scholarly journals Experimental Study on Hydromechanical Behavior of an Artificial Rock Joint with Controlled Roughness

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1014
Author(s):  
Seungbeom Choi ◽  
Byungkyu Jeon ◽  
Sudeuk Lee ◽  
Seokwon Jeon
Keyword(s):  
Rock Mass ◽  
Rock Joint ◽  
Great Influence ◽  
Rock Joints ◽  
In Situ Tests ◽  
Joint Roughness ◽  
Artificial Rock ◽  
Geometric Conditions ◽  
Bedding Planes ◽  
Hydraulic Aperture

Rock mass contains various discontinuities, such as faults, joints, and bedding planes. Among them, a joint is one of the most frequently encountered discontinuities in rock engineering applications. Generally, a joint exerts great influence on the mechanical and hydraulic behavior of rock mass, since it acts as a weak plane and as a fluid path in the rock mass. Therefore, an accurate understanding on joint characteristics is important in many projects. In-situ tests on joints are sometimes consumptive in terms of time and expenses so that the features are investigated by laboratory tests, providing fundamental properties for rock mass analyses. Although the behavior of a joint is affected by both mechanical and geometric conditions, the latter are often limited, since quantitative control on the conditions is quite complicated. In this study, artificial rock joints with various geometric conditions, i.e., joint roughness, were prepared in a quantitative manner and the hydromechanical characteristics were investigated by several laboratory experiments. Based on the results, a prediction model for hydraulic aperture was proposed in the form of ( e h / e m ) 3 = exp ( − 0.0462 c ) × ( 0.8864 ) J R C , which was a function of the mechanical aperture, joint roughness, and contact area. Relatively good agreement between the experimental results and predicted value indicated that the model is capable of estimating the hydraulic aperture properly.

scholarly journals Neutrosophic Functions of the Joint Roughness Coefficient and the Shear Strength: A Case Study from the Pyroclastic Rock Mass in Shaoxing City, China

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Ye ◽  
Rui Yong ◽  
Qi-Feng Liang ◽  
Man Huang ◽  
Shi-Gui Du
Keyword(s):  
Shear Strength ◽  
Rock Mass ◽  
Rock Joint ◽  
Sampling Bias ◽  
Rock Joints ◽  
Joint Surface ◽  
Pyroclastic Rock ◽  
Roughness Coefficient ◽  
Joint Roughness Coefficient ◽  
Joint Roughness

Many studies have been carried out to investigate the scale effect on the shear behavior of rock joints. However, existing methods are difficult to determinate the joint roughness coefficient (JRC) and the shear strength of rock joints with incomplete and indeterminate information; the nature of scale dependency of rock joints is still unknown and remains an ongoing debate. Thus, this paper establishes two neutrosophic functions of the JRC values and the shear strength based on neutrosophic theory to express and handle the incomplete and indeterminate problems in the analyses of the JRC and the shear strength. An example, including four rock joint samples derived from the pyroclastic rock mass in Shaoxing city, China, is provided to show the effectiveness and rationality of the developed method. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed neutrosophic functions can express and deal with the incomplete and indeterminate problems of the test data caused by geometry complexity of the rock joint surface and sampling bias. They provide a new approach for estimating the JRC values of the different-sized test profiles and the peak shear strength of rock joints.

Scale effect on the anisotropy characteristics of rock joint roughness

2021 ◽  
pp. qjegh2020-066
Author(s):  
Shi-Gui Du ◽  
Kai-Qian Du ◽  
Rui Yong ◽  
Jun Ye ◽  
Zhan-You Luo
Keyword(s):  
Scale Effect ◽  
Rock Joint ◽  
Rock Joints ◽  
Roughness Coefficient ◽  
Scale Dependency ◽  
Joint Roughness Coefficient ◽  
Local Anisotropy ◽  
Joint Roughness ◽  
Threshold Length

Accurate assessment of anisotropy and scale effect of rock joint roughness is essential for evaluating the mechanical behaviour of rock joints. However, in previous studies, how to quantify roughness anisotropy of rock joints remains largely unsolved, and the research about scale effect on roughness anisotropy is not conclusive. A statistical analysis on joint roughness coefficient of different sized profiles was implemented to investigate the scale-dependency of joint roughness. The scale effect on the roughness anisotropy were investigated based on class ratio transform approach. The roughness anisotropy was characterized by local anisotropy and global anisotropy. The global anisotropy tends to be almost constant when the sample size exceeds the stationarity threshold length of 70 cm. The result shows that the global anisotropy is scale-dependent. However, the scale effect on local anisotropy is less apparent. The case study indicates that the class ratio transform approach implies its superiority in roughness anisotropy investigation.

