Training Course On

Rock Engineering
for Drill-and-Blast and TBM Tunnelling, and
Important Aspects of Rock Joint and Rock Mass
Behavior and Seismic Characterization for
Slopes, Dams, Tunnels and Reservoirs
10-12 December 2008

Lecturer: Dr. Nick Barton

Co-ordinator: Dr. Rajbal Singh

Organised by

Indian Society for Rock Mechanics and Tunnelling Technology

(ISRMTT)
in association with
Central Soil and Materials Research Station

(CSMRS)
Sponsors
Ministry of Railways
Hindustan Construction Company
 Sponsors

Ministry of Railways

Hindustan Construction Company

Ltd.
 Indian Society for Rock Mechanics and
Tunnelling Technology (ISRMTT)
(Regd. No. 22877 Dated. 4th May 1992)
C/o Central Soil and Materials Research Station
Olof Palme Marg, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016
Tel: 26581772, Fax: +91-11-26853108

Foreword
The study of Rock Engineering has assumed considerable importance because of its wide
application in civil and mining engineering. Today the significance of Rock Mechanics
especially in design and construction of Multipurpose Water Resources Projects located in
complex geological conditions has been realised by the field engineers and the execution of
such projects has helped them in adding new knowledge in their professional life.
A lot of activities in the field of Rock Mechanics are in progress all over India, mainly due to
execution of projects for irrigation, hydropower generation, underground cavern for oil
storage and nuclear waste deposits, highway/railway tunnel, stabilisation of rock slopes,
mitigation of landslides and for mining purposes.

A Training Course on “Rock Engineering for Drill-and-Blast and TBM Tunnelling, and
Important Aspects of Rock Joint and Rock Mass Behavior and Seismic Characterization for
Slopes, Dams, Tunnels and Reservoirs” is being organized by Indian Society for Rock
Mechanics and Tunnelling Technology (ISRMTT) in association with Central Soil and
Materials Research Station (CSMRS), New Delhi. All the lectures during three days training
course will be delivered by Dr. Nick Barton from Norway on 10-12 December 2008 at
CSMRS New Delhi.

Dr. Nick Barton is famous for his Q System of Rock Mass Classification which is being used
worldwide for characterisation of rock mass and design of support system. The training
course is going to be very useful for all engineers and geologists working for tunnels, large
underground caverns, rock slopes, dams, reservoirs, mining and railways. The elaborated
contents of the training course would provide a forum for interaction and sharing of about
four decades experience of Dr. Nick Barton in the field of Rock Engineering and it would
definitely be useful for construction of future projects in India. The course materials will be
distributed to the participants in the form of proceeding for future use.

This course would not have been possible without the financial support received from
Ministry of Railways and Hindustan Construction Company as two sponsors for training
course.

I look forward for very fruitful discussions during the presentations which would contribute
towards enhancing the knowledge base for expeditious development of tunneling and other
projects in Himalayas.

Date: 08 December 2008 (Dr. Rajbal Singh)

Course Co-ordinator and
Honorary Secretary, ISRMTT
Mobile: 9868736111

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 Training Course on
Rock Engineering for Drill-and-Blast and TBM Tunnelling, and
Important Aspects of Rock Joint and Rock Mass Behavior and
Seismic Characterization for Slopes, Dams, Tunnels and Reservoirs
Organised by
ISRMTT in Association with CSMRS New Dehli
December 10-12, 2008

Contents
Day 1: 10 December 2008
09.00-10.45 1. INTRODUCTION TO THE Q-SYSTEM OF ROCK
1-68
MASS CHARACTERIZATION
Background, motivation, characteristics of Q
The 6 Q-parameters explained with examples (and Jr links to
JRC)
Q-RMR comparison and useful link-plots
Q-histogram logging
Q-Tables and logging advice for histogram logs

11.00-12.30 2. LINKING Q TO USEFUL PARAMETERS FOR DESIGN 69-107

Core logging examples, including faulted and weathered rock
Rock mass strength estimation from Q (CC and FC)
Seismic refraction, effects of weathering and depth on velocity,
and links to Q
Deformation modulus estimation at depth, from seismic velocity
or from Q .
Tunnel and cavern convergence estimation from empirical Q
formulae
13.30-15.15 3. TUNNEL SUPPORT SELECTION FROM Q
168 to
LASSIFICATION, AND SUPPORT ELEMENT
147
PROPERTIES
Historical development of Q for B+S(mr) based support
NMT tunnel support philosophy
Tunnel support design with B+S(fr)
Performance of S(fr) and bolting
RRS for bad ground
Cost versus Q and tunnel size

