Influence of Morphology Characteristics on Shear Mechanical Properties of Sawtooth Joints

Abstract

The interface problem exists widely in building. Joints are interfaces of rock mass structures. To further study the influence of morphological characteristics on the shear mechanical properties of sawtooth joints, this paper prepared rock-like materials based on the similarity principle and carried out direct shear tests of sawtooth joints. The results showed that: (1) the peak shear displacement of joints first increases and then decreases with increasing normal stress, but the normal trend of stress during turning is different under different sawtooth angles. When the sawtooth angle of the joints is small, the decrease in shear stress between shear strength and residual shear strength is not obvious, and the rate of decrease is also small. (2) The shear strength of joints is positively correlated with normal stress. Using the Mohr–Coulomb criterion to analyze the shear strength of joints, it was found that the cohesion c and internal friction angle α of joints increased nonlinearly with increasing sawtooth angle, but their increasing trends were different. By introducing the function relation between cohesion, internal friction angle, and sawtooth angle into the classical shear strength equation, an empirical equation for the shear strength of joints was established in consideration of sawtooth angle. (3) There are two modes of shear failure for serrated joints: the “saw-toothed sliding gnawing failure mechanism” (SSG) and the “tensile fracture mechanism” (TFM). In the SSG, the shear failure mode of joints evolves in a slipping–gnawing–complete gnawing mechanism with increasing sawtooth angle and normal stress. The TFM mainly occurs at high sawtooth angles. This study provides a theoretical reference for the prediction and prevention of geological disasters.