EM 104: ROCK MECHANICS

Topic 2.
ROCK CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS

Instructor: Engr. Marie Claire O. Virtudazo

mcovirtudazo@carsu.edu.ph

Department of Mining Engineering

College of Engineering and Geosciences
Caraga State University, Butuan City
 TOPIC OUTLINE

Part 1. Early Classifications

1. Terzaghi Rock Load Classification
2. Lauffer Stand-up Time Classification
3. Deere’s Rock Quality Designation
4. Wickham Rock Structure Rating (RSR)

Part 2. Recent Classification Systems

.

.
5. Bieniawski Geomechanic Classification
. (RMR System)
. 6. Barton Q-System
.

.
 EXPECTED OUTCOMES
The students would be able to:

1. Define Rock Mass Classification

2. Analyze the importance of Rock Mass
Classification
.
3. Differentiate various rock
.

.
mass/classification
. 4. Perform calculations in rock mass
classification
.

.
 Rock Mass Classifications

Objectives

• Identify the most significant parameters influencing

the behavior of a rock mass
• Divide a particular rock mass formation into groups
of similar behavior, that is, rock mass classes of
.
varying quality
.

.
• Provide a basis for understanding the
. characteristics of each rock mass class
.

.
 Rock Mass Classifications

Objectives

• Relate the experience of rock conditions at one

site to the conditions and experience encountered
at others
• Derive quantitative data and guidelines for
.
engineering design
.

.
• Provide a common basis for communication
. between engineers and geologists
.

.
 Rock Mass Classifications

Main Benefits

• Improving the quality of site investigations by

calling for the minimum input data as classification
parameters
• Providing quantitative information for design
.
purposes
.

.
• Enabling better engineering judgment and more
. effective communication on a project
.

.
 Rock Mass Classifications
Testing techniques

• International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM) Suggested

Methods

• Termed as the Blue Book. Since 1974, and through its Commission on
Testing Methods, the ISRM has generated a succession of Suggested
Methods (SMs) covering a wide range of subjects. The first collection of
the Suggested Methods of the ISRM was edited by Professor Ted
. Brown and published by Pergamon Press in 1981. It consist of four(4)
. parts which include: (1) Site Characterization; (2) Laboratory testing; (3)
. Filed Tests; and (4) Monitoring. Written in the Blue Book are the 40
. suggested methods for rock characterization, testing, and monitoring
.

.
 Rock Mass Classifications
Testing techniques

• American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standards

ASTM was originally known as the American Society of the International

Association for Testing and Materials when it was created in 1898 by
Pennsylvania Railroad engineers and scientists. Its purpose was to
address and prevent the frequent rail breaks that were plaguing the
industry by developing standards that would ensure higher quality rail
. products.
.

.
 Rock Mass Classifications

.
 Rock Mass Classifications

A recommendation was made such that uniaxial

compressive strength of

1. 1 MPa (145 psi) or higher—rock

.
.
2. Less than 1 MPa—soils
.

.
 Rock Mass Classifications

• Rock mass should be visualized as an assemblage

of intact rock blocks separated by different types of
geologic discontinuities.

• The importance of the properties of intact rock

. material will be generally overshadowed by the
.

.
properties of the discontinuities in the rock masses.
.

.
 Rock Mass Classifications

• Important issue: selection of the parameters of

greatest significance

• No single parameter or index that can be fully and

quantitatively describe a jointed rock mass for
engineering purposes
.

.
 Rock Mass Classifications
Most commonly used parameters:

1. Rock material strength

•Strength of rock material is included because it

constitutes the strength limit of the rock mass.

.
.
•Uniaxial compressive strength of rock material can be
. determined in the field indirectly by means of the point-
. load strength index (Franklin, 1970).
.

.
 Rock Mass Classifications
Most commonly used parameters:

2. Rock Quality Designation (RQD)

• RQD is a quantitative index based on a modified core-
recovery procedure which incorporates only sound
pieces of core that are 100 mm or greater in length.

.
.
• RQD is a measure of drill core quality or fracture
. frequency, and disregards the influence of joint
. tightness, orientation, continuity, and infilling.
.

.
 Rock Mass Classifications
Other classification parameters:

3. Spacing of discontinuities
4. Condition of discontinuities

–Roughness
–Continuity 5. Orientation of discontinuities,
–Separation groundwater conditions
. –Joint-wall weathering
. –Infilling –Inflow
.
–Pressure
.

