Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Experimental Study on Peak Shear Strength Criterion for Rock Joints

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The three-dimensional (3D) morphology of a rock joint has a great impact on its shear behavior. To study the relationship between the 3D morphological characteristics and the peak shear strength, several tilt tests were conducted on four groups of tensile fractures and direct shear tests were carried out under different constant normal loads (CNL). The normal load ranges from 0.325 to 8.0 MPa. In this study, fresh tensile fractures which were splitted from granite and sandstone samples were used. The morphology of each tensile fracture was measured before direct shear tests. A new peak shear strength criterion for rock joints is proposed using two 3D morphological parameters which are termed as the maximum apparent dip angle \(\theta_{\max}^{*}\) and the roughness parameter C. The calculated peak strengths using the proposed criterion match well with the observed values. In addition, a comparison of the proposed model with the Grasselli’s model (2003) and Xia’s model (2014) shows that the proposed model is easier in the form and gives a rational improvement. At last, direct shear test data of tensile fractures which are collected from Grasselli (2003) are used to verify the proposed model. It is seen that the proposed model has a reliable estimate of the peak shear strength of tensile fractures and presumably for rock joints.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

A 0 :

Maximum potential contact area ratio for the specified shear direction

A t :

Sum of area facing to the shear direction (mm2)

A :

Total fracture surface area (mm2)

\(\theta_{\max}^{*}\) :

Maximum apparent dip angle in the shear direction (°)

C :

Roughness parameter characterizing the distribution of apparent dip angles over the fracture surface

\(\theta_{\text{cr}}^{*}\) :

Threshold apparent dip angle (°)

θ :

Dip angle of the triangular element (°)

t :

The shear vector

n :

Outward normal vector of the triangle element

n 1 :

The projection vector of n

α :

The angle between n 1 and t, measured clockwise from t (°)

JRC:

Joint roughness coefficient

JCS:

Joint wall compressive strength (MPa)

UCS:

Uniaxial compressive strength (MPa)

τ p :

Peak shear strength (MPa)

σ n :

Applied normal stress (MPa)

σ t :

Tensile strength (MPa)

φ b :

Basic friction angle (°)

φ r :

Residual friction angle (°)

d n :

Peak dilatancy angle (°)

s n :

Represents failure of intact material (°)

\(\phi_{\text{p}}\) :

Total friction angle (°)

\(\alpha_e^0\) :

Initial effective asperity angle (°)

α e :

Effective asperity angle (°)

b :

A material parameter

β :

Angle between the schistosity plane and the plane normal to the joint (°)

\(\bar{\sigma}_{\text{ave}}\) :

Average estimate error

τ mea :

Measured peak shear strength (MPa)

τ cal :

Calculated peak shear strength by the criteria (MPa)

m:

Number of samples

References

  • Aydan Ö, Shimizu Y, Kawamoto T (1996) The anisotropy of surface morphology characteristics of rock discontinuities. Rock Mech Rock Eng 29(1):47–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandis S, Lumsden A, Barton N (1981) Experimental studies of scale effects on the shear behaviour of rock joints. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 18(1):1–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barton N (1971) A relationship between joint roughness and joint shear strength. Int Symp Rock Mech Rock Fracture, Nancy, pp 1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton N (1973) Review of a new shear-strength criterion for rock joints. Eng Geol 7(4):287–332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barton N (1982) Modelling rock joint behavior from in situ block tests: implications for nuclear waste repository design. Office of Nuclear Waste Isolation, Columbus, Ohio, ONWI-308

  • Barton N, Choubey V (1977) The shear strength of rock joints in theory and practice. Rock Mech 10(1–2):1–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belem T, Homand-Etienne F, Souley M (2000) Quantitative parameters for rock joint surface roughness. Rock Mech Rock Eng 33(4):217–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrero M, Iabichino G, Pancotti G, Giani G (1999) Interpretazione con modelli matematici di misure di rugosità di discontinuità naturali in roccia. XX convegno nazionale di geotecnica, Parma, pp 101–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Gens A, Carol I, Alonso E (1990) A constitutive model for rock joints formulation and numerical implementation. Comp Geotech 9(1):3–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gentier SS, Hopkins DL (1997) Mapping fracture aperture as a function of normal stress using a combination of casting, image analysis and modeling techniques. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 34(3–4):132

    Google Scholar 

  • Gentier S, Riss J, Archambault G, Flamand R, Hopkins D (2000) Influence of fracture geometry on shear behavior. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 37(1):161–174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghaboussi J, Wilson EL, Isenberg J (1973) Finite element for rock joints and interfaces. J Soil Mech Found Div 99(10):849–862

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghazvinian A, Taghichian A, Hashemi M, Mar’ashi S (2010) The shear behavior of bedding planes of weakness between two different rock types with high strength difference. Rock Mech Rock Eng 43(1):69–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grasselli G (2001) Shear strength of rock joints based on quantified surface description. Ph.D dissertation, Lausanne, Switzerland, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology

  • Grasselli G (2006) Manuel Rocha medal recipient shear strength of rock joints based on quantified surface description. Rock Mech Rock Eng 39(4):295–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grasselli G, Egger P (2000) 3D surface characterization for the prediction of the shear strength of rough joints. In: Proceedings of Eurock 2000, Aachen, Germany, pp 281–286

  • Grasselli G, Egger P (2003) Constitutive law for the shear strength of rock joints based on three-dimensional surface parameters. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 40(1):25–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grasselli G, Wirth J, Egger P (2002) Quantitative three-dimensional description of a rough surface and parameter evolution with shearing. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 39(6):789–800

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Homand F, Belem T, Souley M (2001) Friction and degradation of rock joint surfaces under shear loads. Int J Numer Anal Methods Geomech 25(10):973–999

