Tunnel in Undisturbed Rock Mass 1-1

Tutorial 1 – Hoek-Brown Strength

Envelope for a Tunnel in Undisturbed
Rock (D = 0)
In this example, we’ll be deriving the principal stress and normal-
shear strength plots for an undisturbed in-situ sandstone rock
mass surrounding a tunnel at a depth of 100 meters using the
Hoek-Brown strength criterion. With no test data available, we’ll
be using reference data to determine the Hoek-Brown
classification parameters.

If haven’t already done so, please open the RocData 5.0

application.

The default view is the “Table Values View,” in which users have
access to reference tables for deriving classification parameters.

Enter this data in the sidebar input data area, by doing the
following:

1. Click on the list button beside the sigci input, and select
the 50-100 strength range. Click OK to close the dialog.

2. Click on the list button beside the GSI input, use the mouse
or keyboard to define a value of 55. Click OK to close the
dialog.

3. Click on the list button beside the mi input, and select

Sandstones from the list. Click OK to close the dialog.

RocData v.5.0 Tutorial Examples

Tunnel in Undisturbed Rock Mass 1-2

4. Click on the list button beside the MR input, and select

Sandstones from the list. The intact modulus (Ei) is
automatically calculated. Click OK to close the dialog.

Also, enter the following data to determine the Failure Envelope

Range (sig3max), which is used to calculate the equivalent Mohr-
Coulomb parameters for the Hoek-Brown model.

Click “Zoom Extents” to resize the plots to the failure envelope

range.

Plots will be automatically updated as the parameters change. The

resulting output will also be automatically updated and displayed
in the data legend to the right of the plots.

Notice the equivalent Mohr-Coulomb parameters that have been

calculated (displayed in the data legend):

The envelope corresponding to these parameters can be viewed on

the plots, by selecting the Mohr-Coulomb strength envelope option,
from the toolbar or the Analysis menu.

To get a better look at the MC envelope, let’s view only the Normal
vs. Shear stress plot. Select the Normal vs. Shear Stress option
from the Analysis menu or the toolbar. This will hide the principal
stress plot, and show only the Normal vs. Shear stress plot,
maximized in the view.

Maximizing a particular plot can also be achieved by double-

clicking it, bringing the view to a “single chart” mode. Double-
clicking the plot again reverses the view to “multi-chart” mode.

RocData v.5.0 Tutorial Examples

Tunnel in Undisturbed Rock Mass 1-3

Currently, the Normal vs. Shear stress plot and the MC envelope
are both navy blue. Let’s change the color of the MC envelope to
orange. This is done in “Series Display Settings” in the sidebar
and allows the user to format series of a particular plot when it is
displayed in “single chart” mode.

The final Normal vs. Shear stress plot should look like the
following:

RocData v.5.0 Tutorial Examples

Tunnel in Undisturbed Rock Mass 1-4

If you examine the MC envelope, you can graphically confirm the

calculated values of cohesion, friction angle, and also the rock
mass tensile strength sigt (-0.15Mpa). The tensile strength is the
negative value of normal stress, at the origin of the failure
envelope.

RocData v.5.0 Tutorial Examples