• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.561-577
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• 2021

The ten standard roughness profiles suggested by Barton and Choubey (1977) were extended to make three-dimensional (3D) joint models whose profiles were identical at any cross section. Replicas of joint models were produced using plaster of Paris, and direct shear tests were performed to verify the joint roughness coefficients (JRC) of the standard roughness profiles. Joint shear strengths measured by direct shear tests were compared with those predicted by the shear failure criterion suggested by Barton (1973) based on JRC, joint compressive strength (JCS), and joint basic friction angle (𝜙_b). Shear strengths measured from joints of the first and fourth standard roughness profiles were close to predicted values; however, shear strengths measured from the other joint models were lower than predicted, the differences increasing as the roughness of joints increased. Back calculated values for JRC, JCS, and from the results of the direct shear tests show measured shear strengths were lower than predicted shear strengths because of the JRC values. New JRC were back calculated from the measured shear strength and named JRC_m. Values of JRC_m were lower than the JRC for the standard roughness profiles but show a strong linear relationship to JRC. Corrected JRC_m values for the standard roughness profiles are provided and revised relationships between JRC_m and JRC, and new shear strength criterion are suggested.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.5-12
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• 2021

When drilling investigations for Rock Slopes are not possible, it is often difficult to calculate the Ground Design Constants required for the Limit Equilibrium Analysis. Therefore, the outcrops or partially cutted Rock Slopes were analysed using JRC and JCS that can be easily and conveniently measured. In particular, the effect of the JRC on the Safety Factor or the Rock Slopes was analyzed intensively, and the results were presented as a relationship formula and Table. When the Rock slope was stable, the JRC increased by an average of 9.0% as the slope height increased, and increased by an average of 29.8% as the slope angle increased. JRC was more sensitive to slope angle changes. The Cohesion corresponding to JRC was calculated from JRC-Fs formula. JRC and Cohesion showed a nonlinear relationship, and the Cohesion was about 8.0% more sensitive to slope height changes than slope angle changes.

• 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.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.269-280
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• 2005

We assigned points on surface of standard roughness profile by 0.1mm along the length and measured coordinates of points. Then, the lengths of profile were measured with different scales using modified divider method. The fractal dimensions and intercepts of slopes were determined by plotting the length vs scale in log-log scale. The fractal dimensions as well as intercepts of slopes show well correlation with joint roughness coefficients(JRC). However, multiplication of the kactal dimension by intercept show better correlation with IRC and we derived a new equation to estimate JRC from fractal dimension and intercept. The crossover length in which we can determine the correct fractal dimension was between 0.3-3.2mm. We measured joint roughness of 26 natural joints and calculated JRC using the equation suggested by Tse and Cruden(1979) and new equation derived by us. IRC values calculated by both equations are almost the same, indicating new equation is effective in measuring IRC.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.295-302
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• 2002

Shear strength of the rock joint is dependent on the roughness and the compressive strength of the joint surface, normal stress and etc. Roughness of the joint profile is described by JRC suggested by Barton and Choubey (1977). Choice of the JRC value is subjective. A number of studies have been carried out to quantify the JRC. Predicted shear strengths by Barton's Equation using the new quantification method of JRC suggested by Chun and Kim (2001) were compared results of shear tests and new criteria of shear strength which have a better accuracy to predict shear strength was suggested.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.357-366
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• 2021

Shear behavior dependent on the shape and roughness of rock joints can greatly influence the stability of the ground and rock structures. The efficient design of rock structures requires understanding of the shear behavior due to joints and accurate calculation of the shear strength. This work reports numerical shear tests using PFC2D on No. 1 (JCR-1), with smooth joints, and No. 7 (JRC-7) and No. 9 (JRC-9), with relatively rough joints, for the 10 shapes of standard joint profiles proposed by Barton and Choubey (1977). The aim was to investigate the shear behavior of rock joints with respect to their roughness. The results show the maximum shear stress to be about 3.2 to 5.0 times greater in the rougher JRC-7 and JRC-9 joints than in smoother JRC-1. The maximum shear displacement was approximately 4.1 to 5.8 times greater at the first normal stress than at the second. The rougher joints showed friction angles of the rock joints that were approximately 1.8 to 3.9 times greater than that in the smooth joint. Overall, increasing the rock joint roughness increased the maximum shear stress and friction angle.

• 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.

• 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.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.03a
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• pp.1205-1210
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• 2005

The behavior of rock mass and solute(e.g. groundwater, radioactivity) flow in fractured rock can be directly influenced by joint roughness. The characteristics of joint roughness is also a main factor for the rock classification(e.g. RMR, Q system) which is usually used in tunnel design. Nevertheless, most of JRC estimation has been carried out only by the examination with the naked eye. This JRC estimation has a lack of objectivity because each investigator judges JRC by his subjective opinion. Therefore, it will be desirable that the assessment of JRC is performed by a numerical analysis which can give a quantitative value corresponding to the characteristics of a roughness curve. Meanwhile, roughness curves for joint surfaces which are observed in drill cores have been obtained only along linear profiles. Although roughness curves are measured in the same joint surface, they can frequently show diverse aspects in a standpoint of roughness characteristics. If roughness curves can be measured along the elliptical circumferences of joint surfaces from core scanning images or Televiewer images, they will certainly be more comprehensive than those measured along linear profiles for roughness characteristics of joint surfaces. This study is focus on dealing with (1) extracting automatically roughness curves from core scan image or Televiewer image, (2) improving the accuracy of quantitative assessment of JRC using fractal dimension concept.