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.