applicable for slope stability analysis. The REV size is approximately 3–10 times the trace length of dominant rock joints. Among the evaluated parameters, volumetric fracture intensity (P32) and uniaxial compressive strength are the most suitable for determining both geometrical and mechanical REVs. The findings of this study provide a useful reference for the acquisition of mechanical parameters of rock masses and related geotechnical investigations.