Analysis of large joint profiles related to rock slope instabilities

Joint surface morphology plays a major role in deciding the stability conditions of rock slopes. This work tries to evaluate the geometrical characteristics of joint surfaces on which took place some shear failure of limestone benches in a quarry site. Direct measures of joint topography have been collected along selected long (8–13 m) joint profiles using a profilograph and indirectly by means of a wave distantiometer. The collected data permits a detailed reconstruction of the joint geometry which is also useful to obtain indication of the scale influence on different joint roughness classification parameters such as: i asperity angle, JRC coefficient, RMS and Z2 profilometric measures, and D fractal…