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• What are joints?

• Terminology related to joints


• Classification
• Engineering considerations
What are joints?
• Joints may be defined
as the fractures that
divide the rocks into
parts or blocks which
have not been
suffered any relative
motion along that
fracture.
• Joint set: it may be
defined as group of or
more joint surfaces
trending in the same
direction with almost
the same dip.
• Joint system: A joint
system is a group of
two or more joint sets.
(May have two or
three intersecting
sets)
Terminology related to joints
• Nature: joints may be open or closed.
• Open joints: open joints are the joints in
which the blocks have been separated for
the small distance to right angles to the
fracture surface.
• Closed joints: closed joints are the joints in
which the blocks are not separated from
each other but allow the fluids(water and
gases) to pass through the rocks.
• Veins: generally open joints gets filled up
by secondary materials which crystallize or
precipitate there forming thin or thick
steaks of material. These steaks are called
veins when thin and fissure veins when
there thickness is greater than 20 cm.
Classification
• Joints are classified on the basis of
I. Spatial relationship
II. Geometry
III. Genesis(origin)
On the basis of spatial relation
• Systematic joints: joints that shows
distinct regularity in the occurrences
which can be easily measured or
mapped. Such joints occur in parallel
joint set that are repeated in the rocks at
the regular intervals.
• Non-systematic joints: the joints that
don’t posses any regularity in their
occurrence and distribution.
On the basis of geometry
There are three types of joints on thebasis
of geometry:
1. Strike joints
2. Dip joints
3. Oblique joints
• Strike joints: the joints
which are parallel to the
strike of therock.
• Dip joint: the joints which
are parallel to the dip of
the rock.
• Oblique joint: joints which
are neither parallel to the
strike nor to the dip of the
layer in which they occur.
• In stratified rocks some
joints may develop
essentially parallel to the
bedding planes. These are
called bedding joints.
On the basis of origin of joints
1. Tension joints: joints which are developed
due to the tensile force acting on the
rocks. The ,most common location of
such joints are the outer margins of
crests and troughs in the folding.
2. Shear joints: these joints are commonly
observed in the vicinity fault planes and
shear zones where shearing stress
prevails. In folds they occur in axial
regions.
3. Compression joints: rocks may be
compressed too crushing and numerous
joints may result due to compressive
forces. These occur in the compressive
regions of the folds like on in innermost
margin of the axis of folds.
Engineering considerations
DISAVANTAGES
a. joints are important because they split the
rocks into a number of pieces which, in turn,
reduce the competence of rock mass,
increase the porosity and permeability and
make them (rocks) susceptible to quick
decay and Weathering.
b. Joints become avenues for the leakage of water
in case of reservoirs. If they are closely spaced
in the upstream side, silting problems also arise
in reservoirs.
c. The incompetence, leakage and other effects
introduced by joints in rocks may create
foundation problems at dam sites.
d. Joints may pose ground water problems in
tunnelling.
e. Depending on the relation of the dip of joints in
rocks with reference to the surface slope, they
may pose problems in laying roads and railways
along hill slopes.
ADVANTAGES
1. Increase the ground water potentiality in any
place.
2. Suitable spaced joints (i.e., with neither very
close nor very wide joint intervals) not only
facilitate the quarrying process or tunnelling
process but also reduce the cost by
decreasing the use of explosives.
• What are unconformity?
• Origin of unconformity
• Classification
• Engineering considerations
What is unconformity?
• An unconformity may be defined as surface
of the erosion on non-deposition occurring
within the sequence of rocks. An
unconformity is developed due to the change
in the process of deposition of sedimentary
rocks.
Origin of unconformity
•If the process of deposition remain
uninterrupted for considerable time then
layer will be deposited in order. Older beds
occupy the position at the base of the
sequence and younger beds are on the top.
The sequence of deposition is called
conformable.
•But if in any case the deposition is
interrupted at a certain stage and exposed
to erosion, then top layers will be eroded.
This is followed by the phase of deposition of
new beds over eroded surface. The
sequence so formed is not conformable.
Types of unconformities?
• Angular unconformity: it is characterized by
different inclinations and structural features
above and below the surface unconformity. The
sequence below the unconformity may be steep,
faulted or folded and sequence above may be
horizontal or inclined.
• Disconformity: it is the type of unconformity in
which the beds below and above the surface of
erosion are almost parallel.

Angular unconformity and disconformity


Non-conformity: it is the term used for
unconformity in the sequence of the rocks
composed of plutonic igneous or
metamorphic rocks as older and sedimentary
rocks as younger or newer.

Nonconformity
Engineering consideration
• Unconformity indicates the
discontinuity in the sequence of the
rocks. The behavior of the rocks
above and below the unconformity
shows the variation in their
mechanical properties and hence
affect the stability of the project.
• Unconformity marks the a weak
contact which can allow percolation
of water and can also act as fault
plane towards forces imposed from
above.

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