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.     

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.     

Investigation of the acoustic emission characteristics of artificial saw-tooth joints under shearing condition

Shear failure of rockmass along a weak plane occurs frequently in rock slopes and in underground tunnels. To study the shear behaviour and acoustic emission (AE) characteristics of joints under different experimental conditions (asperity height, shear rate, and normal load), irregular artificial saw-tooth joints with different asperity heights were sheared in the laboratory, and the AE signals were detected and analysed. The results demonstrated that the strength of the joints increased with increases in normal load and asperity height, while the strength of the joints first increased and then decreased when the shear rate was elevated. The ideal curve of the cumulative hits could be divided into a quiet period, a slow rise period, and a sharp growth period, which could be used to monitor and predict the potential shear failure of the joints. The higher the asperity was, the higher the peak energy rate and the lower the peak hit rate, and cumulative hits at failure were because of differences in asperity size and number. The peak hit rate and cumulative energy tended to increase gradually with the decrease in shear rate, and the minimum peak hit rate and energy rate at failure were both attained at the maximum shear rate. In addition, curves of the energy rate and hit rate showed large fluctuations at higher shear rates. The peak energy rate and cumulative energy under low normal stress could be greater than the peak energy rate and cumulative energy under high normal stress, and the peak hit rate and cumulative hit number under high normal stress could be larger than that of under low normal stress.     

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.     

A Laboratory Shear Cell Used for Simulation of Shear Strength and Asperity Degradation of Rough Rock Fractures

Different failure modes during fracture shearing have been introduced including dilation, sliding, asperity cut-off and degradation. Several laboratory studies have reported the complexity of these failure modes during shear tests performed under either constant normal load (CNL) or constant normal stiffness (CNS) conditions. This paper is concerned with the mechanical behaviour of synthetic fractures during direct shear tests using a modified shear cell and related numerical simulation studies. The modifications made to an existing true triaxial stress cell (TTSC) in order to use it for performing shear tests under CNL conditions are presented. The large loading capacity and the use of accurate hydraulic pumps capable of applying a constant shear velocity are the main elements of this cell. Synthetic mortar specimens with different fracture surface geometries are tested to study the failure modes, including fracture sliding, asperity degradation, and to understand failure during shearing. A bonded particle model of the direct shear test with the PFC2D particle flow code is used to mimic the tests performed. The results of a number of tests are presented and compared with PFC2D simulations. The satisfactory results obtained both qualitatively and quantitatively are discussed.     

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     

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 Constitutive Model for Shear Behavior of Rock Joints Based on Three-Dimensional Quantification of Joint Roughness

A new constitutive model to describe the shear behavior of rock joints under constant normal stiffness (CNS) and constant normal load (CNL) conditions is proposed. The model was developed using an empirical approach based on the results of a total of 362 direct shear tests on tensile fractured rock joints and replicas of tensile joints and on a new quantitative roughness parameter. This parameter, the active roughness coefficient C _r, is derived from the features of the effective roughness mobilized at the contact areas during shearing. The model involves a shear strength criterion and the relations between stresses and displacements in the normal and shear directions, where the effects of the boundary conditions and joint properties are considered by the shape indices C _d and C _f. The model can be used to predict the shear behavior under CNS as well as CNL conditions. The shear behavior obtained from the experimental results is generally in good agreement with that estimated by the proposed model, and the effects of joint roughness, initial normal stress, and normal stiffness are reasonably reflected in the model.     

不同边界条件下剪切速率对类岩石节理剪切力学特性的影响

为研究不同边界条件下剪切速率对岩石节理剪切力学特性的影响,采用RDS-200型岩石节理剪切试验系统对人工浇筑的具有相同节理形貌的不规则水泥节理试样进行了常法向应力和常法向刚度2种边界条件下5种剪切速率的直剪试验。结果表明：（1）常法向应力边界条件下,随剪切速率增大,相同法向应力下的类岩石节理峰前剪切刚度减速增大,峰值剪切强度和残余剪切强度呈对数降低;随剪切速率增大,类岩石节理黏聚力减速增大,内摩擦角呈对数降低。（2）常法向刚度边界条件下,随剪切速率增大,相同法向应力的类岩石节理峰前剪切刚度减速增大,峰值剪切强度呈对数降低,较高法向应力下的残余剪切强度先增大后减小;随剪切速率增大,类岩石节理黏聚力呈对数降低,内摩擦角减速增大。（3）与常法向应力边界条件相比,常法向刚度条件下,节理黏聚力平均增加了115.85%,内摩擦角平均降低了8.44%;相同初始法向应力和剪切速率下,峰前剪切刚度、峰值剪切强度和残余剪切强度分别平均增加了11.96%、19.47%和32.32%,峰值法向位移平均降低了40.12%。该研究结论可为不同剪切速率下地表和地下工程岩体节理的剪切失稳评价提供一定参考。     