. 6. In-situ stress
 Rock Mass Classifications

• Strength of intact rock

material, spacing of
discontinuities, and
groundwater conditions

. • In-situ stress field and

.

. changes in stress
.

.
 Rock Mass Classifications

.
 Rock Mass Classifications

.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION

1.ROCK LOAD: TERZAGHI (1946)

• Used in estimating rock loads for

steel-arch supported tunnels
• Not suitable for modern tunneling
methods using shotcrete and
rockbolts
.

. http://www.ejge.com/People/Terzaghi/erdbaumk.jpg
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION

1.ROCK LOAD: TERZAGHI (1946)

taking account, the following

parameters:

a) rock conditions
b) dimensions of the tunnel
.
.
c) depth below the terrain surface
. & below water table
.

.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
1.ROCK LOAD: TERZAGHI (1946)
Assumptions:
• that the steel arch set has to
support a certain volume of rock
above the tunnel implies that the
rock is allowed to deform until it
can exert a force on the support;
• loads are assume to be the
.

.
weight of the rock volume in
. between the deformation zones
. up to a certain height above the
.

.
tunnel (Hp) and the water load
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
1.ROCK LOAD: TERZAGHI (1946)
• The figure shows the loosened rock with
the area acdb will tend to move in
towards to the tunnel.
• This movement will be resisted by friction
forces along the lateral boundaries acbd
and these friction forces transfer the
major portion of the overburden weight W
onto the material on either side of the
tunnel.
.

. • The weight B of the zone of the crack in

. which movement occurs will depend
. upon the characteristics of the rock mass
. and upon tunnel dimensions Ht and B Terzaghi’s Rock Load Classification. The rock volume
supposed to be supported by the steel arch set is hatched.
.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION

1.ROCK LOAD: TERZAGHI (1946)

.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION

1.ROCK LOAD: TERZAGHI (1946)

.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
1.ROCK LOAD: TERZAGHI (1946)
Terzaghi Seven (7) Rock Mass Descriptions
1. Intact rock: Intact rock contains neither joints nor hair
cracks, and thus breaks across sound rock. Spalling
conditions, which is when thin slabs of rock fall off the roof or
walls of the tunnel, , and popping conditions, where rock
slabs on the sides or roof of the tunnel spontaneously and
violently detach, may occur for several hours or days after
.
.
blasting.
. 2. Stratified rock: Stratified rock consists of individual strata
. with little or no resistance against separation along strata
. boundaries. Spalling conditions are quite common.
.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
1.ROCK LOAD: TERZAGHI (1946)
Terzaghi Seven (7) Rock Mass Descriptions
3. Moderately jointed rock: Moderately jointed rock
contains joints and hair cracks, but blocks between the joints
are locally grown together or so intimately interlocked that
vertical walls do not require lateral support. Again, spalling
and popping conditions may be encountered.
.

.
4. Blocky and seamy rock: This consists of chemically
. intact or nearly intact rock fragments which are entirely
.
separated from each other and imperfectly interlocked. The
. vertical walls of the tunnel may require support.
.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
1.ROCK LOAD: TERZAGHI (1946)
Terzaghi Seven (7) Rock Mass Descriptions

5. Crushed rock: Crushed rock is chemically intact, but

extensively fractured. If the crushed rock is small-grained
and below the water table, it will exhibit the properties of a
water-bearing sand.
6. Squeezing rock: Squeezing rock slowly advances into
.
.
the tunnel without a perceptible volume increase. This
.
condition requires a very high percentage of microscopic and
.
submicroscopic micaceous minerals or clay minerals with a
.
low swelling capacity.
.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
1.ROCK LOAD: TERZAGHI (1946)
Terzaghi Seven (7) Rock Mass Descriptions

7. Swelling rock: Swelling rock advances into the tunnel

primarily by the expansion of the rock itself. This condition
seems to be limited to rocks containing clays, such as
montmorillonite, which have a high capacity to swell when
hydrated.
.

