National Rail and Transportation Institute

(Deemed to be University)
National Academy of Indian Railways Campus
Lalbaug, Vadodara, Gujarat – 390004

NAME OF COURSE: Rock Mechanics and Tunneling

Course Details

Course Credits: 4
Contact Hours: 40 (20 sessions, each session of 2 Hours)
Program: B. Tech.
Semester: 6th Semester
Duration: January-April 2023

Course Administration

Faculty: Dr. Anirban Mandal

Affiliation: Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, VNIT, Nagpur.

Email: anirbanmandal@civ.vnit.ac.in; amandalthesis@yahoo.com

Introduction
This course is intended to develop an understanding on rock mechanics and rock mass behaviour during
underground excavation. The student will be able to classify the rock and relevant design aspects to ensure
the stability of excavation.

Learning Objectives/ Outcomes

The course has been designed to achieve the following outcomes:
1. Understanding of different intact rock and rock mass parameters.
2. Development of concept on rock mass classification and its application.
3. Understanding on different utility of underground space.
4. Analyse of stress and deformation due to excavation.
5. Design aspects of underground excavation.

Teaching Pedagogy

As it is a basic level course and standard classroom lecturing and tutorial having interactive sessions
will be adopted. A case-study based teaching method will be used wherever possible, and real-life
examples will be discussed. After each module a quiz will be conducted to check whether the
learning objectives are achieved.

Scheme of Evaluation

Assignments: 15%, Quizes: 15%, Midsem : 20%, Endsem : 50 %

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 National Rail and Transportation Institute
(Deemed to be University)
National Academy of Indian Railways Campus
Lalbaug, Vadodara, Gujarat – 390004

Session Plan
Lecture Topic Coverage Reading
/
Tutoria
l No.
Module 1
1 Introduction to Different earth material Verma B.P.”Rock Mechanics
Rock Basic terminology and its importance Engineers”, Khanna
Publishers. New Delhi 1985
2 Introduction to Formation of rock do
Rock and its classifications
3 Rock Properties Mechanical Behavior of Rock do
Intact Rock Properties
4 Rock Properties Laboratory Testing do
Assessment of parameters
5 Rock Properties Rock mass properties do
Field testing; Bore holes,
6 Rock Properties Hydro fracture Test do
Assessment of Rock mass parameters; rock lab
7 Geotechnical Different investigation methods e.g. Satellite images, do
Investigation Geophysical etc.
8 Geotechnical Type of joints do
Investigation Definition of joint parameters: Dip,
strike, persistence etc.
9 Geotechnical Application of different Geotechnical do
Investigation Investigation method
10 Geotechnical Report Preparation i.e. Field and laboratory test do
Investigation results, Geological Map and recommendations.
Module 2
11 Rock Mass Objectives and Application do
classification Development of different classification system
12 Rock Mass Detailed of Geological Strength Index (GSI), do
classification Rock Structure rating (RSR)
Rock Mass Rating (RMR)
13 Rock Mass Detailed of Q classifications do
classification Assessment of Rating values
14 Rock Mass Application of Different Classification System do
classification Assessment of Support System
15 Mechanical Rock Mass Strength parameters do
Behaviour of Rock Types of failures; Brittle and Ductile
16 Mechanical Theory of Failure e.g. Mohr-Coulomb Criteria do
Behaviour of Rock Continuum and Dis-continuum
17 Theory of Failure Hoek and Brown Criteria do
Different parameters
18 Theory of Failure Wedge Analysis do
Applications
19 Stress and Material Behaviour do
Deformation In Different Ground conditions
20 Stress and Krisch equations do
Deformation Practical Application
Module 3
21 Rock Excavation: SPT Test Practical Rock engineering,
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 National Rail and Transportation Institute
(Deemed to be University)
National Academy of Indian Railways Campus
Lalbaug, Vadodara, Gujarat – 390004
Foundation Bearing Capacity Assessment Evert Hoek, online 2006;
https://www.rocscience.com/a
ssets/resources/learning/hoek/
Practical-Rock-Engineering-
Full-Text.pdf
22 Rock Excavation: Surface Excavation Measures: Sheet Piles; Blasting with do
Foundation top cover
23 Rock Excavation: Checks before construction do
Underground Method of Excavation: Mechanical
24 Rock Excavation: Method of Excavation: conventional, NATM do
Underground Ground Behaviour: Reaction Curve
25 Rock Excavation: Steps for Mechanical Excavation do
Underground Conventional Excavation: Blasting Excavation
26 Rock Excavation: Precautions for blasting do
Underground Typical Blast design concept
27 Rock Excavation: Details of TBM do
Underground
28 Rock Excavation: TBM Excavation Techniques do
Underground
29 Rock Support Support Type: Permanent and Temporary Support do
30 Rock Support Pre Support and Post Support do
Aspect of Grouting
Module 4
31 Work Procedure of Importance; Relevant guidelines do
Support including codal provision
32 Work Procedure of Shotcrete Support Type do
Support Installation of Shotcrete
33 Work Procedure of Type of Rock Bolts; Anchored, Grouted, do
Support Mechanical, Fore pole
34 Work Procedure of Design Aspect of Rock Bolts do
Support Installation of Rock Bolts
35 Work Procedure of Detailed of Concrete Liner do
Support Installation Procedure of Concrete Liner
36 Work Procedure of Detailed of Steel ribs do
Support Installation Procedure of Ribs
37 Design Methods Detailed Design Steps do
38 Design Methods Analysis for Hard rock Condition do
Analysis for Squeezing Rock
39 Design Methods Numerical Modelling Techniques: Steps do
Integral Method
40 Design Methods Differential Method do
Applications

Course Materials

Type Title
Text Book Verma B.P.”Rock Mechanics Engineers”, Khanna Publishers. New Delhi 1985.
1.
Practical
2. Rock engineering, Evert Hoek, online 2006;
https://www.rocscience.com/assets/resources/learning/hoek/Practical-Rock-
Engineering-Full-Text.pdf
Optional Readings Underground Excavations in Rock ByE.T. Brown, E. Hoek, Edition1st Edition First
Published1980, eBook Published21 April 2014, Pub. Location London, Imprint CRC
Press
Note: Faculty will share the lecture material for the additional points covered. Tutorial and Lecture topics are
included.
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 National Rail and Transportation Institute
(Deemed to be University)
National Academy of Indian Railways Campus
Lalbaug, Vadodara, Gujarat – 390004

Attendance Policy
If a student’s attendance is less than 75%, the student will be awarded one grade less than the actual grade
that he/she has earned. For example, a student who has got B grade but has attendance less than 75% will be
awarded C grade. In case of less than 50% attendance irrespective of the reasons, the student will be required
to repeat the course by attending classes and appearing in all the components of evaluation.

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