Shear strength of geological

discontinuity

Prepared by ENG A Chagwedera

 Introduction

 What is a geological discontinuity?

 Why discontinuity analysis can be a practical value to the rock
mechanics engineer?
 Geological discontinuities
Geological discontinuity is any mechanical break, a zone of weakness within a rock
mass, which is associated with low shear strength , negligible tensile strength and high
hydraulic conductivity.
 Bedding planes
 Faults
 Joints
 Fractures
 Fissures
 Discontinuity properties

 Orientation
 Size (aperture size and persistence)
 Frequency (spacing)
 Surface geometry
 Infill material
 ISRM has recommended the following key attributes for the characterization of
rock discontinuities
Physical attributes affecting the engineering properties of discontinuities
a. Roughness
b. Strength of rock at the discontinuity surfaces
c. Angle of basic and residual friction
d. Aperture of discontinuity
e. Infilling material.
Geometrical attributes defining the spatial configuration of discontinuities
f. Joint Orientations
g. Spacing
h. Number of sets
i. Block and shape size
j. Joint continuity
Appearances of discontinuities
 Determination of shear strength along a discontinuity

Direct shear test

 Determination of shear strength along a discontinuity

Direct shear test

 Determination of shear strength along a discontinuity

Direct shear test

Determination of shear strength along a discontinuity
 Patton’s shear strength criterion on discontinuity

is  the basic frictional angle

i is the roughness angle
 Question
 Table below is showing results from a laboratory direct shear test on a discontinuity.
a) Determine the cohesion , basic internal frictional angle and roughness angle.
b) Determine the shear strength of the discontinuity when normal stress is 2.0 Mpa (use Mohr Coulomb
criterion).

Normal 0.336 0.648 0.961 1.273 1.586

stress
(Mpa)
Peak shear 0.344 0.516 0.719 0.953 1.156
stress
(Mpa)
 Barton’s estimate of shear strength

   is the basic frictional angle

 JRC – Joint roughness coefficient
 JCS – Joint wall compressive strength
Influence of scale on JRC and JCS
Multi-stage triaxial test for determination of joint shear strength

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