Professional Documents
Culture Documents
a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t
Article history: Characterization of rock masses and evaluation of their mechanical properties are important and chal-
Received 16 September 2015 lenging tasks in rock mechanics and rock engineering. Since in many cases rock quality designation (RQD)
Received in revised form is the only rock mass classication index available, this paper outlines the key aspects on determination of
1 November 2015
RQD and evaluates the empirical methods based on RQD for determining the deformation modulus and
Accepted 14 November 2015
Available online 9 March 2016
unconned compressive strength of rock masses. First, various methods for determining RQD are pre-
sented and the effects of different factors on determination of RQD are highlighted. Then, the empirical
methods based on RQD for determining the deformation modulus and unconned compressive strength of
Keywords:
Rock quality designation (RQD)
rock masses are briey reviewed. Finally, the empirical methods based on RQD are used to determine the
Rock mass classication deformation modulus and unconned compressive strength of rock masses at ve different sites including
Deformation modulus 13 cases, and the results are compared with those obtained by other empirical methods based on rock
Unconned compressive strength mass classication indices such as rock mass rating (RMR), Q-system (Q) and geological strength index
Empirical methods (GSI). It is shown that the empirical methods based on RQD tend to give deformation modulus values close
to the lower bound (conservative) and unconned compressive strength values in the middle of the
corresponding values from different empirical methods based on RMR, Q and GSI. The empirical methods
based on RQD provide a convenient way for estimating the mechanical properties of rock masses but,
whenever possible, they should be used together with other empirical methods based on RMR, Q and GSI.
2016 Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Production and hosting by
Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
1. Introduction relative scale between the problem domain and the rock blocks
formed by the discontinuities. When the structure is signicantly
Natural rock mass differs from most other engineering materials larger than the rock blocks formed by the discontinuities, the rock
in that it contains discontinuities such as joints, bedding planes, mass may be simply treated as an equivalent continuum for the
folds, sheared zones and faults which render its structure discon- analysis (Brady and Brown, 1985; Brown, 1993; Hoek et al., 1995;
tinuity. To determine the engineering properties of rock masses, it Zhang, 2005). Treating the jointed rock mass as an equivalent con-
is important to consider the effect of discontinuities. As Palmstrm tinuum (i.e. the equivalent continuum approach), different empirical
(2002) noted: The engineering properties of a rock mass often correlations have been proposed for estimating the engineering
depend far more on the system of geological defects within the rock properties of jointed rock masses based on the classication indices
mass than on the strength of the (intact) rock itself. Thus, from an such as rock quality designation (RQD) (Deere et al., 1967; Coon and
engineering point of view, a knowledge of the type and frequency Merritt, 1970; Seram and Pereira, 1983; Zhang and Einstein, 2004;
of the joints and ssures is often more important than the types of Zhang, 2010), rock mass rating (RMR) (Bieniawski, 1978; Seram
rock involved. The observations and characterization of the joints and Pereira, 1983; Yudhbir and Prinzl, 1983; Nicholson and
should therefore be done carefully. Bieniawski, 1990; Mitri et al., 1994; Sheorey, 1997; Aydan and
Because of the discontinuous nature of rock masses, it is important Dalgic, 1998), Q-system (Q) (Barton et al., 1980; Barton, 2002), and
to choose the right domain that is representative of the rock mass geological strength index (GSI) (Hoek and Brown, 1997; Hoek, 2004;
affected by the structure analyzed when determining the engineering Gokceoglu et al., 2003; Hoek and Diederichs, 2006).
properties (Fig. 1). The behavior of the rock mass is dependent on the Since in many cases RQD is the only information available for
describing rock discontinuities, this paper focuses on the determi-
nation of RQD and its utilization for evaluating the engineering
* Tel.: 1 520 626 0532.
