• 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 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.

• 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.

• 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.