Effects of Cyclic Loading on the Shear Behaviour of Infilled Rock Joints Under Constant Normal Stiffness Conditions

The variation of the shear strength of infilled rock joints under cyclic loading and constant normal stiffness conditions is studied. To simulate the joints, triangular asperities inclined at angles of 9.5° and 18.5° to the shear movement were cast using high-strength gypsum plaster and infilled with clayey sand. These joints were sheared cyclically under constant normal stiffness conditions. It was found that, for a particular normal stiffness, the shear strength is a function of the initial normal stress, initial asperity angle, joint surface friction angle, infill thickness, infill friction angle, loading direction and number of loading cycles. Based on the experimental results, a mathematical model is proposed to evaluate the shear strength of infilled rock joints in cyclic loading conditions. The proposed model takes into consideration different initial asperity angles, initial normal stresses and ratios of infill thickness to asperity height.     

Friction and degradation of rock joint surfaces under shear loads

The morpho‐mechanical behaviour of one artificial granite joint with hammered surfaces, one artificial regularly undulated joint and one natural schist joint was studied. The hammered granite joints underwent 5 cycles of direct shear under 3 normal stress levels ranging between 0.3 and 4 MPa. The regularly undulated joint underwent 10 cycles of shear under 6 normal stress levels ranging between 0.5 and 5 MPa and the natural schist replicas underwent a monotonics shear under 5 normal stress levels ranging between 0.4 and 2.4 MPa. These direct shear tests were performed using a new computer‐controlled 3D‐shear apparatus. To characterize the morphology evolution of the sheared joints, a laser sensor profilometer was used to perform surface data measurements prior to and after each shear test. Based on a new characterization of joint surface roughness viewed as a combination of primary and secondary roughness and termed by the joint surface roughness, SR_s, one parameter termed ‘joint surface degradation’, D_w, has been defined to quantify the degradation of the sheared joints. Examinations of SR_s and D_w prior to and after shearing indicate that the hammered surfaces are more damaged than the two other surfaces. The peak strength of hammered joint with zero‐dilatancy, therefore, significantly differs from the classical formulation of dilatant joint strength. An attempt has been made to model the peak strength of hammered joint surfaces and dilatant joints with regard to their surface degradation in the course of shearing and two peak strength criteria are proposed. Input parameters are initial morphology and initial surface roughness. For the hammered surfaces, the degradation mechanism is dominant over the phenomenon of dilatancy, whereas for a dilatant joint both mechanisms are present. A comparison between the proposed models and the experimental results indicates a relatively good agreement. In particular, compared to the well‐known shear strength criteria of Ladanyi and Archambault or Saeb, these classical criteria significantly underestimate and overestimate the observed peak strength, respectively, under low and high normal stress levels. In addition and based on our experimental investigations, we put forward a model to predict the evolution of joint morphology and the degree of degradation during the course of shearing. Degradations of the artificial undulated joint and the natural schist joint enable us to verify the proposed model with a relatively good agreement. Finally, the model of Ladanyi and Archambault dealing with the proportion of total joint area sheared through asperities, a_s, once again, tends to underestimate the observed degradation. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

一种新型粗糙节理面随机强度模型及其应用

天然岩体在长期地质作用下会生成各种节理裂隙等不连续面,而地下工程结构的稳定性一般取决于这些不连续面的强度。在众多因素中,表面形态对岩石节理面剪切强度具有决定性影响。为了系统研究岩石节理面剪切强度的确定方法,把岩石节理面概化为一系列高度不同的微长方体凸起组成的粗糙表面结构,且微长方体凸起有剪胀破坏和非剪胀破坏两种模式。综合微长方体凸起破坏规律,应用概率密度函数描述节理面表面起伏分布的影响,建立了粗糙节理面随机强度模型,推导了节理面剪切强度理论公式,提出了节理面强度的随机评价方法。基于随机强度模型和评价方法编制Matlab计算程序计算自然粗糙节理面的剪切强度,并将计算结果与试验结果进行比较分析。研究表明:粗糙节理面随机强度模型综合了粗糙节理面表面形态和法向应力对节理剪切强度的影响机制,理论计算值与试验数据吻合良好,可以较好的评价粗糙节理的峰值剪切强度和残余剪切强度。该随机模型可作为进一步深入研究的重要基础,分析结构面的连续剪切过程,建立更完善的节理面强度模型。     