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hsu-Jun K (1979) Non-linear analysis of the mechanical properties of joint and weak intercalation in rock. In: Proceedings of 3rd International Conference on Numerical Methods in Geomechanics, pp, 523–532

  • ISRM (1978) Suggested methods for the quantitative description of discontinuities in rock masses. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 15(6):319–368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaeger J (1971) Friction of rocks and stability of rock slopes. Geotechnology 21(2):97–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Jing L (1990) Numerical modelling of jointed rock masses by distinct element method for two-and three-dimensional problems. Ph.D dissertation, Sweden, Lulea, Lulea University of Technology

  • Jing L, Nordlund E, Stephansson O (1992) An experimental study on the anisotropy and stress-dependency of the strength and deformability of rock joints. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 29(6):535–542

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jing L, Stephansson O, Nordlund E (1993) Study of rock joints under cyclic loading conditions. Rock Mech Rock Eng 26(3):215–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kulatilake P, Shou G, Huang T (1995a) Spectral-based peak-shear-strength criterion for rock joints. J Geotechnol Eng 121(11):789–796

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kulatilake P, Shou G, Huang T, Morgan R (1995b) New peak shear strength criteria for anisotropic rock joints. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 32(7):673–697

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kulatilake P, Um J, Panda B, Nghiem N (1999) Development of new peak shear-strength criterion for anisotropic rock joints. J Eng Mech 125(9):1010–1017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ladanyi B, Archambault G (1969) Simulation of the shear behaviour of a jointed rock mass. In: Proceeding of the 11th US symposium on rock mechanics 7:105–125

  • Lanaro F, Jing L, Stephansson O (1998) 3-D-laser measurements and representation of roughness of rock fractures. In: Proceedings of Mechanical Jointed Faulted Rock. Vienna, pp 185–189

  • Lee H, Park Y, Cho T, You K (2001) Influence of asperity degradation on the mechanical behavior of rough rock joints under cyclic shear loading. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 38(7):967–980

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li B, Jiang Y, Koyama T, Jing L, Tanabashi Y (2008) Experimental study of the hydro-mechanical behavior of rock joints using a parallel-plate model containing contact areas and artificial fractures. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 45(3):362–375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mah J, Samson C, McKinnon SD, Thibodeau D (2013) 3D laser imaging for surface roughness analysis. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 58:111–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Maksimović M (1992) New description of the shear strength for rock joints. Rock Mech Rock Eng 25(4):275–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maksimović M (1996) The shear strength components of a rough rock joint. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 33(8):769–783

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patton FD (1966) Multiple modes of shear failure in rock. In: Proceeding of First congress of ISRM, Lisbon, Portugal 1:509–513

  • Plesha ME (1987) Constitutive models for rock discontinuities with dilatancy and surface degradation. Int J Numer Anal Methods Geomech 11(4):345–362

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberds WJ, Einstein HH (1978) Comprehensive model for rock discontinuities. J Geotechnol Geoenvi Eng 104:553–569

    Google Scholar 

  • Roosta RM, Sadaghiani MH, Pak A, Saleh Y (2006) Rock joint modeling using a visco-plastic multilaminate model at constant normal load condition. Geotechnol Geol Eng 24(5):1449–1468

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saeb S, Amadei B (1992) Modelling rock joints under shear and normal loading. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 29(3):267–278

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider H (1976) The friction and deformation behaviour of rock joints. Rock Mech 8(3):169–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Serrano A, Olalla C, Galindo R (2014) Micromechanical basis for shear strength of rock discontinuities. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 70:33–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Son BK, Lee YK, Lee CI (2004) Elasto-plastic simulation of a direct shear test on rough rock joints. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 41:354–359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang Z, Xia C, Song Y, Liu T (2012) Discussion about Grasselli’s peak shear strength criterion for rock joints. Chin J Rock Mech Eng 31(2):356–364 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tatone BS, Grasselli G (2009) A method to evaluate the three-dimensional roughness of fracture surfaces in brittle geomaterials. Rev Sci Instrum 80(12):125110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tatone BS, Grasselli G (2013) An investigation of discontinuity roughness scale dependency using high-resolution surface measurements. Rock Mech Rock Eng 46(4):657–681

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xia CC, Tang ZC, Xiao WM, Song YL (2014) New peak shear strength criterion of rock joints based on quantified surface description. Rock Mech Rock Eng 47(2):387–400

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Z, Lo S (1997) An index for describing the anisotropy of joint surfaces. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 34(6):1031–1044

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang P, Ning L, Xinmin C (2009) A new representation method for threedimensional surface roughness of rock fracture. Chin J Rock Mech Eng 28(3):477–483 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao J (1997) Joint surface matching and shear strength part B: JRC-JMC shear strength criterion. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 34(2):179–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The research work presented in this paper is supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (“973” Program, grant no. 2011CB013501), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50979081) and the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (grant no. NCET-11-0406). The authors are grateful for these financial supports. We are immensely grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions to improve this paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China

    Jie Yang, Guan Rong, Di Hou, Jun Peng & Chuangbing Zhou

  2. Key Laboratory of Rock Mechanics in Hydraulic Structural Engineering, Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China

    Jie Yang, Guan Rong, Di Hou & Jun Peng

  3. School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China

    Chuangbing Zhou

Authors
  1. Jie Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Guan Rong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Di Hou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jun Peng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Chuangbing Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guan Rong.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yang, J., Rong, G., Hou, D. et al. Experimental Study on Peak Shear Strength Criterion for Rock Joints. Rock Mech Rock Eng 49, 821–835 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-015-0791-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-015-0791-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation