Discontinuity Nomenclature and Its Significance in Geotechnics

The trinity of the water-discontinuity-clay is the main cause behind most geotechnical problems involving rock slopes. The water molecule is unique to have a dipole property and is a common reactant in numerous chemical reactions. Discontinuity controls the slope stability. The planarity, continuity, and clay mineral infill are particularly important in the areas where outslope bedding dominates. The shear strength of clay mineral approaches zero upon saturation. The discontinuity nomenclature reduces the volume of the geomodel (GM) works, which comprise geology, hydrogeology, engineering geology, geoenvironment, and the geotechnics over 80%. The smectite-group clay minerals have a unit cell with net negative charge. Hence the water is readily captured by the electrically unbalanced mineral causing it to swell by more than 10% of its dry volume and then its shear strength approaches zero. The outsloping bedding, layering, or the basically imbricated thrust faults in places are the common examples of large-scale landslides. The discontinuity survey with the proposed nomenclature and approach is especially important in locating and orienting linear engineering structures. Consequently, this approach enhances the researchers and designers considerably in conducting projects conveniently in terms of timing, environment, safety/security and the cost.