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Experimental Validation of Modified Barton’s Model for Rock Fractures

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Abstract

Among the constitutive models for rock fractures developed over the years, Barton’s empirical model has been widely used. Although Barton’s failure criterion predicts peak shear strength of rock fractures with acceptable precision, it has some limitations in estimating the peak shear displacement, post-peak shear strength, dilation, and surface degradation. The first author modified Barton’s original model in order to address these limitations. In this study, the modified Barton’s model (the peak shear displacement, the shear stress–displacement curve, and the dilation displacement) is validated by conducting a series of direct shear tests.

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Acknowledgments

Simone Adotto and Marco Invernizzi conducted this research as part of their MS theses over a 6-month period spent at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin when they were sponsored by the Polytechnic of Turin, Italy. Professor Daniele Peila, DITAG, Polytechnic of Turin co-advised Simone Adotto and Marco Invernizzi and found the funds necessary for supporting their stay at UT Austin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712-0280, USA

    Pooyan Asadollahi & Fulvio Tonon

  2. Land, Environment, and Geo-Engineering Department, Turin Polytechnic, 10192, Turin, Italy

    Marco C. A. Invernizzi & Simone Addotto

Authors
  1. Pooyan Asadollahi
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  2. Marco C. A. Invernizzi
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  3. Simone Addotto
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  4. Fulvio Tonon
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Correspondence to Pooyan Asadollahi.

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Asadollahi, P., Invernizzi, M.C.A., Addotto, S. et al. Experimental Validation of Modified Barton’s Model for Rock Fractures. Rock Mech Rock Eng 43, 597–613 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-010-0085-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-010-0085-6

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