A constitutive model for a laboratory rock joint with multi-scale asperity degradation

This paper presents a joint constitutive model that considers separately the mechanical contribution of waviness and unevenness of a joint to shear behaviour. The critical asperities for waviness and unevenness are determined from geometric properties in a lab-scale joint. The wear process is employed to model the degradation in dilation and strength during shear. From dimensional analysis, asperity degradation constants are developed using geometric parameters including asperity angle, wavelength, and amplitude as well as rock strength and stress. The applicability of the proposed model was assessed by performing direct shear tests on three joint roughness coefficient (JRC) profiles and providing its correlation with experimental results. Additionally, experimental data taken from literature were used to validate the model’s performance.     

Underestimation of roughness in rough rock joints

Numerous studies have been made to improve Barton's shear strength model for the quantification of rock joints. However, in these previous studies, the roughness and shear strength of the rock joint have been underestimated especially for relatively high undulated profiles (joint roughness coefficient (JRC) >14). The main factors of roughness underestimation in rough rock joints are investigated for the proper quantification of rock joint roughness. The aliasing effect and the roughness characteristics are analyzed by using artificial joint profiles and natural rock joint profiles. A 3D camera scanner is adopted to verify the main source of underestimation when using conventional measurement methods. Shear strength tests are carried out by using two types of shear apparatus to study the roughness mobilization characteristics, which may also affect the roughness underestimation. The results of joint roughness assessment, such as aliasing and undulation of waviness, show that the roughness can be underestimated in relatively rough joint profiles (JRC>14). At least two components of roughness parameters are needed to properly represent the joint roughness, for example, the amplitude and the inclination angle of joint asperity. Roughness mobilization is affected by both the normal stress and the asperity scale. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

含二阶起伏体的模拟岩体节理试样剪切特性试验研究

利用规则的小尺寸锯齿构造二阶起伏体,对不同二阶起伏体高度的人工节理进行常法向应力下的直剪试验,研究了节理剪切力学特性。对节理的剪切强度、变形特征进行了分析,并对破坏特征做出解释。试验结果表明：二阶起伏体对节理剪切力学特性有重要影响,含二阶起伏体节理的剪切力学特性与只含有一阶起伏体节理的剪切力学特性不同,只含一阶起伏体的节理剪应力只有一个峰值,含二阶起伏体的节理会出现波浪状的剪胀曲线和多峰值剪应力,且峰值剪应力随剪切位移增大依次出现并逐个减小;随着二阶起伏体高度增大,节理峰值剪切强度增大,节理依次出现磨损破坏、多次性剪断破坏、一次性剪断破坏。     

Analytical modelling of the shear behaviour of rock joints with progressive degradation of two-order roughness

We present an analytical model for the shear behaviour of rock joints with progressive degradation of two-order asperities including waviness and unevenness. Critical waviness and critical unevenness are used to respectively represent the mechanical involvements of waviness and unevenness during shear. The degradation process of two-order asperities are predicted by considering the stepwise relationship among dilation angle, sheared and unsheared asperity areas, and plastic tangential work. The dilation angle of each asperity decreases as plastic tangential work accumulates. The progressive degradation transiting from critical unevenness to critical waviness is realised through examining the dilation angle and the unsheared area of critical unevenness. The model's predictions are compared with the experimental data from direct shear tests on both regular- and irregular-shaped joints. Good agreement between analytical and experimental curves demonstrate the credence of the proposed model. Therefore, the model, after implemented in finite and discrete element codes, is practicable for the stability assessment of rock-engineering structures.     

