• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.401-412
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• 2013

Multi-stage shear test has been performed using joint specimens of gneiss, granite and shale to investigate the influence of micro-scale asperity change on the shear strength of joint plane. For each shear test asperity degradation characteristics of joint specimens of different joint surface strength have been analyzed by utilizing the optimum asperity parameter which can reflect the sequential asperity degradation. Elevation of joint surface profile has been measured and both the changes of asperity parameters and micro-scale asperity distribution have been investigated. Two distinctive variation modes of cohesion and friction angle have been delineated and major cause of shear strength parameter change has been analyzed by considering the micro-scale asperity angle change resulting from the abrasion, fracturing and regeneration of micro-scale asperities. Effects of micro-scale asperity variation on the joint shear strength have been also investigated.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.229-238
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• 2002

This paper introduces the surface roughness parameter, Rs to the characterization of joint roughness and quantitatively illustrates the influence of joint roughness on the joint shear strength. A new peak shear strength criterion for rock joints using Rs is suggested. The results show that the surface roughness parameter, Rs can appropriately reflect the degree of roughness for the rock joint surfaces tested in this study A measuring interval of 2mm and profile length of 5cm can be used to characterize the joint roughness of the rock core size surfaces; however, the scale of fluctuation, $\delta_\alpha$ should be considered to extend the surface roughness parameter, Rs to the large-scale field rock joint surfaces. For the smooth joint roughness, sliding of the rock cores is the principal shear mechanism; however, the breakage of roughness from the rock cores is inferred for rougher joint roughness.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.494-507
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• 2011

Rock joint surface roughness is one of the most important parameters in shear behavior analysis of rock joint surface. Until now, estimation of joint surface roughness has been conducted by various statistical methods with two-dimensional analysis. In this study, standard roughness profile suggested by Barton and Choubey (1977) was expanded into a 3D surface and its surface roughness was analyzed by surface angularity parameter. And the validity of quantification based on surface angularity was secured through comparison with $Z_2$ and Ai parameter. Also the surface angularity parameter was compared with shear strength by joint shear test using the replicated specimen.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.52-63
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• 2009

This is a study on large-scale rock joint roughness measurements using LIDAR (light detection and ranging) and the Split-FX point cloud processing software. The large-scale rock Joint Roughness Coefficient (JRC) is calculated using the maximum amplitude of joint asperities over the profile length on large-scale Joint surfaces of rock. As the profile length increases, JRC decreases due to scale-effects of rock specimens and is non-stationary. Also JRC shows anisotropy depending on the profile direction. The profile direction is measured relative to either dip or strike of the large-scale joint.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.269-283
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• 2005

To figure out the cause of underestimating the roughness and shear strength of rock joints suggested by numerous researchers, we analyzed roughness mobilization characteristics, characteristics of roughness parameters, effects of sampling interval, and waviness for roughness parameters. It was found out that lack of understanding of the roughness mobilization characteristics, inappropriate applications of roughness parameters, and effect of aliasing provide a main reasons for those problems. Several practical alternatives for improving those problems were suggested. As far as digitizing methods are concerned, we can find that using a 3D scanner can give a relatively effective result. To avoid aliasing, sampling interval should be less than one-quarter of the minimum asperities. As for the quantification of roughness, it was analyzed that the roughness parameter should be classified into two components depending on the scale of roughness to apply the shear strength model. For classifying the roughness, a framework of the criterion was suggested based on the plastic flow concept for the asperity failure, and the basis for proposing a new alternative shear strength model was established.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.319-327
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• 2010

Surface roughness profiles were measured from 19 joint samples using a laser scanner, and Joint Roughness Coefficient (JRC) values were calculated from 30 sections in each sample. Although JRC values varied with the location of the section, the average JRC values from any three sections provides an adequate representation of the average JRC value for the entire surface well. Direct shear tests were performed on nine joints reproduced using molds of real joints in samples of gypsum. The peak friction angles (${\phi}_p$) showed a linear relationship with the average JRC values, yielding the following relationship: ${\phi}_p=41.037+1.046JRC$. However, the shear strengths measured by direct shear tests differed from those calculated using Barton's criterion. The relationship between calculated from direct shear tests and JRC measured from joint surfaces is defined as $JRC_R=f{\cdot}JRC$, and the correction coefficient f is was calculated as $f=3.15JRC^{-0.5}$, as calculated by regression. A modified shear-strength criterion, is proposed using the correction coefficient, ${\tau}={\sigma}_n{\cdot}tan(3.15JRC^{0.5}{\bullet}{\log}_{10}\frac{JCS}{{\sigma}_n}+{\phi}_b)$. This criterion may be effective in calculating the shear strength of moderately weathered rock joints and highly weathered rock joints with low strength and ductile behavior.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.106-119
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• 2012

