198 Rock mass classification

Table 12.2 (cont)

Q-vstem of ReD J,
Rock Mass Classification e 7 J.
- SRF
6.0.8.0 a
8.0-12.0

5.0
m: ~~con(inuourumaorhodrofclay(rccp:,h.j:
fa 0.0.13.0 a
descriptionof clay coadition) 13.0-m.0

I SRF
(I) We~ssronuin&rseclingacava&~whkhmaycau~

a:
loosenin8 of m k IMU when auvul & Ucowed
MUltipk O e C U m n a r OfWC&US rOmr COllUiriillgShJ
or chcmidly disintegratedmck, very lmre rumwndirq
rod: (MY depth) 10.0
rcowtion

I
b Single w&ur l o l smuininp ~ ~ clay or chcmiullj
disintcgnlcd rock (excavation depth d l m) 5.0
C: siagk W&U3 ZmCI C O I
l
d w Clay OI e h u n i d J
disintegnlcdrock (uclvatica dcptb >Mm) 2.5
d MultipkrbcvroDesincomp~trock(clay-froc).loo~
CunOundingrock (My depth) 1.3
e: Singleshm zone$in Eompnent rock (clay-free) (dcptl
of ucavmion 6 0 m) 5.0
f: Single shcv zcmu in Eompcml mck (clay- frcc) (dcptl
of excavation >SO m) 2.3
g: Loose open jointa. hcavily jointcd 01 'rugascub'. CIC
(MY depth) 5.0

(ii) Compeunr rock rock SITUS problem

h Lowrtrtrs,ncarswfaa 2.3
j: Mcdiumsmsr 1.O
k High-SllUS. V U y dghl IIIUClUIO (USUdy f8VOUnbk I t
stability. may b unfavourble for wall stability) 0.5-20
L: Mild rock bunt (murive rock) 5-10
m: Hcdvy rock bunt (massive rock) 10-m
(Ill) Squeezln8 rock: pbrricpow of h m p e l e n r rock d e
rlu iqRuence of high rod pressures
n: Mild squcuingrock pmsun 5-10
p: Heavy squeezing rock pressure 10-m
(lv) Swellin8 m k : chemkd nvelllng activiry depending 01
presence ofwanr
q: Mild swelling mck prruwc 5-10
I: Heavy swelling
.rock.PIUSUR 10-15

s k' Dry ucavations a minor inflow. e.g. 5 ymin locally

J.
I .o
2 b Medium inflow or pressure, oeeasiond outwash of
joint fiUingl 0.66
c: Large inflow or high prruvls in wmpetcnr mck with
unfilled joints 0.5
d Large inflow or high p w u r c , considuableoutwash o
joint Illlings 0.33 .5-10.0
e: Exceptionally high inflow (x warn prarun at
blasting, decaying with time 0.2-0.1
E Exceptionally high inflowor W~ICI p-un Eontinuin,
without noticeabledecay 0.1-0.05

.Ibc(ulor.!
d * d W
~tmsLlsdE
rrddmdude
ofttaban
ItbcIISbiUQ,

luhvmmblo

12.3 Applications of rock mass classification

systems
Using either of the classification systems described in the previous two
sections, the engineering quality of a rock mass can be assessed. The RMR
system gives a number between 0 and 100, and the Q-system gives a
number between 0.001 and 1000. By these approaches, we are able to
produce a description of the rock mass based on classes defined by the