Shear Strength Characterization of Rock Joints
Summary
Shear strength characterisation of rock joints underpins the stability assessment of slopes, tunnels, foundations and hydrocarbon reservoirs. It addresses how discontinuities in rock masses respond when subjected to shear and normal stresses, accounting for surface geometry, material properties and in situ stress conditions. Key influences include surface roughness, contact area, normal displacement (dilation) and the degree of surface matching or matedness. Laboratory direct‐shear tests, numerical simulations and emerging non-destructive imaging techniques have advanced the quantification of peak and residual shear strengths. Multiscale analyses reveal that micro-asperities control peak resistance while larger waviness governs residual strength and permeability. Integration of high-resolution scanning, statistical decomposition and predictive modelling enhances understanding of failure mechanisms and informs engineering design, from reinforcing rock slopes to optimising fluid flow pathways in fractured reservoirs.
Research from Nature Portfolio
A foundational study introduced a brightness area percentage (BAP) index to describe anisotropy, scale and interval effects of joint roughness. Using terrestrial laser scanning to derive detailed digital terrain models, the approach employs image-processing to isolate micro-planes resisting shear by their relative brightness under synthetic illumination. Comparisons with established roughness metrics across case studies demonstrated that BAP captures both small-scale asperity orientation and larger waviness, improving on conventional indices. This work has established a new paradigm for linking high-resolution morphology with shear resistance, guiding subsequent efforts in machine learning and multiscale simulation.
Shear Strength Characterization of Rock Joints publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in shear strength characterization of rock joints across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Shear strength: Maximum tangential resistance a rock joint can sustain before sliding occurs under a given normal load.
Joint roughness coefficient (JRC): Empirical index quantifying the geometric irregularity of a joint surface, influencing its frictional resistance.
Shear dilation: Volume increase or normal displacement that occurs when a joint surface dilates during shear loading.
Aperture: Average separation or gap between mating rock joint surfaces, affecting contact area and fluid flow.
Matedness: Degree of matching between opposing joint surfaces, determining interlocking behaviour and peak shear resistance.
References
- Impact of multiscale surface roughness on shear behavior of rock fractures. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology (2024).
- A new approach for predicting direct shear tests on rock fractures. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences (2023).
- Characterization of Joint Roughness Heterogeneity and Its Application in Representative Sample Investigations. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering (2022).
- A Description for Rock Joint Roughness Based on Terrestrial Laser Scanner and Image Analysis. Scientific Reports (2015).
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