Comparison of existing joint orientation parameters and their effect on rock erodibility in dam spillways

Abstract

Rock mass erosion in unlined spillways causes significant structural damage and necessitates expensive repairs. The rock mass is made up of blocks formed by various arrangements of joint sets. The volume and the protrusion of these blocks, as well as the orientation, opening and roughness of the joints, are all features that can affect rock erodibility. Most of these features are incorporated in parameters developed for rock mass characterization. Three joint orientation parameters are compared in this article using a database containing geological and hydraulic information on scoured spillways. According to the detailed method, data are first classified according to rock quality using the Geological Strength Index obtained with the chart suggested by Marinos and Hoek (GSI chart ). Then, for each GSI chart class, data are distributed according to the damage level, stream power and joint orientation parameter chosen. This study shows that no joint orientation parameter is currently able to accurately represent the effect of joint orientation on erosion of excellent- to poor-quality rock mass. Moreover, this study shows that the GSI chart index is not a rock quality index that completely evaluates rock erosion, as some relevant parameters for evaluating rock erodibility are not considered.