E-mail address: lyzhang@email.arizona.edu. properties (mainly deformation modulus and unconned compres-
Peer review under responsibility of Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, sive strength) of rock masses. First, different methods for
Chinese Academy of Sciences.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2015.11.008
1674-7755 2016 Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC
BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
390 L. Zhang / Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 8 (2016) 389e397
Fig. 1. Simplied representation of the inuence of scale on the type of rock mass
behavior (after Hoek et al., 1995).
where t is the length threshold. For t 0.1 m as for the conven- where vpF is the P-wave velocity of in situ rock mass, and vp0 is the
tionally dened RQD, Eq. (1) can be expressed as P-wave velocity of the corresponding intact rock.
L. Zhang / Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 8 (2016) 389e397 391
1:22 vpF
RQD 100% (9)
1:22vpF 0:69
vpq vpF where s1, s2 and s3 are the mean discontinuity set spacings. Random
RQD 100% (8) discontinuities in the rock mass can be considered by assuming a
vpq vpF kq
random spacing sr for each of them. According to Palmstrm
(2002), sr 5 m can be assumed. So the volumetric discontinuity
where vpq is the P-wave velocity of a rock mass with RQD 0, and
frequency lv can be generally expressed as
kq is a parameter taking into account the actual conditions of the in
situ rock mass. Based on regression analysis of the data obtained for
Fig. 5. Variation of estimated RQD (%) with scanline direction (after Choi and Park,
Fig. 4. Variation of RQD with the length of sampling line L. 2004).
392 L. Zhang / Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 8 (2016) 389e397
(1) The range of RQD < 60% is not covered or only an arbitrary
1 1 1 Nr
lv / (12) value of Em/Er is selected for the whole range.
s1 s2 s3 5 (2) For RQD 100%, Em is assumed to be equal to Er. This is
obviously unsafe in design practice because RQD 100%
where Nr is the number of random discontinuities. does not mean that the rock is intact. There may be discon-
The use of volumetric discontinuity frequency lv for estimating tinuities in rock masses with RQD 100% and thus Em may
RQD provides a quite useful way in reducing the directional be smaller than Er even when RQD 100%.
dependence of RQD. It is also possible to do core boring, scanline
sampling and/or wave velocity measurements at different di- Zhang and Einstein (2004) expanded the database shown in
rections and then evaluate the overall RQD of the rock mass. Fig. 6 by collecting more data from the published literature (see
Fig. 7). The expanded database covers the entire range
3. Empirical methods based on RQD for estimating rock mass (0 RQD 100%) and shows a nonlinear variation of Em/Er with
properties RQD. The rocks for the expanded database include mudstone, silt-
stone, sandstone, shale, dolerite, granite, limestone, greywacke,
3.1. Estimation of deformation modulus gneiss, and granite gneiss. Again, one can see the large scatter of the
data, especially when RQD >65%. Zhang and Einstein (2004) dis-
Based on eld studies at Dworshak Dam, Deere et al. (1967) cussed the possible reasons for the large scatter, including test
suggested that RQD be used for determining the deformation methods, directional effect, discontinuity conditions and insensi-
modulus of rock masses. By adding more data from other sites, tivity of RQD to discontinuity frequency (or spacing). Using the
Coon and Merritt (1970) developed a relation between RQD and the expanded database, Zhang and Einstein (2004) derived the
modulus ratio Em/Er as shown in Fig. 6, where Em and Er are the following RQD-(Em/Er) relation for the average trend:
deformation moduli of the rock mass and the intact rock,
Em
respectively. aE 100:0186RQD1:91 (14)
Gardner (1987) proposed the following relation for estimating Er
Em from Er by using a reduction factor aE which accounts for the The average RQD-(Em/Er) relation gives aE 0.95 at RQD 100%,
frequency of discontinuities by RQD: which makes sense because there may be discontinuities in rock
masses at RQD 100% and thus Em may be smaller than Er even
Em aE Er
(13) when RQD 100%. By plotting the RQD-(Em/Er) relations by Coon
aE 0:0231RQD 1:32 0:15
and Merritt (1970) and Gardner (1987) also in Fig. 7, one can
This method was adopted by the American Association of State clearly see that it is not reasonable to assume a constant Em/Er value
Highway and Transportation Ofcials in the Standard Specication at the low RQD region.
for Highway Bridges (AASHTO, 1996). For RQD >57%, Eq. (13) is the
same as the relation of Coon and Merritt (1970), while for 3.2. Estimation of unconned compressive strength
RQD < 57%, Eq. (13) gives Em/Er 0.15.
