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CHAPTER 6: ROCK STABILISATION
METHODS
Mode of instability in rock & requirement for
Stabilisation methods
Principles of stabilisation method in rock
Classification & mechanism of methods
Considerations in selecting suitable method
CHAPTER 6: ROCK STABILISATION
Excavation in rock creates ‘new free faces’ for
discontinuous rock mass to move (tunnel closure
& slope face movement), i.e. excavation induces
disturbance in rock.
Rocks are discontinuous & display various types
of weakness planes & frequently weathered. Some
methods of excavation (e.g. blasting) may weaken
the rock further.
Volume of disturbed rock around an excavation is
called YIELD ZONE (disturbance due to
construction--induced stresses)
construction
Proper design & construction method for the
excavation help to reduce this disturbance. Less
disturbed rock means less cost on stabilisation
stabilisation..
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YIELD ZONE
(ZON ALAH)
CIRCULAR
TUNNEL
SURROUNDING
ROCK MASS
Design & construction of tunnel must be carefully
considered so that disturbance induced into the
surrounding rock mass can be reduced.
Thinner yield zone means less volume of ‘disturbed
rock’ to be stabilised – less stabilisation cost!
YIELD ZONE
(ZON ALAH)
CUT SLOPE
SURROUNDING
ROCK MASS
Similar approach in excavating slope face,
design & construction must be aimed at
minimising volume of disturbed rock - yield zone
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Types of discontinuities in rock mass
Geometrical orientation of weakness planes in
rock can indicate modes of failure
failure.. The size/type
of the discontinuity can indicates size of the
unstable block.
block.
In terms of size:
Faults:: often the largest, > 1000s km in length and
Faults
extends several 10 km in the earth’s crust. Occur
in all rock types
Bedding planes:
planes: may extend more than 100s km
and thickness of few m. Occur in sedimentary &
metamorphic rocks.
Joints:: is the smallest, with length of few m.
Joints
Occur in all rock types
Rock masses always exhibit discontinuities, more
than one types & at different orientations
Types of Rock types
structural Igneous Sedimentary Metamorphic
discontinuity
LARGE-SCALE:
Fault plane √ √ √
Joint plane √ √ √
Bedding plane - √ √
SMALL-SCALE:
Lamination - √ -
Foliation - - √
Microfractures √ √ √
Voids - √ √
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CHAPTER 6
Rock close to the fault may store residual strain in
the form of shear stress. Fault is large fracture or
discontinuity in rock.
Faults occur in all rock types
Faults can also occur at
depth in massive rock body
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Fault is much bigger than joints. In granite both
faults & joints are common weakness planes
Joints are fracture planes, often incline &
intersect (more than 2 joint sets). In strong rock
like granite, 3 sets of major joint is common, they
are intersecting & are almost perpendicular to
each other.
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Folded strata occurs in tectonically disturbed
stratified rocks (e.g. sandstone & shale).
Folded strata creates inclined bedding planes
which can become unstable upon excavation.
→ Detailed geological investigation is essential
of project area where in situ rocks have been
geologically disturbed by tectonic stresses.
Faults & joints may also occur in folded rocks
Joints & bedding planes in
sedimentary rock. Joints
can be parallel or
perpendicular to the
bedding planes
Inclined bedding planes in
clastic sedimentary rocks
(interbedding of shale &
sandstone)
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CHAPTER 5: EXCAVATION IN ROCK
Folded strata can also occur in rock at depth
CHAPTER 5: EXCAVATION IN ROCK
Folded strata can also occur in rock at depth
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lamination is minerals
arrangement due to
Lamination in sandstone sedimentation
(clastic sedimentary rock)
Lamination in shale
(clastic sedimentary rock)
Geological mapping & joint survey
Information like types of discontinuities and their
geometrical data (dip & dip direction) are
essential to determine modes of instability &
direction of sliding as well as size of unstable
blocks.
In major projects like major slope cut, HEP dam &
tunnel this info must be collected during
preliminary investigation stage.
For underground excavation this info is assessed
by directional drilling & geophysical methods, or
by assessing part of the exposed rock body where
the excavation is to be undertaken
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Geological mapping & joint survey
Dip angle & dip direction of weakness planes in
rock have significant effect on the stability of
excavation face created in the rock – as in
kinematic analysis in stereo-
stereo-net projection.
2 main issues must be addressed before
excavation face is created in rock:
Dip direction of weakness planes with respect to
dip direction of excavation face – are they parallel
or in opposite direction
Dip angle of the weakness planes compared to dip
angle of excavation face – is it larger or smaller
Take an fresh, strong & continuous (solid) rock.
Can a near vertical slope be excavated in this
rock mass, any problem on stability?
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. . . . . in terms of properties of the ‘ideal’ rock, a
vertical stable slope is possible
MPa,, γ = 26 kN/m
e.g. for granite (UCS = 120 MPa kN/m3)
slope of few km high is possible !!!
Rock mass in the field
In situ rock masses are subjected to
weathering (Zone 1 → Zone 2 … 6) thus, UCS &
γ are lower
In situ rock masses are not solid & continuous,
weakness planes (joints, bedding planes &
faults) are always present.
Disturbing forces are always there, natural or
man--made
man
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Rock mass in situ is discontinuous & may be
weathered (Grade II - V). Excavation of slope
induces further disturbance into the ‘weak rock’
A slope face cut in fresh (zone 1) and very strong
rock mass but, with horizontal bedding planes
(discontinuity or weakness plane) . . . . .
