2. Description and characterization of discontinuities

2.1 Description of a discontinuity

They can be singular or systematic, i.e. part of a family of more or less regularly recurring discontinuities. Discontinuities play a key role in the hydromechanical behavior of rock: strength, deformability and permeability are all strongly affected by the presence of discontinuities. Discontinuities can impart anisotropic behavior to the rock mass. As a result, they also play a major role in the stability of rock structures, and need to be carefully studied in this context.

Within a rock mass, there are different types of discontinuities corresponding to different geological...