.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
2. STAND-UP TIME: LAUFFER (1958)

• Stand-up time is the period of time that a tunnel will stand

unsupported after excavation
• May be affected by orientation of tunnel axis, shape of
cross section, excavation method and support
method and other factors
• Modified by many Austrian engineers, notably by Pacher
.
et al. (1964), leading to the development of New Austrian
. Tunneling Method (NATM)*
.
• Main significance of Lauffer – Pacher classification is that
.
.
an increase in tunnel span leads to a major reduction in
. the stand-up time.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
2. STAND-UP TIME: LAUFFER (1958)

• Lauffer system became the basis for the New Austrian

Tunneling Method which comprises characterization &
classification but also rock mass modeling, deformation
monitoring, legal contract aspects & the construction of a
tunnel.
• Relate the stand-up time of an unsupported span to
.
standard rock mass types;
. • (structural defects) were considered;
.
• An active unsupported span is the width of the tunnel or
.
.
the distance from the face to the support if this is less than
. the tunnel width;
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
3. RQD INDEX: DEERE AND DEERE (1967)

• The rock quality designation is a modified core-recovery

percentage which incorporates only sound pieces of core
that are 100 mm (4 in.) or greater in length
• Used as a red flag to identify low-quality rock zones

.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
3. RQD INDEX: DEERE AND DEERE (1967)

Rock Quality Designation (RQD) which is measured as

total core length >10cm

RQD = total length drilled x 100%

• the RQD values provide a measure of the

brokenness of the rock mass;
. • the RQD index to support types for tunnels;
.

.
• the first classification system incorporating an index
.
for the amount and quality of discontinuities in a rock
.
mass.
.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
3. RQD INDEX: DEERE AND DEERE (1967)

• Coding and Deere attempted to relate RQD index to

Terzaghi’s load factors. They found out that Terzaghi’s rock
load concept should be limited to tunnels supported by steel
sets, and does not apply to openings supported by rock bolts

• Palmstrom suggested that when core is unavailable, RQD

. may be estimated from the number of joints(discontinuities)
.
per unit volume, in which the number of joints per meter for
.
each joints set is added
.

. RQD = 115 – 3.3Jv ; Jv - represents # of joints per m3

.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
3. RQD INDEX: DEERE AND DEERE (1967)

RQD = 115 – 3.3Jv

; Jv - represents # of joints per m3

Or number of joints per unit length for all joint(discontinuity) sets known as the
volumetric joint count.
.

.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
3. RQD INDEX: DEERE AND DEERE (1967)

• RQD forms a basic element for the two major rock mass
classification systems: RMR and Q system

• RQD alone is not sufficient to provide adequate

description of rock mass. It disregards joint orientation,
. tightness, and gouge(infilling) material
.

.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
3. RQD INDEX: DEERE AND DEERE (1967)

.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
3. RQD INDEX: DEERE AND DEERE (1967)

.
 Recommended Support for Tunnels 6-12m dia. (based on RQD-
Deere)
Rock Quality Tunneling Alternative Systems
Method Steel Sets Rockbolts Shotcrete
Excellent: Boring Mach Light set, rock load(0.0-0.2)B None to occ.. None to occ local appl.
RQD>95 Conventional Light set, rock load(0.0-0.3)B None to occ. None to occ local appl 2-3 in.

Good: Boring Mach Occ light set to pattern 5-6 ft to center,rock Occassional to pattern, 5- None to occ local appl 2-3 in.
95< RQD<90 load 0.0-0.4)B 6 ft ctr
Conventional Light sets 5-6ft ctr, rock load Pattern 5 - 6 ft ctr. Occasional to local application 2-3 in.
(0.3 to 0.6)B

Fair: Boring Mach Light-med sets, 5-6ft ctr, rock load(0.4-1.0)B Pattern, 4–6 ft ctr 2 in to 4 in crown
50<RQD<25 Light-med sets,4-5ft ctr rock
Conventional load (0.6-1.3)B Pattern, 3–5 ft ctr 4 in or more crown and sides

Poor: Boring Mach Med circular set on 3-4ft ctr. Pattern, 3–5 ft ctr 4-6 in on crown & sides
25<RQD<20 Rock load (1.0-1.6)B Combine with bolts
Conventional Med to heavy sets, 2-4ft ctr Pattern, 2–4 ft ctr 6-in or more on crown & sides.
Rock load(1.3-2.0)B Combine w/ bolts

