Abstract Mechanical response of rock masses to the periodical fluctuation of surface temperatures is a relevant topic to be focused on for the comprehension of short- to long-term stability of rock slopes continuously stressed by slight yet periodical actions. To better understand how preparatory factors can lead rock masses toward failure, thermal and strain monitoring activities are ongoing in a selected quarry wall, where an experimental test-site was implemented on a jointed rock block. The role of pervasive joints in perturbing the heating-cooling process of the rock mass and their related effects was already output by direct and remote monitoring. For these purposes, FDM numerical modelling was focused on the comprehension and simulation of induced mechanical effects due to cyclical thermal forcings over a simplified 2D half-space. Therefore, the role of rock mass joints on both heat propagation and resulting thermo-mechanical effects was analysed, basing on monitoring data, field experiments and numerical modelling. Numerical results output the role of periodic daily, annual and compound thermal input in inducing irreversible deformation along joints under different rock mass jointing configuration, as a function of the intrinsic period of thermal input and joint attitude. Temperature distribution across joints was also analysed as a possible constraining effect for time and space distribution of yielding. A sensitivity analysis of heat propagation conditions was performed in order to infer the role of joint sets on induced thermo-mechanical strains at the rock block scale. A non-negligible influence on surficial as well as deeper portions of the rock mass was observed, highlighting how near-surface temperature fluctuations can drive the long-term evolution of rock block conditions towards failure.

中文翻译：

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近地表温度波动引起的采石场壁热机械效应模拟

摘要 岩体对地表温度周期性波动的力学响应是理解受轻微周期性作用持续应力的岩质边坡的短期和长期稳定性的一个相关课题。为了更好地了解准备因素如何导致岩体破坏，热力和应变监测活动正在选定的采石场墙中进行，在那里，在一个有节理的岩块上实施了一个实验测试站点。普遍节理在扰动岩体加热冷却过程中的作用及其相关影响已经通过直接和远程监测输出。出于这些目的，FDM 数值建模侧重于理解和模拟由于简化的 2D 半空间上的循环热力引起的机械效应。所以，根据监测数据、现场试验和数值模拟，分析了岩体节理对热传播和由此产生的热机械效应的作用。数值结果输出了周期性的日、年和复合热输入在不同岩体节理配置下引起沿节理不可逆变形的作用，作为热输入和节理姿态的固有周期的函数。还分析了接头的温度分布，作为屈服时间和空间分布的可能约束效应。进行了热传播条件的敏感性分析，以推断节理组对岩块尺度上诱发的热机械应变的作用。观察到对岩体的表层和更深部分的影响不可忽视，