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Abstract In order to investigate fluid flow through a rough joint during shearing，shear dilation of a rough joint is firstly analyzed by using the shear dilation model developed by Barton，and then dilations under different shear displacements can be calculated. The Brown-Scholz(B-S) theoretical model is employed to compute the closures of joint under different levels of normal stress. The relation of the aperture during shearing with normal stress and shear displacement are established according to the relations among initial aperture，normal closure and shear dilation，on the basis of which a new equation accounting for the volumetric rates through a rough joint during shearing is derived. Then laboratory flow tests on rock joint specimens are carried out；and the new equation derived from the shear dilation model developed by Barton and Barton?s empirical equation are adopted to predict flow rates through joint specimens. Comparisons between theoretical predictions and experimental results are conducted. From the comparisons，it is shown that predictions of the new equation agree well with experimental results while the results of Barton?s empirical equation deviate from experimental results to a large extent，which verifies the validity of the new equation for predicting fluid flow through a rough joint during shearing.
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Received: 22 August 2012
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2013, Vol. 32 
