The determination of shear strength characteristics gravelly soils is difficult through the use conventional small scale, triaxial or simple testing devices in laboratory due to membrane compliance and boundary effects; inconsistent penetration resistances measured as part standard cone field. These limitations require available empirical semi-empirical relationships execution large scale field...

geometrical profile (roughness) of joint surfaces influences the behaviour of rock joints under shear loading. with regard to the dilation, there are two models of direct shear test that may simulate the original loading condition existing in the location from where the specimens have been sampled. the first model in which the normal load is constant (cnl) and the discontinuity is free to dilat...