Effect of joints which pre-exist in the rock mass on the behavior of underground structures is studied. A finite element program is developed using a constitutive mode for rock masses exhibiting nonlinear anisotropic behavior. The initial loading scheme combined with reduced region of analysis is employed to minimize the problem size. A circular tunnel within rock mass is analyzed and the results are compared with those of elasto-plastic analysis to verify that the program is reasonable. The effect of joint direction is also analyzed in regard to stress relaxation, displacement, and deformation shape. It is concluded that the joint direction has significant influence on the nonlinear behavior of rock masses such that the vicinity of tunnel perpendicular to the direction of the joints is stressed to slide. It is also observed that the circular shape deforms to an elliptical shape with a major axis in the joint direction.