Rock Classifications

Rock Mass Property and Classification

Rock Mass Properties
Rock mass is a matrix consisting of rock
material and rock discontinuities. Properties of
rock mass therefore are governed by the
parameters of rock joints and rock material, as
well as boundary conditions.

The behavior of rock changes from continuous

elastic for intact rock materials to discontinues
running of highly fractured rock masses,
depending mainly on the existence of rock
joints.
Rock Mass Property and Classification
Prime parameters governing rock mass property
 Rock Mass Rating [RMR]
• Rock Mass Rating [RMR] (see tables in
Introduction to Rock Mechanics):
– Strength of the rock
– Drill core quality (RQD)
– Groundwater conditions
– Joint and fracture spacing
– Joint characteristics

– Add values from the 5 tables to get total score

Rock Strength
 Rock Quality Designation

RQD
Rock Quality Designation (RQD) is defined as the
percentage of rock cores that have length equal or
greater than 10 cm over the total drill length.
 Joint Spacing
• Can use drill core, if available
• Should consider joint set most
likely to influence work
Joint Condition
Groundwater Conditions
 Geomechanics Classification of
Rock Masses
Class Description of RMR Sum of
Rock Mass Ratings from 5
categories
I Very Good 81-100
Rock
II Good Rock 61-80
III Fair Rock 41-60
IV Poor Rock 21-40
V Very Poor 0-20
Rock Tunnel Quality Q-System
Joint Set Number Jn
Joint Roughness Number Jr
Joint Alteration Number Ja
Joint Water Reduction Factor Jw
Stress Reduction Factor SRF
Stress Reduction Factor SRF
Q-value and rock mass quality
 Example
Estimate RMR, and Q- System :
Granite rock mass containing 3 joint sets,
average RQD is 88%, average joint spacing is
0.24 m, joint surfaces are generally stepped and
rough, tightly closed and unweathered with
occasional
stains observed, the excavation surface is wet
but not dripping, average rock material
uniaxial compressive strength is 160 MPa, the
tunnel is excavated to 150 m below the ground
where no abnormal high in situ stress is
expected.
Example - Solution