Geophysical and geomechanical investigations applied to the rock mass characterisation for distinct element modelling

The paper describes the experience gathered in an underground quarry of crystalline marble where the rock mass structure has been characterised by a joint approach using geomechanical mapping and geophysical investigations with a high resolution radar system. Standard geomechanical surveys have been coupled and integrated by radar acquisition performed on a selected pillar of the quarry to improve the rock mass description. The fracture pattern has been computed on the basis of the deterministic model on the rock faces of the pillar and taking into account both the statistical approach to describe the extent within the rock mass and the fracture pattern described by radar survey.