Numerical and experimental simulation of the effect of non-persistent joint on the failure pattern and failure load of samples.

Investigation of behavior of non-persistent joint is important in rock structure stability. This leads to improvement in rock engineering project design. Rock bridges in non-persistent joint increase shear strength of failure surface. For investigation of shear behavior of rock bridge, 24 gypsum samples with dimension of 10 cm × 10 cm × 5 cm were prepared. The joint lengths in various samples are different but in the one sample the joint length are similar. Joint lengths change from 1 cm to 4 cm. in each joint length, joint angularity was 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 degrees. These samples were tested under uniaxial compression test. The results show that failure pattern was affected by joint length, joint angularity and rock bridge length while failure load was controlled by failure pattern. Concurrent with experimental test, numerical simulation was performed using PFC2D software. The joint lengths in numerical model change from 1cm to 4 cm with increment of 1cm. In each joint length, the joint angularity is 0° and 45°. Failure pattern in numerical model was similar to experimental sample while failure load in numerical model was more than experimental outputs.