The Influence of Shearing Velocity on Shear Behavior of Artificial Joints

In this paper, the effects of shear velocity on the shearing behavior of artificial joints have been studied at different normal stress levels. Here, artificial joints with planar and rough surfaces were prepared with the plaster (simulating soft rock joints) and concrete (medium-hard rock joints) materials. The rough joints had triangular shaped asperities with 10° and 20° inclination angles. Direct shear tests were performed on these joints under various shear velocities in the range of 0.3–30 mm/min. The planar plaster–plaster and planer concrete–concrete joints were sheared at three levels of normal stress under constant normal load boundary condition. Also, the rough plaster–plaster and concrete–concrete joints were sheared at one level of normal stress under constant normal stiffness boundary condition. The results of the shear tests show that the shearing parameters of joints, such as shear strength, shear stiffness and friction angle, are related to the shear velocity. Shear strength of planar and rough plaster–plaster joints were decreased when the shear velocity was increased. Shear strength of concrete joints, except for rough joints with 10° inclination, increased with increasing shear velocity. Regardless of the normal stress level, shear stiffness of both planar plaster–plaster and concrete–concrete joints were decreased when the shear velocity was increased.     

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.     

岩石节理在固定法向压力刚度条件下的剪切理论研究

节理在固定法向压力刚度（CNS）条件下的剪切过程比较复杂,剪切中由于剪胀的存在使得法向压力增大,而法向压力的增加又限制了剪胀的发生。根据CNS剪切过程中某一瞬时状态下法向压应力大小,以节理在该法向压应力下法向剪胀位移与剪切位移的关系为基础,建立一个楔形物理模型。通过循环迭代求得CNS剪切过程中每一步的法向压应力值,进而得到整个过程的剪切应力值。通过该模型,讨论了节理各参数对CNS剪切过程的影响,结果表明,其剪切应力值受法向压应力刚度与节理法向变形参数共同协调控制（包括单轴压缩变形及剪胀角的磨损）,节理在剪切过程中越不易发生压缩变形,其剪切应力值越大。     

非贯通类节理岩体剪切变形规律分析

通过直剪条件下的模型试验研究具有相同连通率、含不同起伏角的共面闭合节理在不同法向应力作用下的剪切变形特征。试验结果表明：在达到峰值剪切强度前,剪切应力-位移曲线具有明显的线性段与非线性段;岩桥在法向与剪切荷载的共同作用下会产生一定程度的弱化,积累到一定程度时宏观表现为剪切应力软化。详细阐述了试验过程中裂纹发展的4个阶段并描述了剪切应力-剪切变形曲线变化的特征,提出一个能反映剪切应力-剪切变形曲线全过程的经验本构模型。新模型采用分段函数描述曲线变化特征。直剪试验数据分析表明,该模型能够拟合剪切应力-剪切变形变化发展趋势且具有较高的拟合精度,验证了模型的正确性。最后,对其存在的不足亦进行了简要分析     

