The shear mechanical properties of rocks with variable angle joints

Abstract Variable angle structural surfaces are more common in slopes. However, variable-angle joints have still been approximated as single-angle straight joint planes for analysis in previous studies, which failed to comprehensively capture the mechanical properties of such surfaces. In this paper...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Guoyong Duan, Yuchen Zhou, Fei Li, Yanhai Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98600-0
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849712780082413568
author Guoyong Duan
Yuchen Zhou
Fei Li
Yanhai Wang
author_facet Guoyong Duan
Yuchen Zhou
Fei Li
Yanhai Wang
author_sort Guoyong Duan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Variable angle structural surfaces are more common in slopes. However, variable-angle joints have still been approximated as single-angle straight joint planes for analysis in previous studies, which failed to comprehensively capture the mechanical properties of such surfaces. In this paper, joint specimens with variable angles were fabricated using concrete. Direct shear tests were carried out under different normal stress conditions, and the strength, deformation, and failure characteristics of the specimens were analyzed. The results revealed a significant positive correlation between the peak shear strength and shear stiffness of the variable angle specimens with the normal stress, while the correlation between the residual shear strength and the normal stress was relatively insignificant. The normal displacement and tangential displacement of the specimen exhibited a significant negative correlation. When shear failure occurred, the main cracks propagated along the shear direction, accompanied by localized secondary cracks and surface spalling. Unlike the straight joints commonly studied in previous research, variable-angle joint specimens exhibit distinct failure modes in the high-angle zone and the low-angle zone. In the high-angle zone, vertical cracks perpendicular to the joint surface and shear cracks along the shear direction predominantly occurred. The low-angle zone was dominated by shear damage along the shear direction. By comparing the results of experimental tests and theoretical analysis, the zonal pattern of shear failure characteristics on variable angle surfaces was revealed. The research findings provide a theoretical basis for the safety and stability analysis of variable angle structural surfaces.
format Article
id doaj-art-be96a8e5cebb4e0b95f3e17e251dbde2
institution DOAJ
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-be96a8e5cebb4e0b95f3e17e251dbde22025-08-20T03:14:09ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111810.1038/s41598-025-98600-0The shear mechanical properties of rocks with variable angle jointsGuoyong Duan0Yuchen Zhou1Fei Li2Yanhai Wang3Hubei Key Laboratory of Disaster Prevention Mitigation (China Three Gorges University)Hubei Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Power Transmission Line, Three Gorges UniversityKey Laboratory of Geological Hazards on Three Gorges Reservoir Area (China Three Gorges University), Ministry of EducationKey Laboratory of Geological Hazards on Three Gorges Reservoir Area (China Three Gorges University), Ministry of EducationAbstract Variable angle structural surfaces are more common in slopes. However, variable-angle joints have still been approximated as single-angle straight joint planes for analysis in previous studies, which failed to comprehensively capture the mechanical properties of such surfaces. In this paper, joint specimens with variable angles were fabricated using concrete. Direct shear tests were carried out under different normal stress conditions, and the strength, deformation, and failure characteristics of the specimens were analyzed. The results revealed a significant positive correlation between the peak shear strength and shear stiffness of the variable angle specimens with the normal stress, while the correlation between the residual shear strength and the normal stress was relatively insignificant. The normal displacement and tangential displacement of the specimen exhibited a significant negative correlation. When shear failure occurred, the main cracks propagated along the shear direction, accompanied by localized secondary cracks and surface spalling. Unlike the straight joints commonly studied in previous research, variable-angle joint specimens exhibit distinct failure modes in the high-angle zone and the low-angle zone. In the high-angle zone, vertical cracks perpendicular to the joint surface and shear cracks along the shear direction predominantly occurred. The low-angle zone was dominated by shear damage along the shear direction. By comparing the results of experimental tests and theoretical analysis, the zonal pattern of shear failure characteristics on variable angle surfaces was revealed. The research findings provide a theoretical basis for the safety and stability analysis of variable angle structural surfaces.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98600-0Variable angle jointed surfaceShear mechanical propertiesExperimental studyFailure characteristicsEvolutionary pattern
spellingShingle Guoyong Duan
Yuchen Zhou
Fei Li
Yanhai Wang
The shear mechanical properties of rocks with variable angle joints
Scientific Reports
Variable angle jointed surface
Shear mechanical properties
Experimental study
Failure characteristics
Evolutionary pattern
title The shear mechanical properties of rocks with variable angle joints
title_full The shear mechanical properties of rocks with variable angle joints
title_fullStr The shear mechanical properties of rocks with variable angle joints
title_full_unstemmed The shear mechanical properties of rocks with variable angle joints
title_short The shear mechanical properties of rocks with variable angle joints
title_sort shear mechanical properties of rocks with variable angle joints
topic Variable angle jointed surface
Shear mechanical properties
Experimental study
Failure characteristics
Evolutionary pattern
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98600-0
work_keys_str_mv AT guoyongduan theshearmechanicalpropertiesofrockswithvariableanglejoints
AT yuchenzhou theshearmechanicalpropertiesofrockswithvariableanglejoints
AT feili theshearmechanicalpropertiesofrockswithvariableanglejoints
AT yanhaiwang theshearmechanicalpropertiesofrockswithvariableanglejoints
AT guoyongduan shearmechanicalpropertiesofrockswithvariableanglejoints
AT yuchenzhou shearmechanicalpropertiesofrockswithvariableanglejoints
AT feili shearmechanicalpropertiesofrockswithvariableanglejoints
AT yanhaiwang shearmechanicalpropertiesofrockswithvariableanglejoints