The examination of a recently proposed model solution for shear behaviour of infilled natural rock joints based on multi-scale laboratory investigations

The primary aim of this paper is to review a recently proposed shear behaviour model of infilled rock joints in which joint surface characteristics and the properties of the joint and infill materials has been taken into account. The empirical model has also finally validated based on a few experimental data from the literature. The results of that study showed an acceptable confidence level for the model and reported that the new model successfully describes the observed shear behaviour of natural infilled rock joints. However, further experimental investigations were required to be undertaken to modify the proposed model and increase the field applicability. In addition, although some steps have been taken by the authors to replicate and conduct tests on natural joint profiles, there are still limitations caused by the narrow range of JRC examined in that proposed model. Therefore, to provide a large spectrum, the authors started to investigate several evaluations on other good quality laboratory shear tests and large scale rock joint surfaces from a radwaste repository’s underground caverns in Hungary with granitic host rock. Based on these investigations, which are currently under execution, the model will become more accurate and quantitative (especially the roughness profiling). © 2016 Taylor & Francis Group, London.