Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Laboratory investigation of the shear failure process and strength characteristics of a rock mass containing discontinuous joints under water pressure influence

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

After the excavation of underground tunnels, the surrounding rock mass is affected by geostress adjustment and underground water pressure. To better reveal the shear failure process and strength characteristics of a rock mass containing discontinuous joints under the influence of water pressure, we carried out direct shear tests based on a self-developed visualized shear box. Through real-time monitoring of the test process, the influence of water pressure on rock bridge failure was revealed in detail. The test results showed that the failure modes of rock bridges are divided into three types: tensile failure mode, tensile–shear composite failure mode, and shear failure mode. Moreover, water pressure promotes the generation of tensile fractures and accelerates the connection of discontinuous joints. Water pressure in the joint reduces the resistance, the initial strength, and the peak strength of a rock bridge. Finally, the fluid lag phenomenon was achieved in an experiment. Compared with tensile fractures, shear fractures are more prone to fluid lag. Because the joint tip effect is enhanced by water pressure, Lajtai’s rock bridge failure theory was revised to obtain a new shear strength model in which water pressure is considered. The results calculated using the model were in good agreement with the test results. The findings of this study will make us realize the influence of water pressure on rock bridge failure, and provide a certain reference for the prevention and control of water seepage and water inrush disaster in underground engineering.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Asadizadeh M, Moosavi M, Hossaini MF, Masoumi H (2018) Shear strength and cracking process of non-persistent jointed rocks: an extensive experimental investigation. Rock Mech Rock Eng 51(2):415–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daneshy AA (1978) Hydraulic fracture propagation in layered formations. Soc Pet Eng J 18(1):33–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Einstein HH, Veneziano D, Baecher GB, O’Reilly KJ (1983) The effect of discontinuity persistence on rock slope stability. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 20(5), 227–236

  • Fan JW, He JD (1992) The strength behavior of rockmass containing oriented and closed intermittent joints. Chin J Rock Mech Eng 02:190–199

    Google Scholar 

  • Feng Q, Jin JC, Zhang S, Liu WW, Yang XX, Li WT (2021) Study on a damage model and uniaxial compression simulation method of frozen–thawed. Rock Mech Rock Eng

  • Gehle C, Kutter HK (2003) Breakage and shear behaviour of intermittent rock joints. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 40(5):687–700

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gerolymatou E, Triantafyllidis T (2016) Shearing of materials with intermittent joints. Rock Mech Rock Eng 49(7):1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghazvinian AH, Azinfar MJ, Vaneghi RG (2012a) Importance of tensile strength on the shear behavior of discontinuities. Rock Mech Rock Eng 45(3):349–359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghazvinian AH, Sarfarazi V, Schubert W, Blumel M (2012b) A study of the failure mechanism of planar non-persistent open joints using PFC2D. Rock Mech Rock Eng 45(5):677–693

    Google Scholar 

  • Haeri H, Sarfarazi V, Lazemi HA (2016a) Experimental study of shear behavior of planar non-persistent joint. Comput Concrete 17(5):639–653

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haeri H, Sarfarazi V, Marji MF, Hedayat A, Zhu Z (2016b) Experimental and numerical study of shear fracture in brittle materials with interference of initial double cracks. Acta Mech Solida Sin 29(5):555–566

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jennings JE (1970) A mathematical theory for the calculation of the stability of open cast mines. In: Proceedings of the Symposium on Theoretical Background to the Planning of Open Pit Mines. Johannesburg, p. 87-102.

  • Khristianovich SA, Zheltov YP (1955) Formation of vertical fractures by means of highly viscous liquid. In: Proceedings of the fourth world petroleum congress, Rome; 1955

  • Kulatilake P, Ucpirti H, Wang S, Radberg G, Stephansson O (1992) Use of the distinct element method to perform stress analysis in rock with non-persistent joints and to study the effect of joint geometry parameters on the strength and deformability of rock masses. Rock Mech Rock Eng 25(4):253–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lajtai EZ (1969) Strength of discontinuous rocks in direct shear. Géotechn 19(2):218–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu YM, Xia CC (2006) Study on models and strength behavior of rock mass containing discontinuous joints in direct shear. Chin J Geotech Eng 10:1242–1247

    Google Scholar 

  • Ren WZ, Wang GS, Bai SW, Feng DX, Chen JQ, Jia ZH (2003) Strength behavior of rockmass containing coplanar close intermittent joints under direct shear condition. Chin J Rock Mech Eng 22(10):1667–1672

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarfarazi V, Ghazvinian A, Schubert W (2014) Numerical simulation of the process of fracture of echelon rock joints. Rock Mech Rock Eng 47(4):1355–1371

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarfarazi V, Haeri H (2016a) Effect of number and configuration of bridges on shear properties of sliding surface. J Min Sci 52(2):245–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarfarazi V, Haeri H, Khaloo A (2016b) The effect of non-persistent joints on sliding direction of rock slopes. Comput Concrete 17(6):723–737

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarfarazi V, Haeri H, Shemirani AB, Zhu Z (2017) Shear behavior of non-persistent joint under high normal load. Strength Mater 49(2):320–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheng JC, Zhao J, Su BY (2005) Analysis of hydraulic fracturing in hydraulic tunnels under high water pressure. Chin J Rock Mech Eng 07:1226–1230

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun PP, Yang PP, Sun DK, Qiao WG, Wu Y (2020) Geometric and mechanical properties of a shear-formed fracture occurring in a rock bridge between discontinuous joints.Bull Eng Geol Environ 79(3): 1365-1380

  • Wang SY, Sloan SW, Fityus SG, Griffiths DV, Tang CA (2013) Numerical modeling of pore pressure influence on fracture evolution in brittle heterogeneous rocks. Rock Mech Rock Eng 46(5):1165–1182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie XH, Su BY, Gao YF, Duan XB (2005) Numerical study on water inrush above a confined aquifer in coal mining using hydro-fracturing. Chin J Rock Mech Eng 06:987–993

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu JN, Zhu WS (1995) The strength of colinear cracks failure under shearing-compressive stress. Chin J Rock Mech Eng 14(004):306–311

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang XX, Qiao WG (2018) Numerical investigation of the shear behavior of granite materials containing discontinuous joints by utilizing the flat-joint model. Comput Geotech 104:69–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

The research reported in this manuscript was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51704183) and the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 2018M640646).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shandong Key Laboratory of Civil Engineering Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266590, China

    Xuxu Yang, Lichao Li, Panpan Sun, Shicheng Wang & Fuwei Li

  2. School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266590, China

    Xuxu Yang

Authors
  1. Xuxu Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lichao Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Panpan Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Shicheng Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Fuwei Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Panpan Sun.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yang, X., Li, L., Sun, P. et al. Laboratory investigation of the shear failure process and strength characteristics of a rock mass containing discontinuous joints under water pressure influence. Bull Eng Geol Environ 81, 95 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02565-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02565-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation