Characterization of rock joint surface anisotropy considering the contribution ratios of undulations in different directions

Anisotropy in rock joint is strongly dependent on undulating surface morphology. Recent research of the morphology showed the parameter can express the different types of anisotropic characteristics of the joint surface separately. This report aims to analyze the common characteristic of the anisotropic distribution and exhibit the anisotropic variation trend. The joint morphology function consists of two morphology functions of regular plane in orthogonal directions, and the anisotropic variation determined by the contribution ratios of the two morphology. The roughness weight ratio in orthogonal direction of joint surface is used as an index to describe the anisotropic variation behavior, which proposes the anisotropic variation coefficient (AVC). On this basis, it is divided into 5 levels from strong anisotropic to isotropic. According to the assumption of anisotropic arc distribution, the anisotropic analytic function is derived and the agreement between the deduced curves and measured data therefore suggests the possibility of defining the morphology anisotropy through the index AVC. Finally, we verify the characteristic of three natural rock joints, and prove the proposed function can reflect the anisotropic distribution trend. The new index can be used to describe the anisotropic variation behaviour of rock joint surfaces.