• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.29-42
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• 2018

This paper presents the results of an empirical study in which square rock-like blocks containing two parallel pre-existing rough non-persistent joints were subjected to uniaxial compression load. The main purpose of this study was to investigate uniaxial compressive strength and deformation modulus of jointed specimens. Response Surface Method (RSM) was utilized to design experiments and investigate the effect of four joint parameters, namely joint roughness coefficient (JRC), bridge length (L), bridge angle (${\gamma}$), and joint inclination (${\theta}$). The interaction of these parameters on the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and deformation modulus of the blocks was investigated as well. The results indicated that an increase in joint roughness coefficient, bridge length and bridge angle increased compressive strength and deformation modulus. Moreover, increasing joint inclination decreased the two mechanical properties. The concept of 'interlocking cracks' which are mixed mode (shear-tensile cracks) was introduced. This type of cracks can happen in higher level of JRC. Initiation and propagation of this type of cracks reduces mechanical properties of sample before reaching its peak strength. The results of the Response Surface Methodology showed that the mutual interaction of the joint parameters had a significant influence on the compressive strength and deformation modulus.

• 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.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.39-50
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• 2020

In order to understand the shear mechanical properties of the interface between clay and structure and better serve the practical engineering projects, it is critical to conduct shear tests on the clay-structure interface. In this work, the direct shear test of clay-concrete slab with different joint roughness coefficient (JRC) of the interface and different normal stress is performed in the laboratory. Our experimental results show that (1) shear strength of the interface between clay and structure is greatly affected by the change of normal stress under the same condition of JRC and shear stress of the interface gradually increases with increasing normal stress; (2) there is a critical value JRC_cr in the roughness coefficient of the interface; (3) the relationship between shear strength and normal stress can be described by the Mohr Coulomb failure criterion, and the cohesion and friction angle of the interface under different roughness conditions can be calculated accordingly. We find that there also exists a critical value JRC_cr for cohesion and the cohesion of the interface increases first and then decreases as JRC increases. Moreover, the friction angle of the interface fluctuates with the change of JRC and it is always smaller than the internal friction angle of clay used in this experiment; (4) the failure type of the interface of the clay-concrete slab is type I sliding failure and does not change with varying JRC when the normal stress is small enough. When the normal stress increases to a certain extent, the failure type of the interface will gradually change from shear failure to type II sliding failure with the increment of JRC.

• 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.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 1992

Rock mass having discontinuous plane almost appear roughness which have a great effect on shear strength. Rocks of studied object choose granites (15 samples), gneisses (7 samples), and andesites (1 sample). The purpose of this study was to clarify shear strength of discontinuous planes as value of shear strength angle (${\Phi}_p$), critical stress of roughness (${\sigma}_r$) and shear failure strength (${\tau}_o$). 1. Roughness decrease from ${\Phi}_i=38.03^{\circ}$ to $33.21^{\circ}$ that is, friction angle has the highest value at first stage and has the lowest value at the last stage. 2. Critical angle of roughness distribution within $45^{\circ}$ (test max. $angle=43^{\circ}$), JRC(Joint Roughness Coefficient) is less than 14 and lies distribution range of boundary is following: $JRC=-4.63Ln{\sigma}n+5.63$. 3. When the roughness critical stress(${\sigma}_T) is from 0.1 to 3 .56Mpa, shear failure strength of roughness (${\tau}_o$) is from 0.01 to 0.46Mpa, shear strength(${\tau}$) of discontinuous plane is from 3.65 to 39.11 Mpa. If loading is higher than these values, collapse and sliding will occur on the rock mass.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.82-91
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• 2010

