An Experimental Method to Determine Rock Joint Stiffness under Constant Normal Load Conditions

Dong Li, Guanfeng An, Xiangsheng Chen, Wengang Dang () and Dongyang Li
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Dong Li: Guangzhou Municipal Group Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510000, China
Guanfeng An: Guangzhou Municipal Group Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510000, China
Xiangsheng Chen: College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
Wengang Dang: School of Civil Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China
Dongyang Li: Zhuhai Institute of Urban Planning & Design, Zhuhai 519000, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 18, 1-12

Abstract: Being physical mechanical parameters of joints, normal and shear stiffnesses are indispensable components of the numerical simulation and theoretical analysis of the behavior of joints. The objective of this work is to put forward an experimental method to determine joint stiffness under constant normal load (CNL) conditions. For this purpose, joint closure and direct shear tests under CNL conditions were conducted. Normal stiffness was determined by the ratio of normal stress increment and the corresponding normal displacement; the shear stiffness was calculated by the ratio of shear stress increment to the relative shear displacement. The average and instantaneous shear stiffness were distinguished. Experimental results showed that joint normal and shear stiffness are time and spatially varying parameters during direct shearing. With increasing normal stress, average shear stiffness, maximum instantaneous shear stiffness, and normal stiffness increases. Normal stiffness was about 26–28 times higher than the average shear stiffness under one normal stress level. Average shear stiffness was little influenced by shear velocity. Instantaneous shear stiffness shows the velocity-dependent behavior. Maximum instantaneous shear stiffness decreases rapidly with increasing shear rate. At lower shear velocity, maximum instantaneous shear stiffness is higher than normal stiffness; minimum instantaneous shear stiffness can be negative and the absolute value also decreases with faster shear velocity. These findings provide a reference for selecting the appropriate value of normal and shear stiffness for evaluation of the mechanical response of interface.

Keywords: joint closure test; direct shear test; joint stiffness; shear velocity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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