The application of energy principles to the determination of the sliding resistance of rock joints

SummaryEnergy principles have previously been applied to the analysis of rock joints in order to determine the shear strength of dilatant joints (Ladanyi and Archambault, 1970). This work was based on the analysis of regular triangular asperities and assumed that the asperities were rigid. In recognition of the difficulty of measuring a representative asperity angle in natural, complex rock joints, Ladanyi and Archambault extended their results to natural joints by assuming the equality of joint dilation rate and the effective joint asperity angle. It is shown that the assumption of this equality is not universally valid, and that it may lead to an underestimation of joint shear strength. Further, the effective friction angle for joints in an elastic rock mass, for joints comprising asperities of varying inclination, for post-peak shear displacements and for joints in degradable rock are all analysed using extensions of Ladanyi and Archambault's approach.