Frictional behavior of planar and rough granite fractures subjected to normal load oscillations of different amplitudes

The dynamic frictional behaviors of natural discontinuities (joints, fractures, faults) play an important role in geohazards assessment; however, the mechanisms of the dynamic fault weakening/strengthening are still unclear. In this paper, a dynamic shear box was used to perform direct shear tests on saw-cut (planar) and natural (rough) granite fractures, with different normal load oscillation amplitudes. Based on the recorded shear forces and normal displacements, the shear forces, apparent friction coefficients and normal displacements are found to change periodically with oscillated normal loads and are characterized by a series of time shifts. The observed changing patterns are similar for the rough and planar fractures. Compared with the test data under constant normal load (CNL), small/large normal load oscillation amplitude enhances/reduces the peak shear strength, with a critical point. The magnitude of critical normal load oscillation for the rough fractures is smaller than the planer fractures. The results imply that dynamic fault weakening/strengthening can be achieved by both normal load oscillation amplitudes and slip surface topography. The rough fractures with larger normal oscillation amplitude can easily cause frictional weakening under stress disturbance. (C) 2022 Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

In this study, direct shear tests were conducted on saw-cut and natural granite fractures using a dynamic shear box. It was found that shear forces and normal displacements exhibited periodic changes and time shifts with oscillated normal loads. Small/large normal load oscillation amplitudes enhanced/reduced the peak shear strength, with a critical point.