Investigation of Shear Mechanism of Echelon Flaws Under Different Normal Stresses

Rock discontinuities (originating from diverse geological processes and structural configurations) exert a crucial influence on how rock masses deform and fail. The collective strength of a rock formation decreases when flaws exist, particularly when their spatial distribution divides the material into discrete blocks. Among these, echelon flaws (parallel fractures that are laterally offset) are frequently observed in both natural and engineered slopes. Such flaw networks facilitate the initiation and growth of cracks that may link adjacent discontinuities and consequently reduce the overall stability and stiffness of the rock mass.