

4.1 Field estimates of JRC

The joint roughness coefficient JRC is a number that can be estimated by comparing the
appearance of a discontinuity surface with standard profiles published by Barton and
others. One of the most useful of these profile sets was published by Barton and Choubey
(1977) and is reproduced in Figure 4.2.
The appearance of the discontinuity surface is compared visually with the profiles
shown and the JRC value corresponding to the profile which most closely matches that of
the discontinuity surface is chosen. In the case of small scale laboratory specimens, the
scale of the surface roughness will be approximately the same as that of the profiles
illustrated. However, in the field the length of the surface of interest may be several metres
or even tens of metres and the JRC value must be estimated for the full scale surface.
Field estimates of JRC 65

Figure 4.2: Roughness profiles and corresponding JRC values (After Barton and Choubey 1977).
 Borde recto

Profundidad - mm

Longitud del perfil - m

400 20
300 16

Coeficiente de rugosidad de junta (JRC)

12
200 10
8
6
100 5
4
Profundidad de la rugosidad - mm

3
50
40 2
30
20 1

10 0.5

5
4
3
2

0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2

0.1
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.5 1 2 3 4 5 10
Longitud del perfil - m

Figure 4.6: Alternative method for estimating JRC from measurements of surface
roughness amplitude from a straight edge (Barton 1982).
Field estimates of JCS 67

4.2 Field estimates of JCS

Suggested methods for estimating the joint wall compressive strength were published by
the ISRM (1978). The use of the Schmidt rebound hammer for estimating joint wall
compressive strength was proposed by Deere and Miller (1966), as illustrated in Figure 4.7.

Average dispersion of strength

for most rocks - MPa

200

250
100

150
50

3
of rock - kN/m
+
| | + |+ +
| | +
400
350
300
250

200
Uniaxial compressive strength - MPa

Unit weight
150

100
90
80
70
60
50

40

30

Hammer orientation
20

10
0 10 20 30 40 50 60

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Schmidt hardness - Type L hammer

Figure 4.7: Estimate of joint wall compressive strength from Schmidt hardness.
be made for each important discontinuity surface.