ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATIONS

Attempt to combine INDEX properties of INTACT rocks with the characteristics of field scale DISCONTINUITIES Numerous classifications proposed but TWO main ones in use : Rock Mass Rating System RMR Q System (N.G.I.)

Development of Rock

Mass Classifications
Need for initial empirical design tool to assess ground conditions and support requirements

Terzaghis Rock Load Classification (1946) Rock Quality Designation RQD Index Active Span and Stand-up time RMR Q System

ACTIVE SPAN
S

RQD EXAMPLE (1)

a. Support lagging behind face position
Support S

b. Support placed close to face

Core Logging

ENGINEERING LOGGING OF ROCK CORE

RQD =

x x100% L
i

xi = Length of individual pieces of core => 100mm L = Total Length of core run

R. Q. D
RQD % < 25 25 - 50 50 - 75 75 - 90 > 90 Drill Core Quality Very Poor Poor Poor Good Very Good

I. The Rock Mass Rating System (RMR)

Provides RMR of 0-100 Based on 5 parameters INTACT ROCK STRENGTH RQD GROUNDWATER FRACTURE SPACING FRACTURE CONDITION
RATING ADJUSTMENT BASED ON FRACTURE ORIENTATION Other Adjustments Blasting, In-situ stress, Major faults

Used in support design Does not allow for discontinuity orientation infill, weathering etc..

ROCK MASS RATING, RMR

ROCK MASS RATING SYSTEM

RMR and STAND-UP TIME

30 20 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 30 ck Ro 101 1d Immediate collapse ting 50 Ra ass 40 M ck Ro 30 20 1wk 60 1mo 70 1yr 10yr 90 80

Drive with Dip

INFLUENCE OF DIP

Roof Span (m)

70 80 60 50 ng 40 Rati ss No support required Ma

Drive against Dip

10-1

20 100

102 103 104 Stand-up time in hours

105

106

RMR SUPPORT GUIDELINES

THE NGI Q SYSTEM

Q = (RQD/Jn)*(Jr/Ja)*(Jw/SRF) RQD = Rock Quality Designation Jn = Joint Set No. Jr = Joint Roughness No. Ja = Joint alteration No. Jw = Joint water reduction No. SRF = Stress Reduction Factor
Q varies from 0.001 to 1000

THE Q SYSTEM
RQD/Jn represents structure of rock mass (block size) Range 100/0.5 to 10/20 Jr/Ja represents roughness and frictional properties of joint wall and infill (interblock shear strength) Rock wall contact Rock wall contact before 10cm shear No rock wall contact when sheared Jw/SRF represents the active stresses loosening load where excavation through shear zones and clay bearing rock rock stress in competent rock squeezing loads in plastic rocks

Q SYSTEM
Used in Support Design via

THE Q SYSTEM

THE EQUIVALENT DIMENSION, De. De = Excavation span, diameter or height Excavation Support Ratio EXCAVATION SUPPORT RATIO

related to use of excavation and to extent of to which some instability is acceptable roughly analogous to inverse of factor of safety

EXCAVATION SUPPORT RATIO

ROCK MASS MODULUS OF DEFORMATION

In-situ Modulus of Deformation. GPa 0.01 0.04 90

SUPPORT

Tunneling Quality Index, Q

1 4 10 40 100 400

60

Case Histories Em = 10(RMR-10)/40 Serafim and Pereira Bieniawski

Em = 2RMR-100 30 Em = 25log10Q

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Geomechanics Rock Mass Rating, RMR

90 100

Use of UNWEDGE and stereographic techniques to design openings in jointed rock Use of SWEDGE for design of rock slopes

TYPES OF SUPPORT

TYPES OF SUPPORT

TYPES OF SUPPORT

TYPES OF SUPPORT

TYPES OF SUPPORT

TYPES OF SUPPORT

TYPES OF SUPPORT

TYPES OF SUPPORT

TYPES OF SUPPORT

TYPES OF SUPPORT
HIGHWALL AUGERING

HIGHWALL AUGERING