JOINT NETWORK MODELING WITH A VALIDATION EXERCISE IN STRIPA MINE, SWEDEN

In this paper, eight joint geometry modelling schemes are suggested an d applied to a set of Stripa mine joint data to build 3-D joint networ ks to a granitic rock mass. These modelling schemes include investigat ions for statistical homogeneity of the rock mass, corrections for sam pling biases, and applications of stereological principles, to estimat e 3-D joint geometry parameters from 1-D or 2-D joint geometry paramet er values. Results show the possibility of obtaining different estimat es for both joint size and joint intensity parameters through these di fferent schemes. This indicates the importance of performing validatio n studies for developed joint geometry modelling schemes. Validation p rocedures developed and performed indicated the need to try out differ ent schemes in modelling joint geometry parameters in order to establi sh realistic 3-D joint geometry modelling schemes which provide good a greement with field data during verification. It is important to reali ze that different types of joint geometry modelling schemes are needed to model joint networks in different types of rock formations.