Very Poor: Boring Mach Med-heavy circular sets Pattern, 2-4 ft ctr 6-in or more whole section. Combine
. medium sets
RQD<25(Excl 2-ft ctr,rock load(1.6-2.2)B
. squeezing or
Conventional Heavy circular sets 2ft ctr, rock load
swelling Pattern, 3ft ctr 6-in or more whole section. Combine
(1.6-2.2)B med-heavy sets
.
Very Poor: Boring Mach V-poor circular sets 2ft ctr. Rock load up Pattern, 2-3 ft ctr 6-in or more whole section. Combine
. Squeezing/ to 250 ft heavy sets
Swelling Pattern, 2–3 ft ctr 6-in or more whole section. Combine
. Conventional -do-
heavy sets

.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
4. RSR: WICKHAM, TIEDEMANN AND SKINNER (1972)

• The rock support rating concept is a ground-support

prediction model.
• It presents a quantitative method for describing the quality
of a rock mass and for selecting the appropriate ground
support.
• It also introduced a rating system for rock masses
.

.
• Determined based on the basis of case histories as well
. as reviews of various books and technical papers dealing
.
with different aspects of ground support in tunneling
.

.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
4. RSR: WICKHAM, TIEDEMANN AND SKINNER (1972)
- developed Rock Structure Rating which is based on quantitative
parameters for:
• Parameter A: rock structure (origin, hardness, geologic structure)
• Parameter B: discontinuity pattern with respect to the direction of the
tunnel (joint-spacing and orientation relative to direction of tunnel
drive)
• Parameter C: groundwater inflow (based on the over-all rock mass
quality described by Parameters A & B);
.
* Factor AF : type of excavation (drilling - blasting)
.

.
The RSR value of any tunnel section is obtained by summarizing the
.
weighted mass with respect to its need for support.
.

.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
4. RSR: WICKHAM, TIEDEMANN AND SKINNER (1972)

The final rating is :

RSR (rock mass structure) = A+B+C

Maximum value is 100

The above equation is used to design rib, bolt, and

. shotcrete support for tunnels via the support
.

.
recommendations of the Terzaghi System.
.

.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
4. RSR: Rock Structure Rating Parameter A: General
Area Geology

.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
4. RSR: Rock Structure Rating Parameter B: Rock joint
pattern, direction of drive

.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
4. RSR: Rock Structure Rating Parameter C:
Groundwater, joint condition

.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
4. RSR: WICKHAM, TIEDEMANN AND SKINNER (1972)

.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
4. RSR: WICKHAM, TIEDEMANN AND SKINNER (1972)
Example 1:

.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
4. RSR: WICKHAM, TIEDEMANN AND SKINNER (1972)
Example:

.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
4. RSR: WICKHAM, TIEDEMANN AND SKINNER (1972)
Example:

.
 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
4. RSR: WICKHAM, TIEDEMANN AND SKINNER (1972)
Example:
Consider a 6-m diameter tunnel to be driven in a slightly faulted strata
featuring a medium hard granite. The joint spacing is 2 ft and joints are
open. The estimated water inflow is 250 gpm/1000 ft of tunnel length.
The tunnel will be driven against a dip at 45 degrees and perpendicular to
the jointing. Determine the total RSR.
Solution:
Parameter A : Rock Type 2 (igneous, medium
hard, slightly faulted) = 20
.
Parameter B: Moderate to blocky (2-ft joints
.
spacing, dipping 45 deg) = 25
.
Parameter C : A+B = 45
. = 12
. TOTAL RSR = 20 + 25 + 12 = 57
.
 Assignment 04: Test Your Understanding
Hi! Kindly answer the questions to guide you in answering problems in Topic 2. Instructions
will be given in a separate document which will be posted in masaoLMS.

1. Solve the RQD and provide a short description about the core
sample and the RQD value.

.
 Assignment 04: Test Your Understanding
Hi! Kindly answer the questions to guide you in answering problems in Topic 2. Instructions
will be given in a separate document which will be posted in masaoLMS.

2. Carmen Copper Corp conducted recently a detailed geological

and geotechnical investigation of the proposed 3-km drain tunnel
from the Carmen Concentrator to the Biga Pit where its tailing pond
sites will be located. Drilling results showed that the rocks
encountered consisted of moderately faulted hard diorite rock. The
joints are spaced at 1.5-2.0 ft apart with some quartz and clay
infillings. Core recoveries ranges from 80-95% with RQD values of
.
75-90%. The tunnel will be driven along the direction of the drive
.

.
dipping 35 degrees and runs parallel to jointing. The water
.
seepages along the tunnel is estimated at 300 gpm/1000ft of tunnel
. length. Find the Total Rock Structure Rating(RSR).
.
 END
.