Investigation of the acoustic emission characteristics of artificial saw-tooth joints under shearing condition

Shear failure of rockmass along a weak plane occurs frequently in rock slopes and in underground tunnels. To study the shear behaviour and acoustic emission (AE) characteristics of joints under different experimental conditions (asperity height, shear rate, and normal load), irregular artificial saw-tooth joints with different asperity heights were sheared in the laboratory, and the AE signals were detected and analysed. The results demonstrated that the strength of the joints increased with increases in normal load and asperity height, while the strength of the joints first increased and then decreased when the shear rate was elevated. The ideal curve of the cumulative hits could be divided into a quiet period, a slow rise period, and a sharp growth period, which could be used to monitor and predict the potential shear failure of the joints. The higher the asperity was, the higher the peak energy rate and the lower the peak hit rate, and cumulative hits at failure were because of differences in asperity size and number. The peak hit rate and cumulative energy tended to increase gradually with the decrease in shear rate, and the minimum peak hit rate and energy rate at failure were both attained at the maximum shear rate. In addition, curves of the energy rate and hit rate showed large fluctuations at higher shear rates. The peak energy rate and cumulative energy under low normal stress could be greater than the peak energy rate and cumulative energy under high normal stress, and the peak hit rate and cumulative hit number under high normal stress could be larger than that of under low normal stress.