Hydraulic characteristics of single rough fracture under shear deformation

In this study, for the purpose of evaluated the mechanical and the permeability characteristics of rock fractures having rough surfaces and undergoing shear deformations, the permeability shear tests were performed on the specimens made artificially. The shear test under both the constant normal load condition and the constant normal stiffness condition were adopted. The test results described that the macroscopic permeability characteristics of the whole fracture are greatly affected by the microscopic void structure created by surface roughness, and the permeability characteristics is related to the mechanical characteristics also.