Exploration of a New Parameter for Quantifying the Morphology of a Rock Joint

Morphology is an important factor affecting the shear behavior of joints and the stability of rock mass in engineering. In this paper, three methods for quantifying morphology of joints were studied, and the definitions were appraised. The results of the shear test were used to verify these methods and the optimal one was selected. Finally, the advantages of the morphology parameter (M) presented in this paper were verified by comparison with another morphology parameter. There is an obviously tangent relationship between the morphology parameters and the shear strength of a joint, which indicates that the parameters have definite physical and mechanical significance. Since M is closely related to the shear strength of a joint, it is very practical to use this parameter to quantify the morphology of joints in engineering or scientific research.