• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.145-152
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• 2009

Joints are planar tensile opening-mode fractures whose relative motion, as the fracture propagates, is perpendicular to bedding plane and occur in a systematic manner to form a joint set. This paper discusses the mechanical control of joint propagation, the relationship between join spacing and layer thickness, the join saturation, the frequency distribution of join spacing, the joint density, the cross joint, and the development mechanism of joint from a lot of recent joint studies in sedimentary rocks.