Rock Mass Classification

Prof. Islavath Sreenivasa Rao

Department of Mining Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
West Bengal - 721302
Rock mass and Intact Rock
 Table1 INTACT ROCK PROPERTIES
Rock strata Compressive Geological Modulus of Disturbance Hoek-Brown
strength Strength Elasticity Factor parameter
 ci ( MPa) Index Ei (GPa) D mi
GSI

Clay 17.5 50 4 0 7
Coal 28 50 5 0 7
Sandstone 35 60 9.87 0 10

  mb  
a 1

  mb  4s  a(mb  8s)    s   Eq.1  3max

 4    3n  (e)
 cm   ci  (a)  ci
 2 1  a  2  a  
 
 
 1 D 2 
Ecm  Ei  0.02   60 15 D GSI  11  (f)
 1 e 
 6amb  s  mb 3n  
a 1

m  sin 1  
 2 1  a  2  a   6amb  s  mb 3n 
a 1
 (b)
 GSI  100 
mb  mi exp   (g)
 28  14 D 
 3max  0.47 cm 0.06 insitu 0.94 (c)
 GSI  100  (h)
s  exp  
 ci 1  2a  s  1  a  mb 3n   s  mb 3n 
a 1
 9  3D 
Cm 
6amb  s  mb 3n 
a 1

1  a  2  a  1 (d)
 e 
1 1 GSI /15 20/3
1  a  2  a  a
2 6
e
(i)
 ROCK MASS PROPERTIES
Rock strata Compressive Modulus of Cohesion, C Angle of
strength Elasticity (Mpa) internal
 ( MPa) (GPa) friction, 
cm

Clay 2.582 1.278 0.811 27

Coal 4.13 1.535 1.00 31

Sandstone 7.643 5.132 1.461 38

 RMR
It’s basically depends on following factors
• Strength of intact Rock
• Rock Quality Designation (RQD)
• Spacing of discontinuities
• Condition of discontinuities
• Ground water condition
• Orientation of discontinuities
 RMR
Max. Weightage
• Strength of intact Rock :15
• Rock Quality Designation (RQD) :20
• Spacing of discontinuities :20
• Condition of discontinuities :30
• Ground water condition :15

RMR = Sum of classification parameters +

discontinuity orientation adjustment
RMR
RMR
Guidelines for support based on RMR
GSI
GSI
GSI
GSI
GSI ROCK QUALITY CLASSIFICATION

GSI value Rock mass quality

<20 Very Poor

21 - 35 Poor

36 - 55 Fair

56 -75 Good

76 -95 Very Good

Rock Tunneling Quality Index (Q System)
Barton, et al., 1974 proposed
RQD J r Jw
Q  
Jn J a SRF

where,
RQD : Rock quality designation

Jn : Joint set number

Jr : Joint roughness number

Ja : Joint alteration number

SRF: Stress reduction factor

Q System
Joint Water Reduction
Stress Reduction Factor
Excavation Support Ratio

Equivalent dimension
De = Excavation span, diameter or height/ESR
Rock quality classification for Q system
Q value Class Rock mass
400 – 1000 A Exceptionally Good
100 - 400 A Extremely good
40 - 100 A Very good
10 - 40 B Good
4 - 10 C Fair
1-4 D Poor
0.1 – 1.0 E Very Poor
0.01 – 0.1 F Extremely Poor
0.001 – 0.01 G Exceptionally Poor
Rock mass quality
Bolt length, span and roof pressure

Length of bolt

Maximum unsupported span

Permanent roof pressure

Based on the analysis of various case studies, Grimstad and Barton, 1993

According to Bieniawski, 1989; Barton, 1995

RMR=9 lnQ+44 RMR~ 15logQ+50

 Rock Structure Rating
Wickham et al., 1972 has proposed this method for describing quality of rock
mass and for selection of appropriate support system based on RSR
 Rock Structure Rating
Parameter A: General area geology
 Rock Structure Rating
Parameter B: Joint Pattern and drive direction
 Rock Structure Rating
Parameter C: Ground water and Joint condition
Support estimates based on RSR
THANK YOU