Observation of the Degradation Characteristics and Scale of Unevenness on Three-dimensional Artificial Rock Joint Surfaces Subjected to Shear

The present study explores the degradation characteristics and scale of unevenness (small-scale roughness) on sheared rock joint surfaces at a low-stress regime. While the degradation characteristics of unevenness and the normal stress are mutually interrelated, an understanding of the degradation patterns of the three-dimensional roughness of rock joints is one of the important components needed to identify asperity failure characteristics and to quantify the role of damaged unevenness in establishing a shear strength model. A series of direct shear tests was performed on three-dimensional artificial rock joint surfaces at different normal stress levels. After shearing, the spatial distributions and statistical parameters of degraded roughness were analysed for the different normal stress levels. The length and area of the degraded zones showed bell-shaped distributions in a logarithmic scale, and the dominant scale (or the most frequently occurring scale) of the damaged asperities (i.e., unevenness) ranged from approximately, 0.5 to 5.0 mm in length and 0.1–10 mm² in area. This scale of the damaged unevenness was consistent regardless of the level of normal stress. It was also found that the relative area of damaged unevenness on a given joint area, and thus the contribution of the mechanical asperity failure component to shear strength increased as normal stress increased.     

An Elasto-Plastic Constitutive Model for Rock Joints Under Cyclic Loading and Constant Normal Stiffness Conditions

An elasto-plastic constitutive model is introduced for rock joints under cyclic loading, considering the additional shear resistance generated by the asperity damage in the first forward shear cycle and sliding mechanism for further shearing. A series of cyclic loading direct shear tests was conducted on artificial joints with triangular asperities and replicas of a real rock asperity surface under constant normal stiffness (CNS) conditions. The model was calibrated and then validated using selected data sets from the experimental results. Model simulations were found to be in good agreement with the rock joints behaviour under cyclic loading and CNS conditions both in stress prediction and dilation behaviour. In addition, dynamic stability analysis of an underground structure was carried out, using Universal Distinct Element Code and the proposed constitutive model.     

循环剪切荷载作用下含二阶起伏体模拟岩石节理力学特性研究

利用人工材料浇注含二阶起伏体的模拟岩石节理试样,进行常法向荷载循环剪切试验,研究节理剪切力学特性在循环剪切过程中的劣化规律。试验结果表明：二阶起伏体对节理循环剪切力学特性有重要影响,剪切强度、剪切刚度、剪胀角随剪切循环次数增大而衰减,衰减趋势随着二阶起伏度的增大而加快;法向应力、二阶起伏度较大时,二阶起伏体对剪切力学特性的影响主要体现在第1轮剪切循环中,在随后的剪切循环中影响不明显;法向应力、二阶起伏度较小时,二阶起伏体的影响在前几轮循环剪切过程中均有较清晰的体现。基于Hertz接触力学理论,提出了节理面微凸体球面接触细观模型,揭示了节理循环剪切宏观试验现象的力学机制     

Rock joint modeling using a visco-plastic multilaminate model at constant normal load condition

Rock joints play an important role in the behavior of rock masses under normal and shear loading conditions. Numerical simulation of the behavior of jointed rock masses is not an easy task due to complexities involved in the problem such as joint roughness, joint shear strength, hardening and softening phenomenon and mesh dependency. In this study for modeling purposes, a visco-plastic multilaminate model considering hardening and softening effects has been employed. For providing the necessary data for numerical simulation, a series of laboratory experiments have been carried out on regular tooth-shape asperities made by gypsum, under constant normal load conditions. Shear stress–shear displacement and normal displacement–shear displacement of artificial joint specimens are simulated using the proposed numerical model at constant normal load condition (CNL). The results indicate the capability of the model for simulating rock joints behavior in both strength and deformation field. Although the numerical model has been developed for simulating the behavior of artificial joints, the concept of the method can also be used for natural rock joints.     

Some recent advances in the modelling of soft rock joints in direct shear

This paper presents a review of recent developments made by the authors into the modelling of rock joints in direct shear. Careful observation of laboratory direct shear testing on concrete/rock joints containing two-dimensional roughness has allowed theoretical models of behaviour to be developed. The processes modelled include asperity sliding, asperity shearing, post-peak behaviour, asperity deformation and distribution of stresses on the joint interface. Model predictions compare extremely well with laboratory test results. These models were then applied to direct shear tests on rock/rock joints, and although behaviour in general was well predicted, the strength of rock/rock joints was over-predicted. Direct shear tests have also been carried out on samples containing both two- and three-dimensional roughness to test the accuracy of the two-dimensional approximation to roughness adopted in the theoretical models.     

