Rock Mass Classification

Rock mass: The large volume of rock intersected by discontinuities is known as rock
mass.
The rock mass is heterogeneous in nature due to variation in rock type,
discontinuities and degree of weathering.
Rock mass = Intact rock + Discontinuities
The discontinuities highly influence the overall strength of rock mass.
Strength of rock mass < Intact rock Intact rock
Intact rock: The intact rock is the rock in which
there is absence of discontinuities.
Discontinuities: Discontinuities are the structural
features of rock which are developed due to existence
of different stress on the periphery of the earth.
Discontinuities includes bedding plane, joints or
fracture etc.
Properties of Discontinuities
The properties of discontinuities
are:
a) Orientation
b) Spacing
c) Continuity (persistence)
d) Aperture (width) and Infilling
materials
e) Surface Characteristic
(Roughness)
f) Groundwater condition
Rock mass classification system
Different rock mass classification system has been established till now by different researcher. The
rock mass classification helps to improve the quality of site investigation by providing quantitative
information for design purpose. It is also used to determine the strength of rock and help to
determine the support condition required for rock to provide designed strength and leads to
successful completion of project.

Different rock mass classification systems are as follows:

a) Terzaghi’s rock mass classification system

b) Rock quality designation index (RQD)

c) Rock mass rating system (RMR)/ Bieniawski’s/ Geomechanical classification System

d) Rock tunneling quality index ( Q- value)

 a) Terzaghi’s rock mass classification
This is the first organized rock mass classification system proposed by
Dr. Karl Terzaghi (1946). The system was mainly qualitative and used
for rock tunnel design and construction projects.
• Intact rock: Rock with no joints and hair cracks.
• Stratified rock: Rock with little strength along bedding surface.
• Moderately jointed rock: Rock mass jointed but cemented.
• Blocky and seamy rock: Jointed rock mass without any cementing of
joints.
• Crushing rock: Rock that has been reduced to sand size particles
without any chemical weathering.
• Squeezing rock: Rock containing considerable amount of clay.
• Swelling rock: Rock that squeezes primarily from mineral swelling.
 b) Rock Quality Designation Index
The Rock Quality Designation index (RQD)
was developed by Deere (Deere et al 1967) to
provide a quantitative estimate of rock mass
quality from drill core logs. RQD is defined as
the percentage of intact core pieces longer than
100 mm (4 inches) in the total length of core.
 .
Sometime the drilling core is not available in such case the RQD can
be determined by the relation suggested by Plamstrom as shows
below:
RQD = 115 – 3.3 Jv
Where,
Jv = Sum of no. of joints per unit length of all discontinuity sets
known as the volumetric joints count.
Rock are classified into various groups based on RQD:
c) Rock mass rating system (RMR)/ Bieniawski’s/ Geomechanical
classification System
Bieniawski (1976) published the details of a rock mass classification
called the Geomechanics Classification or the Rock Mass Rating (RMR)
system. He has given different rating to different parameter. The sum of
the rating of individual parameter gives the final rating value. The RQD is
used to classify a rock mass using RMR system are:
a) Uniaxial compressive strength of rock material
b) Rock quality designation RQD
c) Spacing of discontinuities
d) Condition of discontinuities
e) Ground water conditions
f) Orientation of discontinuities
Each of the six
parameters is
assigned a value
corresponding to the
characteristic of the
rock. These values
are desired from field
surveys and
laboratory tests as
given in table below:
Classification based on RMR
Class No. Rating value Rock quality Guidelines for excavation and support of 10 m span
I 100-81 Very good rock rock tunnels in accordance with the RMR system
II 80-61 Good rock (After Bieniawski 1989).
III 60-41 Fair rock
IV 40-21 Poor rock
V <20 Very poor rock
Rock Tunneling Quality Index (Q- Value)
On the basis of an evaluation of a large number of case histories of underground
excavations, Barton et al (1974) of the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute proposed a
Tunnelling Quality Index (Q) for the determination of rock mass characteristics and
tunnel support requirements. The numerical value of the index Q varies on a
logarithmic scale from 0.001 to a maximum of 1,000 and is defined by:
𝑹𝑹𝑹𝑹𝑹𝑹 𝑱𝑱𝒓𝒓 𝑱𝑱𝒘𝒘
𝑸𝑸 = × × 𝑹𝑹𝑹𝑹𝑹𝑹
= represents block size
𝑱𝑱𝒏𝒏 𝑱𝑱𝒂𝒂 𝑺𝑺𝑺𝑺𝑺𝑺 𝑱𝑱𝒏𝒏
Where, RQD = is the Rock Quality Designation
𝑱𝑱𝒓𝒓
Jn = is the joint set number = represents shear strength
𝑱𝑱𝒂𝒂
Jr = is the joint roughness number
𝑱𝑱𝒘𝒘
Ja = is the joint alteration number = represents condition or nature
𝑺𝑺𝑺𝑺𝑺𝑺
Jw = is the joint water reduction factor
of rock
SRF = is the stress reduction factor
Based on Q-value, rock mass is Permanent support recommendations based on
classified in various group as follows: Q-values and span/ESR

Q- Value range Rock mass

quality
0.001- 0.01 Exceptionally poor

0.01- 0.1 Extremely poor

0.1- 1 Very poor

1-4 Poor

4-10 Fair

10-40 Good

40-100 Very good

100-400 Extremely good
400-1000 Exceptionally good
Slope Stability Analysis:
• Slope stability refers to the condition of inclined soil or rock slopes to
withstand or undergo movement. The stability condition of slopes is a
subject of study and research in soil mechanics, geotechnical
engineering and engineering geology.
• Slope stability analyses include static and dynamic, analytical or
empirical methods to evaluate the stability of earth and rock-fill
dams, embankments, excavated slopes, and natural slopes in soil and
rock. The analyses are generally aimed at understanding the causes of
an occurred slope failure, or the factors that can potentially trigger a
slope movement, resulting in a landslide, as well as at preventing the
initiation of such movement, slowing it down or arresting it through
mitigation countermeasures.
Types of slope failure:
a) Plane failure
b) Wedge failure
c) Toppling failure
# Plane failure: Now take discontinuity whose dip direction is in same
direction to hill slope for plane failure analysis.
Condition for plane failure:
• Dip direction of hill slope/ cut slope and direction of discontinuity
planes must be in same direction.
• Dip amount of cut/hill slope must be greater than that of dip amount of
discontinuity.
• Dip amount of discontinuity plane must be greater than frictional angle.
• Additional conditional strike difference must be written 20⁰.
# Wedge failure:
Analysis of the intersection of discontinuity for wedge failure.
Condition for wedge failure:
• Dip direction of hill slope/ cut slope and intersection of discontinuity planes must be in
same direction.
• Dip amount of cut /hill slope must be greater than that of dip amount of intersection of
discontinuities.
• Dip amount of discontinuity plane must be greater than frictional angle.
# Toppling failure: Now take discontinuity whose dip direction is in opposite to the hill
slope for toppling failure.
Condition for Toppling failure:
• Dip direction of hill slope/ cut slope and direction of discontinuity planes must be in
opposite direction
• Dip amount of hill slope should at least 55⁰.
• Dip amount of discontinuity should steeper than hill slope. (dip of h/s < dip of
discontinuity)
• Strike difference must within 180±30⁰ (150-180)