峰前循环剪切作用下岩石节理剪切力学特性

微震、工程爆破等低应力循环剪切荷载作用对节理岩体工程失稳破坏具有重要影响。为研究峰前循环剪切加卸载作用下岩石节理剪切力学特性,采用RDS-200型岩石节理剪切试验系统对人工劈裂黄砂岩节理进行了峰前循环剪切下的直剪试验。通过与未进行峰前循环剪切加卸载时岩石节理力学参数预测值对比,得到峰前循环剪切加卸载作用对峰前剪切刚度、峰值剪切强度、峰值剪切位移与残余剪切强度的影响。结果表明：（1）峰前循环剪切加卸载后,当法向应力为2 MPa时,岩石节理峰前剪切刚度增大,当法向应力为4～10 MPa时,岩石节理峰前剪切刚度在循环剪切应力幅值范围内增大,在超出循环剪切应力幅值时减小;（2）峰前循环剪切加卸载后,峰值剪切强度降低了10%～20%,降低百分比随法向应力增大整体呈对数函数增大;峰值剪切位移增加了2%～40%,增加百分比随法向应力增大整体呈对数函数减小;（3）峰前循环剪切加卸载后,岩石节理残余剪切强度无明显变化,峰值剪切强度与残余剪切强度差值减小,峰后剪切应力做功损失百分比降低。     

New Peak Shear Strength Criterion of Rock Joints Based on Quantified Surface Description

The prime objective of this work is to improve our understanding of the shear behavior of rock joints. Attempts are made to relate the peak shear strength of rock joints with its three-dimensional surface morphology parameters. Three groups of tensile joint replicas with different surface morphology are tested with direct shear tests under constant normal load (CNL) conditions. Firstly, the three-dimensional surface characterization of these joints is evaluated by an improved roughness parameter before being tested. Then, a new empirical criterion is proposed for these joints expressed by three-dimensional quantified surface roughness parameters without any averaging variables in such a way that a rational dilatancy angle function is used instead of ${\text{JRC}} \cdot \log_{10} \left( {{{\text{JCS}} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\text{JCS}} {\sigma_{\text{n}} }}} \right. \kern-0em} {\sigma_{\text{n}} }}} \right)$ by satisfying the new peak dilatancy angle boundary conditions under zero and critical-state normal stress (not physical infinite normal stress). The proposed criterion has the capability of estimating the peak shear strength at the laboratory scale and the required roughness parameters can be easily measured. Finally, a comparison among the proposed criterion, Grasselli’s criterion, and Barton’s criterion are made from the perspective of both the rationality of the formula and the prediction accuracy for the three groups of joints. The limitations of Grasselli’s criterion are analyzed in detail. Another 37 experimental data points of fresh rock joints by Grasselli are used to further verify the proposed criterion. Although both the proposed criterion and Grasselli’s criterion have almost equal accuracy of predicting the peak shear strength of rock joints, the proposed criterion is easier and more intuitive from an engineering point of view because of its Mohr–Coulomb type of formulation.     

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.     

重复剪切作用下结构面起伏角度对其力学特性影响研究

在室内直剪试验的基础上,研究了重复剪切作用下起伏角对结构面变形和强度的影响。采用钢制模具和混凝土材料预制4种起伏角度结构面,分别在5级法向应力下进行6次直剪试验,记录每次剪切过程中的切向应力和法向位移随切向位移的变化。通过对切向应力和法向位移随切向位移变化曲线分析可知,首次剪切时,法向应力和起伏角度越大,结构面剪切破坏方式越容易从滑移破坏过渡为剪断破坏,对于同一种剪切破坏方式,法向应力越大,对结构面磨损或剪断的作用越强烈,峰值剪胀位移越小,起伏角度越大,锯齿被磨损或剪断的高度越大;第2次剪切开始,不论法向应力和起伏角度如何,结构面的剪切破坏方式基本上都转变为滑移破坏。     

Failure Process after Peak Strength of Artificial Joints by Fractal Dimension

Because lack of information when the joints exhibit strain softening behavior, the transition from peak to residual values is assumed to decrease either linearly or exponentially. Also, displacement of slide side after peak is much larger than the peak displacement and the stress approaches the residual state, thus studying failure process after peak strength is very important. In this research, three types of artificial joints with tooth-shaped asperity under repeated direct-shear were tested. Continuously movement of slide side after peak strength was monitored during shearing test. Reduction of shear parameters was examined according to two failure criteria (Barton and Patton). JRC value (Joint Roughness Coefficient) for a given profile was estimated by fractal dimension. One of the results of this study is that Barton’s criterion predicts a good estimation of residual strength and the second result is when the amount of fractal dimension of a joint surface increases, the JRC amount also increases, and with having value of h (height average) and l (base average) of a tooth-shaped asperity can determine the JRC of joint surface. M. Askari is a M.Sc Student of Engineering Faculty, Mining Engineering Department, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran.     

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.