<p>Large-scale rock mass engineering projects are prone to shear-type disasters along structural planes, leading to severe casualties and economic losses. To further reveal the mechanism of such disasters, it is vital to exploring the influence of surface morphology on the strength and damage characteristics of structural planes. This study revolves around the following tasks. First, the angle and height characteristics of structural planes are investigated by conducting 3D laser scanning test on natural outcrops and artificially fractured structural plane samples. Sawtooth structural plane models, well-grounded in both theoretical and practical foundations, are proposed. Second, 3D laser scanning technology and computer vision technique are combined to precisely capture and analyze the damage characteristics of structural planes. The quantitative models are built to assess the damage range and damage degree of structural planes. Finally, shear test and 3D laser scanning test are carried out on sawtooth structural plane samples to quantitatively study the impact of sawtooth angle and sawtooth height on the peak strength, damage range and damage degree of structural planes. The research findings provide a solid theoretical basis for the support design, disaster prevention and safety assessment of rock mass engineering, conducive to the smooth implementation and long-term operation of engineering projects. </p>