Federation University Australia

School of Science, Engineering and Information Technology

ENGIN2503 Rock Mechanics Applications

Weightage: 20% of course total marks
Due date of assignment submission is Friday, 25th Oct, 2019

1. Define rock mechanics. Discuss the main objectives of the application of rock mechanics
in mining.

2. Define stress. Draw a diagram and define the normal and shear stress by resolving the
resultant force vector acting on any infinitesimal plane into its two Cartesian (x, y)
components. The following diagram gives the state of stress at a point in two dimensions
and on an oblique plane:

If σx = 15.5 kPa, σy = -18.0 kPa, τxy = 7.5 kPa and θ = 250. Determine the magnitudes of
the normal and shear stress components on the oblique plane shown in the above figure.

3. Define Principal Planes and Principal Stresses. At a point within a body σx = - 8.5 kPa, σy
= 5.0 kPa, τxy = 1.5 kPa. Draw the element with the given stress components. Determine
the orientations of the principal planes and the magnitudes of the principal stresses with
correct senses.

4. Discuss in general the geo-mechanical background to the slope instability problem.

5. What are the inherent complexities of rock?

6. Given are the major and minor principal stresses at any point within a rock mass
σ1 = 50 MPa and σ3 = 20 MPa
Determine graphically the magnitude of the stress components acting on a plane that is
inclined at an angle of 250 to the major principal plane.

7. Define the followings:

1) Rock material, rock mass and rock structure.
2) Dip, true dip, dip direction and strike

8. What are the major properties of defects within a rock mass from an engineering
perspective?

9. Analyse the sliding of a rock block on an inclined plane from the limiting equilibrium
perspective for the cases as outlined in the following figure.

a) sliding due to gravitational loading

b) the effect of water pressure in a tension crack that separates the rock block from the
rock mass and also at the contact surface with the inclined plane
c) reinforcement of the rock block to prevent it sliding

10. What are the different types of slope failure for rock slopes? Explain with proper diagrams.

11. What do you understand by triaxial constants of rock mass? How these can be determined
in the laboratory. Explain with proper diagrams.

12. Explain the Brazilian test to determine indirect tensile strength of rock mass.

13. Draw a typical complete stress-strain curve for rock under uniaxial compressive loading
and explain the distinct zones in the curve. What is strain softening of rock?
14. For the slope shown in the diagram below the following is known:
• Average planned slope angle, i = 650
• Angle of discontinuity from the horizontal β = 410
• Angle of internal friction φ = 300
• Cohesion, c = 1.6 kN/m2,
• Unit weight (density) = 1875 kg/m3
• H = 50m and B = 35m, assume unit thickness (1m) for rock block.

Determine the factor of safety for the slope assuming drained conditions.

15. A mine is planned to use a decline with a dip of 300 to access the ore-body at the depth of
500 meter. Estimate the vertical and horizontal insitu stresses at 500m depth, assuming
the average unit weight of rock 27 kN/m3, horizontal Young’s modulus 75 GPa and
Poisson’s ratio 0.3.

16. Why is rock mechanics instrumentation so important at every stage of construction of a

structure in rock?

17. Explain the role and importance of rock mass classification. Explain the Q system and
RMR system of rock classification.

18. Enumerate various indirect methods to determine compressive strength of rock. Explain
Point Load Index test in detail with proper diagram.

19. Discuss the different types of surface subsidence that can occur and describe the
important characteristics of each.
20. For a longwall coal-mining situation what do subcritical width, critical width and
supercritical width with regards to subsidence mean?

21. Define the term’s active and passive rock support. Describe examples of each type of
support.

22. Briefly describe the construction, installation and support methodology for the various rock
bolting technologies available to the mining industry. Also define limitations of use for each
system.

23. A cavern 165m long, 22m wide and 15m high is to be excavated in chalk beneath the sea.
The crown of the cavern will be 35 m below the seabed. What is the main geological
information you would like to have before proceeding with the excavation?