Rock joint detection from borehole imaging logs based on gray-level co-occurrence matrix and Canny edge detector

2021 ◽  
pp. qjegh2021-016
Author(s):  
Yunfeng Ge ◽  
Bin Du ◽  
Huiming Tang ◽  
Peng Zhong
Keyword(s):  
Rock Mass ◽  
Imaging System ◽  
Mechanical Design ◽  
Rock Joint ◽  
Joint Density ◽  
Rock Joints ◽  
Geometrical Parameters ◽  
Gray Level ◽  
Occurrence Matrix ◽  
Borehole Imaging

Rock joints play an important role in characterizing the rock mass quality for geo-mechanical design and stability analysis. An approach was developed to detect and characterize the rock joints from images collected by a borehole imaging system. A gray-level co-occurrence matrix was employed to locate the joint regions, allowing more focused and effective detection processing, followed by extractions of the upper and lower edges of rock using the Canny algorithm. Four basic geometrical parameters of rock joints－orientation, depth, aperture, and core length－were determined based on the fitting of sinusoids to joints’ edges. Furthermore, the joint density was determined based on the geometric parameters. To calibrate the proposed approach, a borehole in the Rumei hydropower station engineering at Lantsang River was selected as a case study. Orientation of rock joints with gentle dip angles, which was determined from borehole imaging logs, corresponded to the measurement in three horizontal tunnels. Additionally, both joint density and pressure-wave velocity revealed that jointed rock mass was observed in the depth from 100 m to 120 m, and intact rock mass was presented in the depth of 150 m to 170 m, indicating the good performance of the proposed method.

scholarly journals Effects of Gouge Fill on Elastic Wave Propagation in Equivalent Continuum Jointed Rock Mass

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 3173
Author(s):  
Ji-Won Kim ◽  
Song-Hun Chong ◽  
Gye-Chun Cho
Keyword(s):  
Wave Propagation ◽  
Rock Mass ◽  
Rock Joint ◽  
Physical And Mechanical Properties ◽  
Jointed Rock ◽  
Rock Joints ◽  
Shear Joint ◽  
Equivalent Continuum Model ◽  
Particulate Soil ◽  
Equivalent Continuum

The presence of gouge in rock joints significantly affects the physical and mechanical properties of the host rock mass. Wave-based exploration techniques have been widely used to investigate the effects of gouge fill on rock mass properties. Previous research on wave propagation in gouge-filled joints focused on analytical and theoretical methods. The lack of experimental methods for multiple rock joint systems, however, has limited the verification potential of the proposed models. In this study, the effects of gouge material and thickness on wave propagation in equivalent continuum jointed rocks are investigated using a quasi-static resonant column test. Gouge-filled rock specimens are simulated using stacked granite rock discs. Sand and clay gouge fills of 2 and 5 mm thicknesses are tested to investigate the effects of gouge material and thickness. Comprehensive analyses of the effects of gouge thickness are conducted using homogeneous isotropic acetal gouge fills of known thickness. The results show that gouge fill leads to changes in wave velocity, which depend on the characteristics of the gouge fill. The results also show that particulate soil gouge is susceptible to preloading effects that cause permanent changes in the soil fabric and contact geometry and that increased gouge thickness causes a more significant stiffness contribution of the gouge material properties to the overall stiffness of the equivalent continuum specimen. The normal and shear joint stiffnesses for different gouge fill conditions are calculated from the experimental results using the equivalent continuum model and suggested as input parameters for numerical analysis.

scholarly journals Numerical Simulation of Shear Behavior and Permeability Evolution of Rock Joints with Variable Roughness and Infilling Thickness

Geofluids ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingyi Cheng ◽  
Hongwei Zhang ◽  
Zhijun Wan
Keyword(s):  
Rock Joint ◽  
Shear Behavior ◽  
Thickness Ratio ◽  
Rock Joints ◽  
Hyperbolic Function ◽  
Hydraulic Fractures ◽  
Permeability Evolution ◽  
Joint Roughness ◽  
Shear Process ◽  
Variable Roughness

The mechanical properties and permeability evolution of sand-infilled rock joints during the shear process is an important issue in rock engineering, such as it pertains to hydraulic fractures filled with proppant. Shear can disrupt the preexisting hydraulic and mechanical equilibrium conditions, thus affecting fluid flow. In this study, we simulate the shear behavior of rock joints with variable roughness and sand infilling thickness using the discrete element code PFC2D. Rock joint roughness is evaluated by the joint roughness coefficient (JRC), and sand infilling thickness is evaluated by a thickness ratio (i.e., ratio of infill thickness to rock height) ranging from 0.02 to 0.20. The results show that peak shear strength decreases with the thickness ratio in a relation that can be expressed by a hyperbolic function. We also measure the permeability evolution during shearing and find that the permeability of infilled rock joints increases with both the thickness ratio and JRC.

