Abstract:A new nonlinear single-weak plane failure criterion is proposed, caused by the inclination angle of the joint plane, and considering the anisotropic in strength and isotropic in transverse view of rock mass. The new criterion is based on two different failure modes of rock masses: (1) sliding mode, that is, sliding failure along the joint plane, and (2) non-sliding failure, that is, controlled by the rock material, has nothing to do with the joint plane. The strength of the sliding failure mode is described by using a nonlinear strength criterion considering the roughness of the joint plane. Three parameters are required to determine this criterion. The strength of the non-sliding failure mode is described by using the Hoek-Brown criterion able to consider the anisotropy of rock strength caused by the inclination angle of the joint plane. Four parameters are required to determine this criterion. The methods for taking values of each parameter are elaborated in detail. The accuracy of the new criterion is verified by using the experimental data in the literature, and is compared with the calculation results of Jaeger simple-weak plane theory. The test data of the new criterion are verified including the different confining pressure conditions of rocks and different joint inclination angles. The influence of joint inclination angle on rock strength gradually decreases with the increase of confining pressure.