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Will the stability of the cut slope be
affected by the horizontal bedding planes?
Is there any immediate effect due to rock
mass properties & bedding planes
planes??
A slope face cut in fresh & strong rock mass
with horizontal bedding planes and inclined
fracture planes (e.g. joints)
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SLOPE B
SLOPE A
For slope (A), is the stability being
affected by the horizontal bedding &
inclined joint planes?
planes?
Slope (B) on the other side of the hill?
SLOPE A SLOPE B
The rock properties & the horizontal bedding
planes have no immediate effect on the stability
of both slopes A and B. The orientation of the
inclined joints can affect SLOPE B.
Similar effect of joint orientation & discontinuities
on underground excavation in rock (tunnel &
cavern).
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Intact rock – material properties of intact small rock sample
Rock mass – mass properties of discontinuous massive rock
body (in the field)
Joints display certain pattern of orientation,
grouped into set (1, 2 … nth sets). Joint sets
reduces strength of rock mass. The more the sets
the weaker is the rock
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Direction of tunneling with respect to
orientation of weakness planes
Direction of tunneling with respect to
joint & bedding orientation
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Discontinuities & mode of failure
in rock mass
Mode of failure in rock is dictated by:
types of discontinuity
spacing of discontinuities
orientation of discontinuities
number of set of discontinuities
In general, specific mode of failure requires
specific method of stabilisation
stabilisation.. However, a given
rock face may display more than one modes of
failure
Mode of instability in rock and methods
of stabilisation
Different mode of instability requires different
stabilisation methods, hence it is important to
understand the following principles:
What is the prevailing instability or mode of
failure?
failure ?
How specific stabilisation method works
(mechanisms) to produce effective stability?
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Modes of failure in rock (slope or tunnel) can be any
one or combination of these 4 modes
Modes of failure in rock slope
Plane failure:
failure:
Associated with
sliding of unstable
block along a single
distinctive inclined
weakness plane.
Weakness plane can
be bedding or fault
(joints create smaller
plane failure).
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Inclined fault leads to plane failure &
intersecting faults leads to wedge failure
Single inclined joint (and fault) leads
to plane failure
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Plane failure induced by inclined bedding planes
Parallel & inclined bedding planes lead to
plane failure
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Parallel & inclined bedding planes lead to
plane failure
Parallel & inclined bedding planes lead to
plane failure
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Modes of failure in rock slope
Wedge failure:
failure:
Associated with
sliding of unstable
block (wedge) along
two intersecting &
inclined weakness
planes.
Plane can be joints or
faults (not bedding
plane).
Common in rock
exhibiting more than 2
joint sets that are
Two JOINT sets or more (and faults) which are
intersecting lead to wedge failure
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Closely spaced & intersecting joints (> two
sets) lead to wedge failure & rock fall
Modes of failure in rock slope
Toppling failure/rock
fall::
fall
Associated with
toppling of unstable
small rock blocks, not
sliding along
weakness planes.
planes.
Common in rock mass
exhibiting more than 3
joint sets that are
closely spaced.
Weakness planes are
joints only
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Closely spaced & intersecting joints (more
than 3 sets) can lead to rock fall
Highly fractured & weathered rock leads to
rock fall + plane + wedge failure
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Modes of failure in rock slope
Flexural toppling:
toppling:
Associated with
bending of unstable
(slender) rock blocks,
not associated with
sliding along
weakness planes.
Common in rock
exhibiting more than 2
joint sets and folded
beddings that are
almost vertical in
orientation.
Near vertical joints and vertical bedding plane
(recumbent fold) lead to flexural toppling
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Near vertical joint sets lead to flexural toppling –
note there is no smooth sliding plane
Single inclined joint (and fault) leads
to plane failure + flexural toppling
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Very often rock faces display more than one mode
of failure, e.g. wedge + rock fall or plane failure +
rock fall etc.
Therefore, stabilisation will requires more
than one methods
RQD (from core logging) can indicate mode of
failure. RQD < 50% may lead to rock falls & RQD >
90% may lead to plane failure
S. No. Rock mass quality RQD (%)
1 Very poor 0 - 25
2 Poor 25 - 50
3 Fair 50 - 75
4 Good 75 - 90
5 Excellent 90 - 100
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Disturbing force:
mg sin θ
Resisting force:
θ
τjoint = σn tan φ
If resisting force >> disturbing force, stabilisation
may not be required. However, longlong--term effect
must also be considered e.g. water reduces σn, φ
& τ (it acts as lubricant on joint surface)
The rougher the joint
surface, the higher is
the JRC & shear
(τ).
strength (τ
Since φb is constant,
therefore variations of
shear strength in rough JRC value for
joint is mainly due to roughness
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Roughness & frictional strength of joint
Description of roughness Friction angle
Smooth Basic + 20
Defined ridges Basic + 60
Small steps Basic + 100
Very rough Basic + 140
Note: Basic friction angle is rock material
Note:
dependent (a constant for given rock type).
Increasing frictional strength for rough
joint is due to increasing JRC (degree of
roughness)
Scale of roughness & its effect on stability
Small scale roughness (mm in scale, e.g. asperity)
is due to material texture, it affects shear strength
(frictional angle) of a weakness plane
Large scale roughness (m in scale, e.g.
undulation), due to nature of joint surface, affects
direction of sliding.
Preliminary assessment like stereo-
stereo-net projection
only give indication on potential failure & direction
of sliding. No consideration on shear strength &
other properties of rock mass is being considered
in this approach.
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