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Rock Material
ROCK MATERIAL
The term “rock material” refers to the intact rock within the framework of discontinuities.
In other words, this is the smallest element of rock block not cut by any fracture. There
are always some micro-fractures in the rock material, but these should not be treated as
fractures. Rock material differs from “rock mass,” which refers to in situ rock together
with its discontinuities and weathering profile. Rock material has the characteristics
shown in Figure 3.1.
FIGURE 3.2 Rock mass conditions under the Hoek-Brown failure criterion. (From Hoek, 1994)
Chapter 3 Rock Material 15
Extremely EW <1 ** **
weak*
Very weak VW 1–5 ** ** ** **
Weak W 5–25 ** ** ** **
Medium strong MS 25–50 ** ** **
Strong S 50–100 **
Very strong VS 100–250 **
Extremely ES >250 **
Strong
*Some extremely weak rocks behave as soils and should be described as soils.
**
Indicates the range of strength of rock material.
Source: ISO 14689-1, 2003.
The UCS can be easily predicted from point load strength index tests on rock cores
and rock lumps right at the drilling site because ends of rock specimens do not need to be
cut and lapped. UCS is also found from Schmidt’s rebound hammer (see Chapter 15).
Table 8.13 lists typical approximate values of UCS.
There are frequent legal disputes on soil-rock classification. The International Stan-
dard Organization (ISO) classifies geological material having a UCS less than 1.0 MPa
as soil.
Deere and Miller (John, 1971) suggested another useful classification system based
on the modulus ratio, which is defined as the ratio between elastic modulus and UCS.
Physically, a modulus ratio indicates the inverse of the axial strain at failure. Thus, brittle
materials have a high modulus ratio and plastic materials exhibit a low modulus ratio.
UNIAXIAL COMPRESSION
Rock failure in uniaxial compression occurs in two modes: (1) local (axial) splitting or
cleavage failure parallel to the applied stress, and (2) shear failure.
FIGURE 3.3 Stress-strain curves for six representative rocks in uniaxial compression. (From
Wawersik, 1968)
Chapter 3 Rock Material 17
STABILITY IN WATER
In hydroelectric projects, rocks are charged with water. The potential for disintegration of rock
material in water can be determined by immersing rock pieces in water for up to one
week. Their stability can be described using the terms listed in Table 3.2 (ISO 14689-1, 2003).
Ultrasonic pulse velocity in a saturated rock is higher than in a dry rock because it is
easier for pulse to travel through water than in air voids. However, the UCS and modulus
of elasticity are reduced significantly after saturation, particularly in rocks with water
sensitive minerals. On the other hand, the post-peak stress-strain curve becomes flatter
in the case of undrained UCS tests on saturated samples because increasing fracture
porosity after failure creates negative pore water pressure.
18 Engineering Rock Mass Classification
REFERENCES
Bray, J. W. (1967). A study of jointed and fractured rock. Part I. Rock Mechanics and Engineering
Geology, 5–6(2–3), 117–136.
Deere, D. U., Peck, R. B., Monsees, J. E., & Schmidt, B. (1969). Design of tunnel liners and support
system (Final Report, University of Illinois, Urbana, for Office of High Speed Transportation,
Contract No. 3-0152, p. 404). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Transportation.
Fairhurst, C., & Cook, N. G. W. (1966). The phenomenon of rock splitting parallel to the direction of
maximum compression in the neighborhood of a surface. In: Proceedings 1st Congress, International
Society of Rock Mechanics, Lisbon, pp. 687–692.
Gamble, J. C. (1971). Durability—Plasticity classification of shales and other argillaceous rocks (p. 159).
Ph.D. Thesis. University of Illinois.
Hoek, E. (1994). Strength of rock and rock masses. ISRM News Journal, 2(2), 4–16.
Hoek, E., & Brown, E. T. (1980). Underground excavations in rocks. Institution of Mining and
Metallurgy (p. 527). London: Maney Publishing.
ISO 14689-1 (2003). (E). Geotechnical investigation and testing—Identification and classification of rock —
Part 1: Identification and description (pp. 1–16). Geneva: International Organization for
Standardization.
Mohanty, B. (2009). Measurement of dynamic tensile strength in rock by means of explosive-driven
Hopkinson bar method. In Workshop on Rock Dynamics, ISRM Commission on Rock Dynamics.
Lausanne, Switzerland: EPFL, June.
Wawersik, W. R. (1968). Detailed analysis of rock failure in laboratory compression tests (p. 165).
Ph.D. Thesis. University of Minnesota.