Fracture Angularity Influence on Failure Behavior of Grouted Rocks for Geohazard Mitigation

Extreme weather and a changing climate have increasingly threatened civil infrastructure within geo-systems over the past decade. Grouting-filling of fractures and voids in fractured rocks can mitigate geo-hazards and prevent failures of rock masses and weathered bedrocks by enhancing stability and reducing collapse risk. However, the widespread use of grouting is limited by an incomplete understanding of how pre-existing fracture orientations affect its efficiency. Recognizing this relationship is crucial for optimizing grouting strategies to minimize structural failure under extreme conditions. This study investigated the impact of fracture orientation on the mechanical behavior of grouted dolostone rock fractures. The dolostone rocks with induced fractures of two distinct orientations were grouted using a nanomaterial-based slurry and then subsequently subjected to uniaxial compression tests to evaluate their mechanical properties. The results indicate that dolostone rocks with linear fractures have relatively higher UCS values than dolostones with perpendicular fractures.