循环剪切荷载作用下岩石节理变形特性试验研究

以水泥砂浆为相似材料,制备3种岩壁强度、5种起伏角度的锯齿型节理试样;利用试验设备,进行了在4种法向应力下的循环剪切试验。根据试验结果,结合循环剪切试验特点,定义剪胀角来表征节理循环剪切的法向变形特性,以及剪切刚度来表征节理循环剪切的切向变形特性。基于不同起伏角、不同强度等级和不同法向应力下的节理试样循环剪切试验结果,分析了循环剪切过程中剪胀角和剪切刚度的变化规律;并利用不同条件下的试验结果,对比分析初始起伏角度、法向应力、岩壁强度对节理循环剪切变形特性的影响规律。研究发现：剪胀角、剪切刚度均随着剪切循环次数的增加而呈现先快、后慢的降低趋势,并且中低起伏角度节理的剪胀角、剪切刚度的降低趋势随着初始起伏角度、法向应力的增加而加快,随着岩壁强度增加而变慢,高起伏角度节理的剪胀角、剪切刚度的降低趋势基本保持不变。     

A simple failure criterion for rough joints and compound shear surfaces

The subject under investigation is the strength of a single shear plane which exhibits a regular, asymmetric roughness pattern. In the shear direction the asperities are so steeply inclined that the joint becomes mechanically non-effective with the result that the asperities are sheared off. Against the shear direction the asperities are only gently inclined. It is shown that this particular roughness pattern is of some general importance in geomechanics (examples: unconfined compression test; shear plane with secondary fractures).

Simple analytical considerations allow the formulation of a shear criterion, which is dependent on friction angle ø_m and cohesionc_m of the intact rock and on the inclination γ of the gently inclined parts of the asperities which are dipping against the shear direction. In the Mohr-diagram the criterion results in envelopes which converge at high normal stresses against the envelope of intact rock. Furthermore, the criterion expresses that both the slope of the envelopes and the dilation angle continuously decrease with increasing normal stress. Therefore the criterion adequately describes features which are regarded as most important when shearing rough joints or compound shear surfaces.     

Importance of Tensile Strength on the Shear Behavior of Discontinuities

In this study, the shear behavior of discontinuities possessing two different rock wall types with distinct separate compressive strengths was investigated. The designed profiles consisted of regular artificial joints molded by five types of plaster mortars, each representing a distinct uniaxial compressive strength. The compressive strengths of plaster specimens ranged from 5.9 to 19.5 MPa. These specimens were molded considering a regular triangular asperity profile and were designed so as to achieve joint walls with different strength material combinations. The results showed that the shear behavior of discontinuities possessing different joint wall compressive strengths (DDJCS) tested under constant normal load (CNL) conditions is the same as those possessing identical joint wall strengths, but the shear strength of DDJCS is governed by minor joint wall compressive strength. In addition, it was measured that the predicted values obtained by Barton’s empirical criterion are greater than the experimental results. The finding indicates that there is a correlation between the joint roughness coefficient (JRC), normal stress, and mechanical strength. It was observed that the mode of failure of asperities is either pure tensile, pure shear, or a combination of both. Therefore, Barton’s strength criterion, which considers the compressive strength of joint walls, was modified by substituting the compressive strength with the tensile strength. The validity of the modified criterion was examined by the comparison of the predicted shear values with the laboratory shear test results reported by Grasselli (Ph.D. thesis n.2404, Civil Engineering Department, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland, 2001). These comparisons infer that the modified criterion can predict the shear strength of joints more precisely.     

Numerical Investigations of the Dynamic Shear Behavior of Rough Rock Joints

The dynamic shear behavior of rock joints is significant to both rock engineering and earthquake dynamics. With the discrete element method (DEM), the dynamic direct-shear tests on the rough rock joints with 3D (sinusoidal or random) surface morphologies are simulated and discussed. Evolution of the friction coefficient with the slip displacement shows that the 3D DEM joint model can accurately reproduce the initial strengthening, slip-weakening, and steady-sliding responses of real rock joints. Energy analyses show that the strengthening and weakening behavior of the rock joint are mainly attributed to the rapid accumulation and release of the elastic energy in the joint. Then, effects of the surface roughness and the normal stress on the friction coefficient and the micro shear deformation mechanisms, mainly volume change and asperity damage, of the rock joint are investigated. The results show that the peak friction coefficient increases logarithmically with the increasing surface roughness, but decreases exponentially with the increasing normal stress. In addition, the rougher rock joint exhibits both higher joint dilation and asperity degradation. However, high normal stress constrains the joint dilation, but promotes the degree of asperity degradation significantly. Lastly, the effects of the 3D surface morphology on the shear behavior of the rock joint are investigated with a directional roughness parameter. It is observed that the anisotropy of the surface roughness consequently results in the variation of the peak friction coefficient of the joint corresponding to different shearing directions as well as the micro shear deformation mechanisms, e.g., the extent of joint dilation.     