scholarly journals Correlation between the Joint Roughness Coefficient and Rock Joint Statistical Parameters at Different Sampling Intervals

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Man Huang ◽  
Cia-chu Xia ◽  
Peng Sha ◽  
Cheng-rong Ma ◽  
Shi-gui Du
Keyword(s):  
General Formula ◽  
Rock Joint ◽  
Statistical Parameter ◽  
Rock Joints ◽  
Estimation Accuracy ◽  
Roughness Coefficient ◽  
Joint Roughness Coefficient ◽  
Joint Roughness ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Fitting Parameters

Joint roughness coefficient (JRC) is a major factor that affects the mechanical properties of rock joints. Statistical methods that are used to calculate the JRC increasingly depend on a sampling interval (Δx). The variation rules of fitting parameters a, b, and b/a at different Δx values were analyzed on the basis of the relationship between the JRC and statistical parameter Z2. The relationship between the fitting parameters a and b was deduced in accordance with the ten standard profiles proposed by Barton. Empirical formulas for the JRC, Z2, and Δx were also established. The estimation accuracy of the JRC was the highest in the analysis of Δx values within 0.1–5.0 mm. JRC tests were conducted through inverse value comparative analysis. Results showed that the outcome calculated using the general formula and the JRC inverse values demonstrate improved agreement and verify the rationality of the general formula. The proposed formula can perform rapid and simple JRC calculation within the Δx range of 0.1–5.0 mm using Z2, thereby indicating favorable application prospects.

scholarly journals Shear-Flow Coupled Behavior of Artificial Joints with Sawtooth Asperities

Processes ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (9) ◽  
pp. 152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng Zhao ◽  
Rui Zhang ◽  
Qingzhao Zhang ◽  
Zhenming Shi ◽  
Songbo Yu
Keyword(s):  
Shear Flow ◽  
Normal Stress ◽  
Shear Failure ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Rock Joints ◽  
Joint Roughness ◽  
Artificial Joints ◽  
Shear Dilation ◽  
Hydraulic Aperture ◽  
Seepage Properties

The coupling between hydraulic and mechanical processes in rock joints has significantly influenced the properties and applications of rock mass in many engineering fields. In this study, a series of regular shear tests and shear-flow coupled tests were conducted on artificial joints with sawtooth asperities. Shear deformation, strength, and seepage properties were comprehensively analyzed to reveal the influence of joint roughness, normal stress, and seepage pressure on shear-flow coupled behavior. The results indicate that the shear failure mode, which can be divided into sliding and cutting, is dominated by joint roughness and affected by the other two factors under certain conditions. The seepage process makes a negative impact on shear strength as a result of the mutual reinforcing of offsetting and softening effects. The evolution of hydraulic aperture during the shear-flow coupled tests embodies a consistent pattern of four stages: shear contraction, shear dilation, re-contraction, and stability. The permeability of joint sample is considerably enlarged with the increase of joint roughness, but decreases with the addition of normal stress.

Non-stationarity, heterogeneity, scale effects, and anisotropy investigations on natural rock joint roughness using the variogram method

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pinnaduwa H. S. W. Kulatilake ◽  
Shi-Gui Du ◽  
Mawuko Luke Yaw Ankah ◽  
Rui Yong ◽  
Desmond Talamwin Sunkpal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scale Effects ◽  
Rock Joint ◽  
Joint Roughness ◽  
Natural Rock

scholarly journals A New Method for Determination of Joint Roughness Coefficient of Rock Joints

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shigui Du ◽  
Huicai Gao ◽  
Yunjin Hu ◽  
Man Huang ◽  
Hua Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Scale Effect ◽  
Fractal Model ◽  
Rock Joints ◽  
Effective Length ◽  
Roughness Coefficient ◽  
Joint Roughness Coefficient ◽  
Joint Roughness ◽  
Exposed Rock ◽  
Study Results

The joint roughness coefficient (JRC) of rock joints has the characteristic of scale effect. JRC measured on small-size exposed rock joints should be evaluated by JRC scale effect in order to obtain the JRC of actual-scale rock joints, since field rock joints are hardly fully exposed or well saved. Based on the validity analysis of JRC scale effect, concepts of rate of JRC scale effect and effective length of JRC scale effect were proposed. Then, a graphic method for determination of the effective length of JRC scale effect was established. Study results show that the JRC of actual-scale rock joints can be obtained through a fractal model of JRC scale effect according to the statistically measured results of the JRC of small-size partial exposed rock joints and by the selection of fractal dimension of JRC scale effect and the determination of effective length of JRC scale effect.

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