It is noted that the RQD-(Em/Er) relations by Coon and Merritt Kulhawy and Goodman (1987) suggested that, as a rst
(1970) and Gardner (1987) have the following limitations (Zhang approximation, the unconned compressive strength scm of rock
and Einstein, 2004): masses be taken as 0.33sc when RQD is less than about 70% and
Fig. 7. Expanded data and different relations between Em/Er and RQD (Ebisu et al.,
Fig. 6. Variation of Em/Er with RQD proposed by Coon and Merritt (1970). 1992).
L. Zhang / Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 8 (2016) 389e397 393
then linearly increase to 0.8sc when RQD increases from 70% to q 0.7 and the Em/Er versus RQD relation in Eq. (14), Zhang (2010)
100% (see Fig. 8), where sc is the unconned compressive strength derived the following scm/sc versus RQD relation:
of the intact rock. The Standard Specications for Highway Bridges
adopted by AASHTO (1996) suggested that scm be estimated using
scm
as 100:013RQD1:34 (17)
the following expression: sc
Fig. 8 shows a comparison of the scm/sc versus RQD relation (Eq.
scm as sc (17)) with the suggestions, respectively by Kulhawy and Goodman
(15)
as 0:0231RQD 1:32 0:15 (1987) and AASHTO (1996). Eq. (17) covers the entire range
(0 RQD 100%) continuously. For RQD >70%, Eq. (17) is in good
The variation of scm/sc with RQD based on Eq. (15) is also shown agreement with the suggestions of Kulhawy and Goodman (1987)
in Fig. 8. It can be seen that the general trend of these two relations and AASHTO (1996). For RQD <70%, however, Eq. (17) is different
between scm/sc and RQD is about the same: scm/sc is constant from the suggestions of Kulhawy and Goodman (1987) and
when RQD is smaller than a certain value and then linearly in- AASHTO (1996), with Eq. (17) considering the continuous variation
creases when RQD increases. Obviously it is inappropriate to as- of scm/sc with RQD while the suggestions of Kulhawy and Goodman
sume that scm/sc is constant when RQD varies from 0 to a certain (1987) and AASHTO (1996) both assuming constant scm/sc values.
value (70% for the relation of Kulhawy and Goodman (1987) and
64% for the relation of AASHTO (1996)). For example, for a very poor
quality rock mass (RQD < 25%) and a fair quality rock mass 4. Comparative analysis and discussion
(RQD 50e75%), different scm/sc values should be expected.
It is also noted that the scm/sc versus RQD relation in Eq. (15) is 4.1. Comparative analysis
the same as the Em/Er versus RQD relation in Eq. (13), which may
not be appropriate. Researchers have studied the relation between To evaluate the empirical methods by Zhang and Einstein
scm/sc and Em/Er and found that they can be related approximately (2004) and Zhang (2010) for estimating the deformation
by the following equation (Ramamurthy, 1993; Singh et al., 1998; modulus and unconned compressive strength of rock masses
Singh and Rao, 2005): using RQD, they are applied to ve sites with detailed geotech-
nical information available: the Sulakyurt dam site in central
q Turkey (Ozsan et al., 2007), the Tannur dam site in south Jordan
scm Em
as aqE (16) (El-Naqa and Kuisi, 2002), the Urus dam site also in central
sc Er
Turkey (Ozsan and Akin, 2002), a high tower site at Tenerife Is-
land (Justo et al., 2006), and an open pit mine site in the vicinity
where the power q varies from 0.5 to 1 and is most likely in the
of Berlin, Germany (Alber and Heiland, 2001). The results are
range of 0.61e0.74 with an average of 0.7. It can be seen that the
compared with those from other empirical methods based on the
AASHTO method (Eq. (15)) uses the upper bound value of q 1.
