• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.85-99
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• 2022

Rock discontinuities, as weak interfaces in rock, control mechanical properties of rock mass. Presence of discontinuities complicates the engineering properties of rock, which is the root of anisotropy and heterogeneity that have nonnegligible influences on the rock engineering. Morphological characteristics of discontinuities in natural rock are an important factor influencing the mechanical properties, particularly roughness, of discontinuities. Therefore, the accurate measurement and characterization of morphologies of discontinuities are preconditions for studying mechanical properties of discontinuities. Taking discontinuities in red sandstone as research objects, the research obtained three-dimensional (3D) morphologies of discontinuities in natural rock by carrying out 3D morphological scanning tests. The waviness and roughness were separated from 3D morphologies of rock discontinuities through wavelet transform. In addition, the calculation method for the overall slope root mean square (RMS) as well as slope RMSs of waviness and roughness of 3D morphologies of discontinuities considering the shear direction was proposed. The research finally determined an evaluation method for 3D morphologies of discontinuities by quantitatively characterizing 3D morphologies with the mean value of the three slope RMSs.