Limit Equilibrium Model for Rock Joints Based on Strain Energies

Abstract

Limit equilibrium models of forces that act on joints in rock masses have a disadvantage in that it is impossible to explicitly integrate joint roughness amplitude because the models consider only the nondimensional parameters related to asperity geometry. However, for adequate joint roughness characterization, it is essential to consider amplitude as well. Thus, the formulation of a limit equilibrium model of the strain energies associated with rock joints is proposed, in which two different joints may yield under the same shear stress while they have asperities with the same slope but different amplitudes, because they actually have different strengths.