Roughness of rock joint has generally been characterized based upon geometrical aspects of a two-dimensional surface profile. The appropriate description of joint roughness, however, should consider the features of roughness mobilization at contact areas under normal and shear loads. In this study, direct shear tests were conducted on the replicas of tensile fractured gneiss joints and the influence of the shear direction on the shear behavior and effective roughness was examined. In this procedure, a joint surface was represented as a group of triangular planes, and the steepness of each plane was characterized using the concepts of the active and inactive micro-slope angles. The contact areas at peak strength which were estimated by a numerical method showed that the locations of the contact areas were mainly dependent on the distribution of the micro-slope angle and the shear behavior of joint was dominated by only the fractions with active micro-slope angles. Therefore, a three-dimensional coefficient for the quantification of rock joint roughness is proposed based on the distribution of active micro-slope angle: active roughness coefficient, $C_r$. Comparison of the active roughness coefficient and the peak shear strength obtained from the experiment suggests that the active roughness coefficient is the effective parameter to quantify the surface roughness and estimate the shear behavior of rock joint.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.14 no.4 s.41
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• pp.461-468
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• 2004

In order to characterize hydraulic property dependant on join roughness in rock mass, this study computed permeability coefficients on each range of joint roughness coefficient (JRC) suggested by Barton(1976). For a quantitative analysis of roughness components spectral analysis using the fast fourier transform was performed to select effective frequencies on each PC range. The results of spectral analyses show that low ranges of the JRC are mainly composed of low frequency domain, while high ranges of the JRC have dominant components at high frequency domain. The inverse Fourier transform made it possible to generate joint models of each JRC range using the effective frequencies of roughness spectrum. The homogenization analysis was applied to calculate permeability coefficient at homogeneous microscale, and then, computes a homogenized permeability coefficient (C-permeability coefficient) at macro scale. Therefore, it is possible to analyze accurate characteristics of permeability reflected with local effect of facture geometry. According to the calculation results, permeability coefficients were distributed between $10^{-3}m/sec\;and\;10^{-4}/sec$. In cases of sheared joint models permeability coefficients were plotted between $10^{-4}m/sec\;and\;10^{-5}/sec$, showing irregular distribution of permeability coefficients on each IRC range. The differences of permeability coefficients for the same aperture models or for the sheared joint models indicate that changes of roughness pattern influence on permeability coefficients. Therefore, the effect of joint roughness should be considered to characterize hydraulic properties in rock joints.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.183-196
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• 2006

Rock joint roughness obtained from the camera-type 3D scanner was classified into waviness and unevenness. The classification criteria were established in the previous study; digital filtering was used to distinguish one from another. The classified and original profiles were used to produce metal moulds. For accurate machining of the moulds, the WEDM(Wire-cut Electric Discharge Machining) was adopted. Specimens were cast using high strength gypsum, and joint shear tests were performed by varying normal stress from low value to high one. Roughness mobilization characteristics depending on the asperity scale and the applied normal stress were investigated. A new equation was proposed to predict shear strength of rock joint, which can consider the characteristics of roughness mobilization and roughness parameters. The roughness quantification composed of waviness and unevenness was found to be a useful method to predict the joint shear strength.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.31-41
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• 2006

The scale effect of specimens on the shear behavior of joints is studied by performing direct shear tests on six different sizes in Granite. The peak and residual shear stress, shear displacement, shear stiffness, and dilation angle are measured with the different normal stress(0.29~2.65MPa) and roughness parameters. It is also shown that both the joint roughness coefficient(JRC) and the joint compression strength(JCS) reduce with increasing joint length. A series of shear tests show about 56~67% reduction in peak shear stress, and about 18~44% in residual shear stress, respectively as the contact area of joint increases from 12.25 to $361cm^2$. Also the variation of dilation angle is $27^{\circ}$ at normal stress of 0.29 MPa and $6^{\circ}$ at normal stress of 2.65 MPa, respectively. The envelopes considering scale effect for JRC are made for the peak shear strength of rock joint in comparison with the Barton's equation.