Volume 11, Number 1, October 2015, pp.

17-20
[Summary]

Rock Mass Quality Rating (RMQR) for Rock Engineering

Ömer AYDAN*, Naohiko TOKASHIKI* & Reşat ULUSAY**

* Member of ISRM: Dept. of Civil Eng. & Architecture, Faulty of Engineering, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213 Japan
** Member of ISRM: Dept. of Geological Engineering, Faulty of Engineering, Hacettepe University, 06800 Beytepe, Ankara, Turkey

Received 05 10 2015; accepted 06 10 2015

ABSTRACT

A new rock classification named as Rock Mass Quality Rating (RMQR) proposed by the authors (Aydan et al. 2013). This new
rock classification quantify the state of rock mass and possible geo-mechanical properties of rock masses can be estimated using the
classification system together with intrinsic geo-mechanical properties of intact rock. This system eliminates some shortcoming of
previous systems. It is correlated with existing quantitative rock classification systems as well as qualitative rock classification
systems used in Japan. The fundamental parameters of this system are explained and the correlations with quantitative and
qualitative systems are presented. Further applications of this new system are pointed out.

Keywords: RMQR, rock classification, geo-mechanical properties, Japanese rock classification systems,

briefly discussed. Furthermore, the possible extensions of this

1. INTRODUCTION system to applications in geo-engineering are pointed out.

The qualitative description of rock masses by means of
classification systems and subsequent correlations to establish
engineering quantities or design parameters have become one
of the most challenging topics in rock engineering. Many
rock mass classification systems have been proposed for rock
masses with the consideration of a particular rock structure
and/or specific purposes. The common purpose of these
systems was to quantify rock mass characteristics previously
based on qualitative geological descriptions. They were
originally developed for assisting with rock engineering
design of tunnels or dam foundations. However, many
available rock classification systems have some repetitions
such as RQD and discontinuity spacing resulting in essence
doubles the influence of the spacing of discontinuities on the
final rating. In addition, although the effect of water
particularly on water-sensitive rocks plays an important role
in decrease of their geo-mechanical properties, this effect is
not adequately considered in the existing rock mass
classification systems. Therefore, direct utilization of these
systems, in their original form for characterization of
complex rock mass conditions, is not always possible. This is
probably one of the reasons why rock engineers continue to
develop new systems or modify and extend the current ones.
In this summary, the fundamental elements of a new rock
mass rating system designated as Rock Mass Quality Rating
(RMQR) proposed recently by the authors (Aydan et al.
2013) are explained and its correlations with quantitative and
qualitative rock classification systems are presented and
© JCRM All rights reserved.
2. ROCK MASS QUALITY RATING (RMQR)
It is well known that rock masses have discontinuities of
various scale associated with the formation in their geologic
past. The authors particularly prefer to use the term
“discontinuity” instead of “joint” as it covers all types of
interruptions of structural integrity of rock masses. The most
commonly used factors in engineering description of rock
masses are the condition and geometrical characteristics of
discontinuities. Therefore, the parameters associated with
discontinuities could be the discontinuity set number (DSN),
discontinuity spacing (DS) and discontinuity condition (DC)
The intact rock bounded by discontinuities may be subjected
to weathering or alteration. The weathering of rocks results
from the physical and/or chemical actions of atmospheric
conditions and causes the weakening of bonds and
decomposition of constituting minerals into clayey materials.
The alteration process is due to percolating hydrothermal
fluids in rock mass and it may act on rock mass in a positive
or negative way. As the intact rock is one of the important
elements influencing the mechanical response of rock masses,
weathering and/or the negative action of hydrothermal
alteration may be accounted as the degradation degree (DD)
of intact rock.
Groundwater (GW) is also an important parameter
affecting the mechanical response of rock masses. There are
also cases, that some rocks may absorb groundwater
electrically or chemically, resulting in the drastic reduction of
material properties and/or swelling. In addition to seepage
18 Ö. AYDAN et al. / International Journal of the JCRM vol.11 (2015) pp.17-20

