NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, ROURKELA 769008

MID-TERM EXAMINATION, 2019

SESSION: 2019-20 SEMESTER - AUTUMN B. TECH.- 3rd SEMESTER
SUBJECT: ROCK MECHANICS (DEPTT. CODE) MN 2103
FULL MARKS : 30 Duration of Examination: 2 Hours
Answer for total THIRTY MARKS
Use graph paper when necessary. Clearly mention any relation used defining the terms of each notation.
Q. Questions Marks
No.
1 A sandstone core composed of quartz and feldspar grains with calcite cement is 82mm in diameter 5
and 169mm long. On saturation in water, its wet weight is 21.42 N. After oven-drying its weight
becomes 20.31 N. Calculate its wet unit weight, its dry unit weight and its porosity. The specific
gravity of the specimen is 2.7.
2 Another core specimen from the same formation as the rock of problem 1(i) above displays large 5
voids. Its wet unit weight is 2050.36 Kg/m3. Assuming the same specific gravity the rock, estimate
its porosity.
3 Three different rocks 1, 2 and 3 of NX size of 120 mm long were uni-axially compressed and failed 10
at 50, 70 and 90 kN respectively. The longitudinal deformation readings are as below. The three
samples underwent uniform lateral deformation at 0.5% before failure. Determine the shear
modulus values for each rock and state any assumption made. Show the design threshold values
for each sample.

Time Displacement Displacement Displacement

(Days) Sample 1(mm) Sample 2 (mm) Sample 3 (mm)
0 0 0 0
12 0.3136 0.4144 0.2192
21 0.4212 0.4279 0.3732
33 0.432 0.45 0.4844
48 0.5014 0.5132 0.535
60 0.5184 0.5566 0.6789
75 0.572 0.59 0.7321
102 0.7104 0.6137 0.8842
120 0.792 0.73 0.9562
168 1.012 0.1273 0.1134
210 1.199 0.1367 0.1267
240 1.298 0.1593 0.1392
255 1.4112 0.1879 0.1562
270 1.4652 0.1633 0.1433
4 Two identical specimens, 4 cm in diameter and 8 cm high, of partly saturated compacted sample 5
are tested in a triaxial cell under undrained conditions. The first specimen failed at an additional
axial load of 720 N under a cell pressure of 100 kN/m2. The second specimen failed at an
additional axial load of 915 N under cell pressure of 200 kN/m2. The increase in volume of the first
specimen at failure is 1.2 cm3 and length shortens by 0.6cm, at failure. The increase in volume of
the second specimen at failure is 1.6 cm3, and length reduces by 0.8 cm at failure. Determine the
value of apparent cohesion and the angle of shearing resistance.

5 What are the different characteristics of rock discontinuities that can affect the mechanical 5
properties of rock mass ? Discuss in detail.
6 Write notes with neat sketch in detail on any two: 5
a) Slake Durability Test
b) Point Load Test and compressive value
c) Rock Cycle
7 A shear box test carried out on a typical earth material produced the following results 5
Vertical Load (Kg) Division of proving ring dial gauge
(one division = 1µm)
36.80 17.0
73.50 26.0
110.2 35.0
146.9 44.0
Shear box size is 60 mm x 60 mm with 25 mm thickness and the proving ring constant is 20 N/µm.
Determine the apparent cohesion and angle of internal friction of the mass.
8 Estimate the flow quantity (in liters per second) through the soil sample in the pipe shown below. 5
The pressure heads at two locations are as shown in fig. The internal dia of the pipe is 1 m and the
co-efficient of permeability of soil sample is 1 x 10-5 m/sec.

9 A mining exploration company selected 55 samples for compressive strength tests. Some of the 5
determined values are 28.7, 26.3, 17.5, 19.2, 24.6, 27.1, 23.3, 29.5, 18.4, 25.2, 16.8, and 30.9
MPa. It wanted a probability of distribution around mean as 99%. Predict the maximum
permissible error assumed by the firm. Use the chart below for confidence level parameter. Justify
any assumption made.
Degree of Freedom Level of probability (Confidence level)
N-1 90% 95% 99%
1 6.31 12.7 63.7
2 2.92 4.3 9.92
3 2.35 3.18 5.84
4 2.13 2.78 4.60
5 2.02 2.57 4.03
6 1.94 2.45 3.71
7 1.89 2.36 3.50
8 1.86 2.31 3.36
9 1.83 2.26 3.25
10 1.81 2.23 3.17
11 1.80 2.20 3.11
12 1.78 2.18 3.06
13 1.77 2.16 3.01
14 1.76 2.14 2.98
15 1.75 2.13 2.95
16 1.75 2.12 2.92
17 1.74 2.11 2.90
18 1.73 2.10 2.88