Shear strength characteristics of weathered jointed Kenny Hill interbedded formation for cylindrical specimen under direct shear test

Abstract

The sliding failures commonly occur in interbedded formations along the weakness plane of the bedding plane a sedimentary rock or the joint interface. Therefore, studying the shear strength characteristics at the bedding plane or interface is crucial for evaluating the expected failure plane. In this study, the shear strength characteristics of planar jointed Kenny Hill shale, sandstone, and shale-sandstone specimens were investigated using the direct shear box method. The results reveal that the friction angle values for the planar sandstone, shale-sandstone, and shale are 31.28°, 21.1°, and 19.34°, respectively. These findings, combined with the shear stress-strain behavior, suggest that the interface (shale-sandstone) is primarily influenced by the shale characteristics rather than the sandstone characteristics. Hence, it is important to consider failure along the interface when analyzing critical conditions, particularly in slope failure scenarios.