commonly used rock mass classication indices RMR, Q and GSI
It needs to be noted that the relation between scm/sc and Em/Er
in order to indirectly check the accuracy of the empirical
(Eq. (16)) is derived based only on triaxial test data on jointed rock
methods based on RQD. Table 1 lists the properties of rocks at the
mass specimens with different joint frequencies, orientations and
ve sites which cover a reasonable but clearly limited range of
conditions (Ramamurthy, 1993; Singh et al., 1998; Singh and Rao,
rock types. Tables 2 and 3 list the empirical methods based on
2005) and has not been tested against eld cases. The power q in
RMR, Q and GSI for estimating the deformation modulus and
Eq. (16) may vary signicantly for different rock types and
unconned compressive strength of rock masses, respectively. It
discontinuity conditions. Nevertheless, using the average value of
is noted that these empirical methods were developed based on
databases of different sources and, as shown below, may give
very different estimation values.
Fig. 9 summarizes the estimated deformation modulus values
from the empirical method based on RQD by Zhang and Einstein
Table 1
Summary of rock properties at ve sites (after Alber and Heiland, 2001; El-Naqa and
Kuisi, 2002; Ozsan and Akin, 2002; Justo et al., 2006; Ozsan et al., 2007).
(2004) and other empirical methods based on RMR, Q and GSI for (1) When RQD is the only information available about rock
all 13 cases at the ve sites. It can be seen clearly that the estimated discontinuities, the empirical methods based on RQD can
values from the empirical method based on RQD are mostly at or be used to estimate the rock mass deformation modulus
slightly smaller than the low values (lower bound) of the estimated and unconned compressive strength but care should be
values from the different empirical methods based on RMR, Q and taken when applying the estimated values. The empirical
GSI. So the empirical method based on RQD by Zhang and Einstein methods based on RQD should be used only for a rst
(2004) tends to give conservative estimation of the deformation estimation.
(2) When RQD and other information are available for deter-
mining the rock mass classication indices RMR, Q and GSI,
the empirical methods based on RQD should be used
Table 3
together with the empirical methods based on RMR, Q and
Empirical relations based on RMR, Q and GSI for estimating unconned compressive
strength scm of rock masses. GSI to evaluate the rock mass deformation modulus and
unconned compressive strength. The estimated values from
Authors Relation Equation
the empirical methods based on RQD can be compared with
No.
the ranges of the estimated values from the empirical
scm 7:65RMR100
Yudhbir and Prinzl (1983) sc e (33) methods based on RMR, Q and GSI to get an idea on the effect
100
scm RMR100
Ramamurthy et al. (1985); sc e 18:75 (34) of RQD on the deformability and strength of rock masses.
Ramamurthy (1996)
Trueman (1988); Asef et al. scm 0:5e0:06RMR MPa (35)
(2000) 5. Conclusions
scm RMR100
Kalamaras and Bieniawski sc e 24 (36)
(1993)
GSI 20 This paper reviewed the methods for determining RQD and
26
GSI100 1 1
e 15 e 3
scm 93D
Hoek et al. (2002) sc e (37) evaluated the empirical methods based on RQD for estimating the
Bhasin and Grimstad (1996); scm 7gfc Q 1=3 MPa; (38) deformation modulus and unconned compressive strength of rock
Singh and Goel (1999) where fc sc/100 for Q > 10 masses. The conclusions are as follows:
and sc > 100 MPa, otherwise
fc 1; and g is the unit weight
(1) There are different methods for determining RQD. It is
of the rock mass in g/cm3
important to consider the effect of different factors such as
scm RMR100
Sheorey (1997) sc e 20 (39)
sampling length and direction on RQD when using a method
scm RMR
Aydan and Dalgic (1998) sc RMR6100RMR (40) to determine RQD.
Barton (2002) scm 5gQ sc =1001=3 MPa (41) (2) The empirical method based on RQD by Zhang and Einstein
scm GSI (2004) for estimating deformation modulus of rock masses
Hoek (2004) sc 0:036e 30 (42)
tends to give low (conservative) values compared to the
Singh et al. (1997) scm 7gQ 1=3 MPa (43)
different empirical methods based on RMR, Q and GSI.
