Solving the scale effect for rock discontinuities

该项目旨在为大型原位岩石结构面抗剪强度的无标度预测创造一种突破性的方法。岩石斜坡或岩石悬崖的破坏会对人类生活、基础设施和经济造成灾难性的后果。裂隙岩体的稳定性受结构面存在及其特征的控制，任何严格的稳定性评估都需要对结构面抗剪强度进行量化。岩石不稳定问题影响到民用和采矿部门。开发一种设计方法，解决岩石边坡稳定性的规模效应，将提供更安全的民用环境，并将允许资源开采的优化。该项目将具有显著的经济和社会效益，不仅适用于澳大利亚，也适用于国际。

This project aims to create a ground breaking approach for the scale-free prediction of shear strength of large in-situ rock discontinuities. Failure of rock slopes or rock cliffs can have disastrous consequences for human life, infrastructure and the economy. The stability of a fractured rock mass is controlled by the presence and characteristics of discontinuities, and any rigorous stability assessment requires quantification of discontinuity shear strength. The issue of rock instability affects both the civil and mining sectors. Developing a design methodology that addresses the scale effect for rock slope stability will provide safer civil environments and will allow the optimisation of resource extraction. This project will have significant economical and societal benefits which will apply not only to Australia but also internationally.