196 Rock mass classification

(a) RQD;
(b) number of discontinuity sets;
(c) roughness of the ’most unfavourable’ discontinuity;
(d) degree of alteration or filling along the weakest discontinuity;
(e) water inflow; and
( f ) stress condition.
The Q-value is expressed as

where
RQD = rock quality designation,
h = joint set number (related to the number of discontinuity sets),
Jr = joint roughness number (related to the roughness of the
discontinuity surfaces),
Ja = joint alteration number (related to the degree of alteration or
weathering of the discontinuity surfaces),
Jw = joint water reduction number (relates to pressures and
inflow rates of water within the discontinuities),and
SRF = stress reduction factor (related to the presence of shear zones,
stress concentrations and squeezing and swelling rocks).
The motivation in presenting the Q-value in this form is to provide some
method of interpretation for the three constituent quotients.
The first, RQDIJ, is related to the rock mass geometry: Q increases with
increasing RQD and decreasing number of discontinuity sets. RQD
increases with decreasing number of discontinuity sets, so the numerator
and denominator of the quotient mutually reinforce one another.
Basically, the higher the value of this quotient, the better the ’geometrical
quality’ of the rock mass. We noted, in Chapter 7, that RQD determined
using the conventional threshold of 0.1 m is insensitive to discontinuity
frequencies less than about 3 m-’, so this quotient may also be insensitive.
Moreover, there is also the problem (which is, in fact, common to both the
RMR system and the Q-system) that RQD generally exhibits anisotropy,
yet anisotropy is not considered.
The second quotient, Jr/Ja, relates to the ’inter-blockshear strength’ with
high values of this quotient representing better ‘mechanicalquality’ of the
rock mass: the quotient increases with increasing discontinuity roughness
and decreasing discontinuity surface alteration. The different discontinuity
sets in the rock mass may have different roughnesses and degrees of
alteration, so the Q-system uses the worst case.
The third quotient, JJSRF, is an ’environmental factor’ incorporating
water pressures and flows, the presence of shear zones, squeezing and
swelling rocks and the in situ stress state. The quotient increases with
decreasing water pressure or flow rate, and also with favourable rock mass
strength to in situ stress ratios.
The Q-system is more complex to use than the RMR system. We are
therefore including, in Table 12.2, the full range of classes for the six
parameters involved in the system.