L. Zhang / Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 8 (2016) 389e397 395
Fig. 9. Estimated rock mass deformation modulus values from the existing empirical methods based on RMR, GSI or Q and the method based on RQD.
Fig. 10. Estimated rock mass strength values from the existing empirical methods based on RMR, GSI or Q and the method based on RQD.
(3) The empirical method based on RQD by Zhang (2010) for (4) The empirical methods based on RQD provide a convenient
estimating unconned compressive strength of rock way for estimating the deformation modulus and unconned
masses tends to give values in the middle of the values compressive strength of rock masses but, whenever possible,
from the different empirical methods based on RMR, Q and they should be used together with other empirical methods
GSI. based on RMR, Q and GSI because RQD is only one of the
396 L. Zhang / Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 8 (2016) 389e397
many factors that affect the deformability and strength of Gokceoglu C, Sonmez H, Kayabasi A. Predicting the deformation moduli of rock
masses. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences
jointed rock masses.
2003;40(5):701e10.
Hoek E, Brown ET. Practical estimates of rock mass strength. International Journal of
Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 1997;34(8):1165e86.
Hoek E, Carranza-Torres C, Corkum B. Hoek-Brown failure criterion e 2002 edition.
Conict of interest In: Proceedings of the 5th North American Rock Mechanics Symposium & the
17th Tunneling Association of Canada Conference (NARMS-TAC 2002). Toronto,
Canada: Mining Innovation and Tech.; 2002. p. 267e73.
The author wishes to conrm that there are no known conicts Hoek E, Diederichs MS. Empirical estimation of rock mass modulus. International
of interest associated with this publication and there has been no Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 2006;43(2):203e15.
signicant nancial support for this work that could have inu- Hoek E, Kaiser PK, Bawden WF. Support of underground excavations in hard rock.
Rotterdam: A.A. Balkema; 1995.
enced its outcome. Hoek E. Personal communication. Rocscience; 2004.
ISRM. Suggested methods for the quantitative description of discontinuities in rock
masses. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geo-
References mechanics Abstracts 1978;15(6):319e68.
Justo JL, Justo E, Durand P, Azanon JM. The foundation of a 40-storey tower in
Alber M, Heiland J. Investigation of a limestone pillar failure, part 1: geology, lab- jointed basalt. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences
oratory testing and numerical modeling. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering 2006;43(2):267e81.
2001;34(3):167e86. Kalamaras GS, Bieniawski ZT. A rock mass strength concept for coal seams. In:
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Ofcials (AASHTO). Proceedings of the 12th Conference on Ground Control in Mining, Morgantown;
Standard specications for highway bridges. 16th ed. Washington DC: AASHTO; 1993. p. 274e83.
1996. Kulhawy FH, Goodman RE. Foundations in rock. In: Bell FG, editor. Ground Engi-
Asef MR, Reddish DJ, Lloyd PW. Rock-support interaction analysis based on neers reference book, chapter 15. London, UK: Butterworths; 1987.
numerical modeling. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering 2000;18(1): Mitri HS, Edrissi R, Henning J. Finite element modeling of cablebolted stopes in hard
23e37. rock ground mines. Presented at the SME annual meeting. Albuquerque, USA.
Aydan , Dalgic S. Prediction of deformation behavior of 3-lanes Bolu tunnels 1994. p. 94e116.
through squeezing rocks of North Anatolian fault zone (NAFZ). In: Proceedings Nicholson GA, Bieniawski ZT. A nonlinear deformation modulus based on rock mass
of Regional Symposium on Sedimentary Rock Engineering, Taipei, China; 1998. classication. International Journal of Mining and Geological Engineering
p. 228e33. 1990;8(3):181e202.
Barton N, Loset F, Lien R, Lunde J. Application of Q-system in design decisions Ozsan A, Akin M. Engineering geological assessment of the proposed Urus Dam,
concerning dimensions and appropriate support for underground installations. Turkey. Engineering Geology 2002;66(3e4):271e81.