Grouting technology is one of the ground improvement methods used in water controlling and reinforcement of rock mass in underground structure construction. It is necessarily required to find out the characteristics of grout flow through discontinuities in a rock mass for an adequate grout design and performance assessment. Laminar flow is not always applicable in simulating a grout flow in a rock mass, since the rock joints usually have apertures at a micro-scale and the flow through these joints is affected by the joint roughness and the velocity profile of the flow changes partially near the roughness. Thus, the influence of joint roughness and aperture on the grout flow in rough rock joint was numerically investigated in this study. The commercial computational fluid dynamics code, FLUENT, was applied for this purpose. The computed results by embedded Herschel-Bulkley model and VOF (volume of fluid) model, which are applicable to simulate grout flow in a narrow rock joint that is filled with air and water, were well compared with that of analytical results and previously published laboratory test for the verification. The injection pressure required to keep constant injection rate of grout was calculated in a variety of Joint Roughness Coefficient (JRC) and aperture conditions, and the effect of joint roughness and aperture on grout flow were quantified.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.391-414
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• 2015

In this paper, stabilities of a plane slide rock slope under different hydraulic distributions were studied based on the nonlinear Barton-Bandis (B-B) failure criterion. The influence of various parameters on the stability of rock slopes was analyzed. Parametric analysis indicated that studying the factor of safety (FS) of planar slide rock slopes using the B-B failure criterion is both simple and effective and that the effects of the basic friction angle of the joint (${\varphi}_b$), the joint roughness coefficient (JRC), and the joint compressive strength (JCS) on the FS of a planar slide rock slope are significant. Qualitatively, the influence of the JCS on the FS of a slope is small, whereas the influences of the ${\varphi}_b$ and the JRC are significant. The FS of the rock slope decreases as the water in a tension crack becomes deeper. This trend is more significant when the flow outlet is blocked, a situation that is particularly prevalent in regions with permafrost or seasonal frozen soil. Finally, the work is extended to study the reliability of the slope against plane failure according to the uncertainty from physical and mechanics parameters.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.357-366
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• 2009

Since weathering weakens the rock fabric and exaggerates any structural weakness, it affects mechanical properties as well as physical and chemical properties of rock. Weathering leads to a decrease in density, strength, friction angle and cohesion, and subsequently it affects negatively on the stability of rock slope. The purpose of the study is to investigate the changes of the rock slope stability caused by discontinuities which have different weathering grades. For that, the discontinuity samples which are divided into two different weathering grades are obtained from the field and tested their mechanical properties such as JCS, JRC and residual friction angle. In order to evaluate the effects on the stability of slope due to weathering, the deterministic analysis is carried out. That is, the factors of safety for planar failure are calculated for rock masses which have two different weathering grades, such as fresh and weathered rock mass. However, since the JRC and friction angle values are widely scattered and the deterministic analysis cannot consider the variation, the factors of safety cannot represent properly the stability of the rock slope. Therefore, the probabilistic analysis has been used to consider the scattered values. In the deterministic analysis, the factors of safety for the fresh discontinuity and weathered discontinuity are 1.25 and 1.0, respectively. The results indicate the fresh discontinuities are stable for planar failure and the weathered discontinuities are marginally stable. However, the probabilities of failure for the fresh discontinuity and weathered discontinuity are 25.6% and 45.9%, respectively. This shows that both discontinuities are analyzed as unstable in the probabilistic analysis.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.109-119
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• 2001

Up to now single large cavern was excavated for each undergroud hydraulic powerhouse in Korea. But the Yangyang underground hydraulic powerhouse consists of two large caverns; a powerhouse cavern and main transformer cavern. In this carte, the structural stability of the caverns, especially the rock pillar formed between two large caverns, should be guaranteed to be sound to make the caverns permanently sustainable. In this research, the Distinct Element Method(DEM) was used to analyze the structural stability of two caverns and the rock pillar. The Barton-Bandis joint model was used as a constitutive model. The moot significant parameters such as in-site stress, JRC of in-situ natural joints, and spatial distribution characteristics of discontinuities were acquired through field investigation. In addition, two different cases; 1) with no support system and 2) with a support system, were analysed to optimize a support system and to investigate reinforcing effects of a support system. The results of analysis horizontal displacement and joint shear displacement proved to be reduced with the support system. The relaxed zone in the rock pilar also proved to be reduced in conjunction with the support system. Having a support system in place provided the fact that the non zero minimum principal stresses were still acting in the rock pillar so that the pillar was not under uniaxial compressive condition but under triaxial compressive condition. The structural stability f an approximately 36 m wide rock pillar between two large caverns was assured with the appropriate support system.