The Hydromechanical Performance of Idealized Rock Fissures

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Characterization of the behavior of saturated rock asses to imposed perturbations in effective stress is of fundamental importance in understanding response in rock engineering and tectonophysics. Of particular interest are the changes in hydraulic conductivitry that may be manifest under relatively limited shear displacement across rock joints. Where normal stresses are low, relative to the strength of asperities comprising the joint wall, dilational opening will greatly increase the void volume of the mass. Since the potential for hydraulic discharge is increased proportionally to the cube of the joint aperture change, extremely large conductivity enhancements may occur for modest shear offsets. The fundamental parameters controlling this phenomenon are investigated by conducting laboratory and analytical appraisals of conductivity enhancement of sheared joints. Analytical studies will allow the expected performance of idealized joint profiles to be quantified prior to testing. The suite of laboratory tests, conducted in large scale (12x12x12 inch blocks) and under shear loading, will allow direct comparison with the analytical results.