A new empirical peak shear strength criterion for rock joints

Pinnaduwa H.S.W. Kulatilake, Guohua Shou, Robert M. Morgan, Tsan Hwei Huang

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The paper presents findings of an experimental as well as theoretical/analytical research initiated (a) to quantify joint surface roughness on a plane and then (b) to develop a new peak shear strength criterion for rock joints which has the capability of capturing the anisotropic behavior of peak shear strength due to the anisotropy of joint surface roughness. The results show clearly that at least two parameters are required to quantify joint roughness in one dimension. By limiting to only statistical parameters, an average slope of the profile (average I angle) is suggested to quantify the large scale undulations of the profile (non-stationary part of the profile) and the root mean square of the slope (z2) is suggested to quantify the small scale roughness of the profile (stationary part of the profile). In order to capture the anistropic roughness, it was found necessary to calculate both averages I and z2' in different directions on the joint surface. The shear strength results of a model material joint show that the suggested new equation, which is based on very limited experimental data, has a good capability of predicting the anisotropic peak shear strength of the joints.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages565-572
Number of pages8
StatePublished - 1994
Event1st North American Rock Mechanics Symposium, NARMS 1994 - Austin, United States
Duration: Jun 1 1994Jun 3 1994

Other

Other1st North American Rock Mechanics Symposium, NARMS 1994
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityAustin
Period6/1/946/3/94

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geochemistry and Petrology
  • Geophysics

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