Mechanics and fluid transport in a degradable discontinuity

This paper briefly examines the mechanical and hydraulic response of discontinuity in a geologic medium that can experience degradation of its contacting regions due to shear and normal stresses acting on it. The paper discusses the methodologies that can be adopted to describe the mechanics and fluid transport behaviour of such a joint. The calibration capabilities of the model are illustrated by appeal to a comparison of experimental results with computational predictions.