A direction-dependent shear strength criterion for rock joints with two new roughness parameters

The surface morphology of a rock joint is closely related to its mechanical properties. To reasonably characterize a rock surface, two new roughness parameters were proposed in this paper. One is related to the average slope angle of asperities that contribute to the shear strength, and the other reflects the frictional behavior of asperities that is defined as the maximum possible contact area in the shear direction. Taking the standard joint roughness coefficient profiles as example, these two roughness parameters can be applied to describe the directional characteristics of shear strength. Based on their relationships with initial dilation angles, the proposed roughness parameters were incorporated into a peak shear strength criterion. It is shown that the predicted peak shear strength is consistent with experimental data, and there is a power–law relationship. The application range of new roughness parameters was determined, which may facilitate a measurement process.     

Critical review on shear strength models for soil-infilled joints

An infilled rock joint is likely to be the weakest plane in a rock mass. The presence of infill material within the joint significantly reduces the friction of the discontinuity boundaries (i.e. rock to rock contact of the joint walls). The thicker the infill, the smaller the shear strength of the rock joint. Once the infill reaches a critical thickness, the infill material governs the overall shear strength, and the joint walls (rock) play no significant role. Several models have been proposed to predict the peak shear strength of soil-infilled joints under both constant normal load (CNL) and constant normal stiffness (CNS) boundary conditions, taking into account the ratio of infill thickness (t) to the height of the joint wall asperity (a). CNS models provide a more realistic picture of the soil-infilled joint behaviour in the field. This paper presents a critical review on the existing mathematical models for predicting the shear strength of soil-infilled rock joint and verifies the normalised peak shear stress model with further laboratory investigations carried out on idealised saw-tooth rock joints at the University of Wollongong. Based on the prediction of the experimental data, the normalised peak shear stress model is slightly modified by the authors. A simplified approach for using this model in practice is presented and a new expression for prediction of dilatation at peak shear stress is suggested.     

改进的Maksimovic峰值剪切强度准则的试验验证

Maksimovic峰值剪切强度准则形式简洁,参数的物理含义明确,但由于反映节理粗糙程度的特征量“粗糙度角 ”须由试验值确定,因此不可用于估算岩石节理的峰值剪切强度。改进的Maksimovic峰值剪切强度准则在继承原准则优点的基础上,采用定量化的三维形貌参数表示节理的“粗糙度角 ”。采用岩石节理的直剪切试验数据对改进的Maksimovic峰值剪切强度准则进行了试验验证,计算值与试验值具有很好的相关性,表明可以采用该准则估算岩石节理的峰值剪切强度。     

浙江省大梁山隧道出口边坡稳定性分析

研究表明,大多数工程岩体失稳以结构面的剪切破坏为主,因此结构面的抗剪强度就成为影响工程岩体稳定性的决定性因素。通常结构面抗剪强度参数的获取可通过直剪试验及经验估算获得,但在岩石工程稳定性的分析、计算中所用的结构面抗剪强度参数的获取基本上都通过直剪试验获得。经验估算方法同直剪试验相比,有费用低、考虑工程岩体的实际工程条件及尺寸效应等优点,用其估算结构面抗剪强度参数具有较大经济价值及工程意义。在野外结构面定向统计测量基础上,用结构面抗剪强度经验估算方法获得其抗剪强度参数,再利用详细的工程地质资料、赤平投影定性分析及确定工程岩体的破坏模式,选用与破坏模式相匹配的数学力学模型,定量计算分析工程岩体的稳定性。理论分析及工程实践表明,该边坡总体上是稳定的,但楔形体处容易失稳,须处理。