condition of groundwater (GWSC), the water absorption 3. CORRELATIONS AMONG RMQR AND ROCK
characteristics of rocks (GWAC) should also be taken into MASS CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS OF JAPAN
account.
RMQR has six basic parameters, which provides rating of RMQR could be related to the well-known quantitative
each parameter, and ranges between 0 and 100 (Table 1). If two rock mass rating systems, RMR (Bieniawski, 1989) and
detailed surveys on the conditions of discontinuities are Q-system (Barton et al., 1974), through some relations given
carried out, a more detailed rating is necessary for in Figure 1, which shows the correlations between RMQR,
characterization of rock discontinuities. For the evaluation of RMR and Q-value.
discontinuity condition from detailed surveys, Table 2 is RMQR
recommended together with roughness concept of surface RMR = 100 or
RMQR + β ( A − RMQR)
profiles adapted by ISRM (2007).
RMR
RMQR = 100 (1)
Table 1. Classification parameters and their ratings for Rock RMR + 1.1(100 − RMR)
Mass Quality Rating (RMQR)*.
0.06 RMQR − 3
RMQR = 16.7 log(Q) + 50 or Q = 10 (2)

The value of parameter β is 0.8 and the value of parameter

A ranges between 90 and 100. Figure 1 shows the correlations
between RMQR, RMR and Q-value together with data from
various projects in Japan. It should be noted that the value of
RMR is generally higher than the value of RMQR.

Figure 1. The relations between (a) RMQR and RMR, and (b)
RMQR and Q-value based on data from Japan.

There are rock classifications proposed for the preliminary

assessment and design of support systems for underground
caverns and tunnels (Saito, 1992). The rock classification of
the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
(CRIEPI) is known as “DENKEN” classification in Japan and
it is used for underground caverns and dam-sites (Saito, 1992).
Table 3 correlates the rock classes of RMQR with those of
DENKEN classification system.

Table 3. Rock classes of RMQR rock classification system

Table 2. Ratings for sub-parameters of discontinuity condition and its relation to DENKEN classifications
excluding None and Healed or intermittent classes.

As for tunneling, there are two rock classifications (Saito,

1992). The rock classification of the Former Japan Roadway
Authority, recently named as NEXCO is known as
DOROKODAN classification and it is widely used in
roadway tunnels. The rock classes of the RMQR rock
classification system are associated with the rock
classification of DOROKODAN or NEXCO (JRoC) by
Aydan et al. (2016) as given in Table 4. Former Japan State
Railways known as KYU-KOKUTETSU also proposed a
rock classification system for railway tunnels. The privatised
Japan State Railways, which is now named as Japan Railways
(JR), utilizes the KYU-KOKUTETSU or JraC rock
classification for tunnel design. An attempt is done to
correlate the rock classes of the JRaC (KYU-KOKUTETSU)
 Ö. AYDAN et al. / International Journal of the JCRM vol.11 (2015) pp.17-20 19

to RMQR as given in Table 5 with the consideration of the
previous study by Saito (1992) the correlations among Japan
rock classifications systems. However, it should be noted that
this system based on very few parameters such as rock type,
p-wave velocity and competency factor.
Table 4. Interrelations between RMQR and NEXCO (JRoC)
Rock Classes
the value of coefficient β as 6.
It should be noted that experiments on the Poisson’s ratio
of rock masses are quite rare. In this particular comparison,
Poisson’s ratio of rock mass in tunnels through squeezing
rocks correlated with RMQR. The data for RMQR value less
than 50 are mainly from those of rock masses exhibiting
squeezing behaviour. The measured data is well enveloped by
the empirical relation with the values of coefficient β ranging
between 0.1 and 3. The authors suggest that the values of
α 0 , α 100 and β should be 2.5, 1.0 and 1, respectively as given
in Table 3.

Table 5. Values of α 0 , α100 and β for various properties of

rock mass
Table 5. Interrelations between RMQR and rock classes of
JRaC (KYU-KOKUTETSU)