In: Bergman M, editor. Subsurface Space: Environmental Protection, Low Cost Ozsan A, Ocal A, Akin M, Basarir H. Engineering geological appraisal of the Sula-
Storage, Energy Savings. Proceedings of the International Symposium (Rock- kyurt dam site, Turkey. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment
store80), vol. 2. Pergamon Press; 1980. p. 553e61. 2007;66(4):483e92.
Barton N. Some new Q-value correlations to assist in site characterization and Palmstrm A. Characterization of jointing density and the quality of rock masses.
tunnel design. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences Internal report. Norway: A.B. Berdal; 1974 (in Norwegian).
2002;39(2):185e216. Palmstrm A. Measurement and characterization of rock mass jointing. In:
Bery AA, Saad R. Correlation of seismic P-wave velocities with engineering pa- Sharma VM, Saxena KR, editors. In-situ characterization of rocks. Lisse: A.A.
rameters (N value and rock quality) for tropical environmental study. Interna- Balkema; 2002. p. 49e98.
tional Journal of Geosciences 2012;3(4):749e57. Palmstrm A. RMida rock mass characterization system for rock engineering
Bhasin R, Grimstad E. The use of stress-strength relationships in the assessment of purposes. PhD Thesis. Oslo, Norway: University of Oslo; 1995.
tunnel stability. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology 1996;11(1): Palmstrm A. The volumetric joint countea useful and simple measure of the de-
93e8. gree of rock mass jointing. In: Proceedings of the 4th Congress of International
Bieniawski ZT. Determining rock mass deformability: experience from case his- Association of Engineering Geology, vol. 2; 1982. p. 221e8. New Delhi.
tories. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geo- Priest SD, Hudson J. Discontinuity spacing in rock. International Journal of Rock
mechanics Abstracts 1978;15(5):237e47. Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts 1976;13(5):
Brady BHG, Brown ET. Rock mechanics for underground mining. London, UK: 135e48.
George Allen and Unwin; 1985. Ramamurthy T, Rao GV, Rao KS. A strength criterion for rocks. In: Proceedings of
Brown ET. The nature and fundamentals of rock engineering. In: Hudson JA, editor. Indian Geotechnical Conference, vol. 1; 1985. p. 59e64. Roorkee.
Compressive rock engineeringeprinciple, practice and projects, vol. 1. Oxford, Ramamurthy T. Stability of rock mass. Indian Geotechnical Journal 1996;16:1e73.
UK: Pergamon Press; 1993. p. 1e23. Ramamurthy T. Strength and modulus response of anisotropic rocks. In: Hudson JA,
Budetta P, de Riso R, de Luca C. Correlations between jointing and seismic velocities editor. Compressive Rock EngineeringePrinciple, Practice and Projects, vol. 1.
in highly fractured rock masses. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Oxford, UK: Pergamon Press; 1993. p. 313e29.
Environment 2001;60(3):185e92. Read SAL, Richards LR, Perrin ND. Applicability of the HoekeBrown failure criterion to
Choi SY, Park HD. Variation of rock quality designation (RQD) with scanline New Zealand greywacke rocks. In: Vouille G, Berest P, editors. Proceedings of the
orientation and length: a case study in Korea. International Journal of Rock 9th International Congress on Rock Mechanics, vol. 2; 1999. p. 655e60. Paris.
Mechanics and Mining Sciences 2004;41(2):207e21. Sen Z, Kazi A. Discontinuity spacing and RQD estimates from nite length scanlines.
Coon RF, Merritt AH. Predicting in situ modulus of deformation using rock quality International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics
indexes. In: Determination of the in situ modulus of deformation of rock. ASTM Abstracts 1984;21(4):203e12.
