A novel equation to determine geometrical representative elementary volume of fractured rock mass

This study presents a novel equation for determination of geometrical representative elementary volume (REV). Discrete fracture network (DFN) generated by FracMan was adapted to create rock mass models. Systematic random sampling process was performed to take specimen by firstly dividing the entire rock mass model into cubes. The fracture intensity (P32) of each specimen was measured. A series of parametric studies including dip angle, dip direction, Fisher constant K, size of rock mass model, shape of rock mass model, specimen volume, fracture diameter, and P32 were investigated. The results indicate that only specimen volume, fracture dimeter, and P32 affected the COV (Coefficient of variance) of P32. Based on the results of parametric studies, a novel equation to quantify the COV of P32 in terms of specimen volume, fracture diameter and P32 was established.