4. ESTIMATION OF ROCK MASS PROPERTIES

FROM RMQR

Aydan et al. (2013) provided relations for six different

mechanical properties of rock mass using the relation
proposed by Aydan and Kawamoto (2000). Aydan et al.
(2013) replaced RMR by RMQR, and it is given in the
following form for any mechanical properties of rock mass in Figure 2. Comparison of experimental data for (a)
terms of those of intact rock: deformation modulus and (b) Poisson’s ratio of rock
mass with estimations from Eq. 3.
RMQR (3)
α = α 0 − (α 0 − α 100 )
RMQR + β (100 − RMQR ) Figure 3(a) compares experimental results with empirical
relations for normalized uniaxial compressive strength (UCS)
and tensile strength of rock masses by those of intact rock.
Where α 0 and α 100 are the values of the function at RMQR
The UCSs of rock masses plotted in this figure are mostly
= 0 and RMQR = 100 of normalized property α and β is obtained using rock shear test together with Mohr-Coulomb
a constant to be determined by using a minimization failure criterion. The experimental results generally confirm
procedure for experimental values of given physical or the empirical relation given in Eq. (3).
mechanical properties. The authors proposed some values for
these empirical constants with the consideration of in-situ
experiments carried out in Japan as given in Table 5. When a
representative value of RMQR is determined for a given site,
the geomechanical properties of rock mass can be obtained
using Eq. (3), together with the values of constants given in
Table 5 and the values of intact rock for a desired property.
The empirical relations for normalized properties
presented in the previous section are compared with the
experimental results from in-situ tests carried out at various Figure 3. Comparison of experimental data for (a) uniaxial
large projects (underground power houses, dams, nuclear compression and (b) tensile strengths of rock masses
power plants and underground crude oil and gas storage with estimations from Eq. (3).
caverns) in Japan. Figure 2 compares the experimental results
for elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio of rock mass. The In literature, there is almost no in-situ experimental
experimental results on normalized elastic modulus of rock procedure or experimental results for the tensile strength of
mass are closely represented by Eq. (3) together the values rock mass to the knowledge of the authors. The authors
given in Table 5 and they are clustered around the curve with (Aydan et al., 2013) utilized back-analysed data on the stable
20 Ö. AYDAN et al. / International Journal of the JCRM vol.11 (2015) pp.17-20
and unstable (failed) cliffs along seashores of major islands of
Ryukyu Archipelago using a theory based on the cantilever
theory and fitted the inferred tensile strength of the rock mass
normalized by that of intact rock using Eq. (3). The results
are plotted in Figure 3b by varying the value of empirical
constant β between 5 and 7. It is found that the value of
empirical constant β could be designated as 6 in view of
inferred tensile strength of rock mass.
The authors again utilize Eq. (3) together with the values
of parameters given in Table 5 for comparing with
experimental results as shown in Figure 4. The data used in
this comparison are directly from rock shear tests carried out
on rock masses in Japan. The experimental results generally
confirm Eq. (3).
Figure 4. Comparison of (a) cohesion and (b) friction angle of
rock mass with estimations from Eq. (3).
5. APPLICATION OF RMQR TO ROCK SUPPORT
DESIGN FOR UNDERGROUND OPENINGS
The design of support systems of large underground openings
and tunnels in rock engineering is of great importance, as
these structures are required to be stable during their service
lifetime. Rock discontinuities may cause structurally
controlled or local instability modes while inward
displacement of rock mass may be due to elasto-plastic or
elasto-visco plastic behavior induced by in-situ stresses.
Therefore, the main purpose of the design of support systems
must be well established with due considerations of these
situations.
Aydan (2016) established several interrelations for the
dimensions of support members and related size parameters
of the large underground openings and tunnels with the
consideration of structurally controlled and stress induced
instability modes as given in Table 6. It may also be used for
preliminary support design when surrounding rock mass is
subjected to even stress-induced yielding.
Table 6. Empirical relations between rock mass quality rate
(RMQR) and the dimensions of support members
normalized by arch span (La) or sidewall height (Hs)
(* for large underground caverns)
Aydan and Ulusay (2013) proposed Table 7 for the empirical
design of support systems for tunnels, which may be
subjected to even stress-induced failure modes such as
squeezing and rock bursting, respectively. In case of tunnels,
when RMQR<20, UCS of intact rock is less than 20 MPa and
overburden is greater than 100 m, squeezing problems may
be encountered. Under such circumstances, forepoles, face
bolting and shotcreting may be required.
Table 7. Support systems for tunnels (D or B, 10 m span).
6. OTHER REMARKS
RMQR value of rock mass is considered to be a universal
state parameter and it is obtained from the summation of the
rating of six parameters. It is a scalar value (a zero rank
tensor). However, its tensorial utilization of rank one or
higher evaluations may be necessary, depending upon the
nature of the conditions of physical phenomenon associated
with rock mass and geo-engineering structures. In such cases,
the rating of six parameters may be varied, for example, by
introducing some weighting functions and/or orientations.
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