International; 1970. p. 154e73. Sen Z. RQD-fracture frequency chart based on a Weibull distribution. International
Deere DU, Hendron AJ, Patton FD, Cording EJ. Design of surface and near surface Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts
construction in rock. In: Proceedings of the 8th U.S. Symposium on Rock Me- 1993;30(5):555e7.
chanicseFailure and Breakage of Rock. New York: American Institute of Mining, Seram JL, Pereira JP. Consideration of the geomechanical classication of
Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers, Inc.; 1967. p. 237e302. Bieniawski. In: Proceedings of International Symposium on Engineering
Deere DU. Rock quality designation (RQD) after twenty years. U.S. Army Corps of Geology and Underground Construction, vol. 1. Rotterdam: A.A. Balkema;
Engineers Contract Report GL-89e1. Vicksburg, USA: Waterways Experiment 1983. II.3e44.
Station; 1989. Sheorey PR. Empirical rock failure criteria. Rotterdam: A.A. Balkema; 1997.
Deere DU. Technical description of rock cores for engineering purposes. Rock Me- Singh B, Goel RK, Mehrotra VK, Garg SK, Allu MR. Effect of intermediate principal
chanics and Engineering Geology 1964;1(1):16e22. stress on strength of anisotropic rock mass. Tunnelling and Underground Space
Ebisu S, Aydan O, Komura S, Kawamoto T. Comparative study on various rock Technology 1998;13(1):71e9.
mass characterization methods for surface structures. In: Rock Character- Singh B, Goel RK. Rock mass classicationsea practical approach in civil engi-
ization: ISRM Symposium, Eurock 92. London, UK: Thomas Telford; 1992. neering. Amsterdam: Elsevier Ltd.; 1999.
p. 203e8. Singh B, Villadkar MN, Samadhiya NK, Mehrotra VK. Rock mass strength parameters
El-Naqa A, Kuisi MA. Engineering geological characterisation of the rock mobilized in tunnels. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology
masses at Tannur Dam site, South Jordan. Environmental Geology 2002; 1997;12(1):47e54.
42(7):817e26. Singh M, Rao KS. Empirical methods to estimate the strength of jointed rock
El-Naqa A. Assessment of geotechnical characterization of a rock mass using a masses. Engineering Geology 2005;77(1e2):127e37.
seismic geophysical technique. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering Sjogren B, vsthus A, Sandberg J. Seismic classication of rock mass qualities.
1996;14(4):291e305. Geophysical Prospecting 1979;27(2):409e42.
Gardner WS. Design of drilled piers in the Atlantic Piedmont. In: Smith RW, Sonmez H, Gokceoglu C, Nefeslioglu HA, Kayabasi A. Estimation of rock modulus:
editor. Foundations and excavations in decomposed rock of the Piedmont for intact rocks with an articial neural network and for rock masses with a
province. New York, UK: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE); 1987. new empirical equation. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining
p. 62e86. Sciences 2006;43(2):224e35.
L. Zhang / Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 8 (2016) 389e397 397
Sonmez H, Gokceoglu C, Ulusay R. Indirect determination of the modulus of Dr. Lianyang Zhang is an associate professor and the
deformation of rock masses based on the GSI system. International Journal of director of the Sustainable Materials and Recycling
Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 2004;41(5):849e57. Technologies (SMART) Laboratory at the University of
Trueman R. An evaluation of strata support techniques in dual life gateroads. PhD Arizona, USA. His research interests cover rock mechanics
Thesis. Cardiff, UK: University of Wales; 1988. and rock engineering, deep foundations, geoenvironmental
Yudhbir WL, Prinzl F. An empirical failure criterion for rock masses. In: Proceedings of engineering, sustainable construction materials, and
the 5th International Congress on Rock Mechanics, vol.1; 1983. B1e8. Melbourne. recycling and management of wastes. He is the author of
Zhang L, Einstein HH. Using RQD to estimate the deformation modulus of rock two books and has published more than 100 technical
masses. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences papers.
2004;41(2):337e41.
Zhang L. Engineering properties of rocks. Amsterdam: Elsevier Ltd.; 2005.
Zhang L. Estimating the strength of jointed rock masses. Rock Mechanics and Rock
Engineering 2010;43(4):391e402.