For investigating the scale effects in strength and deformation

an experimental study of constitution ratio of similar simulation materials of brittle rocks has been carried out; in which a method of generating simulated joints with initial materials has been provided; and a method of producing randomly-distributed-joint specimens has also been developed. We have then completed an experimental study of scale effects in axial compressive strength and deformation using the prepared specimens of fractal-joint rock mass with simulated materials

and have obtained consistent results comparing with the same study with the natural rock masses. We conclude that the scale effect in rock mass deformation is not completely resulting from the joint closure and shear degradation

while the scale effect in rock mass deformation is mainly due to the augment of shear deformation before the shear degradation happens.