Shear strength of rock discontinuities

28

30

32

300

26
24

200

22

150

20

100
90
80
70
60
50
40

Hammer orientation

Uniaxial compressive strength - MPa

250

Unit weight of rock - kN/m

250

200

150

400
350

100

50

Average dispersion of strength

for most rocks - MPa

30

20

10
10

20

10

0
0
0

30
30

20

10

20

10
10

40

30

20

40
40
40

30

20

30

40

60

50
50

60

50

60

50
50

60
60

Schmidt hardness - Type L hammer

Figure 7: Estimate of joint wall compressive strength from Schmidt hardness.