15.30-17.00 4. PRE-GROUTING AND WATER CONTROL 148-183

Water control methods in tunnels
Simplified interpretation of Lugeon tests for pre-grout design
Comparing joint aperture estimates with available particle sizes
High-pressure injection concepts and pressure decline
Some performance and volumetric data from pre-injected tunnels
Rock quality/parameter improvement by pre-injection

17.00-17.30 DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS

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Day 2 11 December 2008
5. TBM PERFORMANCE AND PROGNOSES 184-226

Fundamentals of cutter action, rock breakage and cutter wear

Penetration rate,
advance rate and aspects of time and utilization
Case record analysis and geological reasons for deceleration
Performance with open, single shield and double-shield machines
The Qtbm model of performance prognosis
Examples of Qtbm application from Spain, Italy, Hong Kong

11.00-12.30 6. RISK TO TBM TUNNELLING FROM FAULTS 227-266

The concept of ‘multiple unexpected events’

Long tunnels and TBM
TBM tunnelling difficulties from Italy, Kashmir, Taiwan
Stress-strength and rock failure problems
Use of probe drilling and pre-grouting in Hong Kong SSDS
Tunnel F
Interpretation of TBM difficulties in terms of Qtbm model

13.30-16.00 7. CHARACTERIZATION OF ROCK JOINTS AND

ROCK MASSES, CONSIDERING STRENGTH,
267-320
DEFORMABILITY, FLOW AND SEISMIC
ATTRIBUTES: AN OVERVIEW

Rock joint: strength, deformability, permeability. Rock mass:

strength, deformability and permeability. Links with seismic
behaviour. Emphasis on lower stress levels for slopes.

PART 1 13.30-14.30

PART 2: 15.00-16.00

16.30-17.00 8. SLOPE STABILITY THEORY AND QSLOPE METHOD

321-363
FOR DECIDING ON SAFE SLOPE ANGLES
A slight modification of the Q-system for collecting information
on slope-related Q-parameters, including ‘wedges’ made of two
different joint sets, and extreme rainfall. Safe slope angles for
road cuttings, using core characterization, and/or seismic
refraction, and/or pilot-slope logging. Rock reinforcement for
slopes that have to be (too) steep.

17.00-17.30 DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS

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Day 3 12 December 2008 KEY-NOTE LECTURES
09.00-10.00 9. A UNIQUE METRO ACCIDENT IN BRAZIL’S 364-392
LARGEST CITY CAUSED BY MULTIPLE FACTORS,
BUT ESPECIALLY BY DIFFERENTIAL WEATHERING
Despite extensive borehole-based investigations, rock levels
beneath soil and saprolite were misleading along the cavern roof.
A 40m long cavern collapse, occurring very suddenly caused the
death of seven victims: pedestrians and those in a minibus.
Geotechnical reasons for
the collapse, including UDEC and FRACOD modelling.

10.30-11.00 10. A 20-YEARS OLD Q-SYSTEM CASE RECORD OF 393-416

CAVERN DESIGN IN FAULTED ROCK IN A MAJOR
PUMPED-STORAGE IN TAIWAN
Despite thirteen bedding-plane faults with thick clay cores that
crossedthe cavern axis, a large cavern was successfully excavated
and stabilized through cooperation of various consultant groups.
The specially reinforced cavern subsequently resisted damage
during a major near-by earthquake.

11.30-12.00 11. SHEAR STRENGTH OF ROCKFILL-EMBANKMENTS, 417-444

INTERFACES AND ROCK JOINTS, AND THEIR
POINTS OF CONTACT
Due to a common situation of ‘points-of-contact’ under high
stress, the shear strengths of these three ‘geotechnical materials’
are very similar.
Large-scale test methods for accepting full-size rockfill are
demonstrated.
JRC-controlled, and R-controlled behaviour are differentiated in
dam foundation scenarios.

1.30-2.30 12. COMBINING BOREHOLE CHARACTERIZATION AND 445-476

VARIOUS SEISMIC MEASUREMENTS IN
TUNNELLING AND DAM FOUNDATION WORKS
An illustration of a variety of seismic measurements for
characterizing
civil engineering sites such as dam foundations, bridge
foundations,
tunnels and caverns. Cross-correlation between rock quality,
velocity, permeability and deformability may be compromised by
an EDZ with shear deformation.

3.00-4.00 13. IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF PETROLEUM RESERVOIR 477-501

AND CRUSTAL PERMEABILITY AND STRENGTH AT
SEVERAL KILOMETRES DEPTH
A role for rock mechanics and geomechanics concepts is found in
alternative interpretation of geophysical methods used in
petroleum reservoirs, with emphasis on shear waves and shear
stresses and interpretation of 4D effects, meaning change of
properties with time due to production and subsidence, caused by
rock joint deformability.

GENERAL DISCUSSION PERIOD – COURSE CLOSURE 5PM

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