ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATIONS

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Rock Mass Classification

• Why?
• How does this help us in tunnel design?

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Rock Mass Classification
WHY?

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Ground interaction

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Summary of rock mass characteristics, testing
methods and theoretical considerations

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Types of failure which occur in rock masses
under low and high in-situ stress levels

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn
 Engineering Rock Mass Classification Schemes
• Developed for estimation of tunnel support
• Used at project feasibility and preliminary design stages
• Simple check lists or detailed schemes
• Used to develop a picture of the rock mass and its
variability
• Used to provide initial empirical estimates of tunnel
support requirements
• Are practical engineering tools which force the user to
examine the properties of the rock mass
• Do Not replace detailed design methods
• Project specific
Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn
 Terzaghi’s Rock Mass Classification (1946)

• Rock Mass Descriptions

– Intact
– Stratified
– Moderately jointed
– Blocky and Seamy
– Crushed
– Squeezing
– Swelling

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Terzaghi’s Rock Mass Classification (1946)
• Intact rock contains neither joints nor hair cracks. Hence, if it
breaks, it breaks across sound rock. On account of the injury to
the rock due to blasting, spalls may drop off the roof several
hours or days after blasting. This is known as a spalling
condition. Hard, intact rock may also be encountered in the
popping condition involving the spontaneous and violent
detachment of rock slabs from the sides or roof.
• Stratified rock consists of individual strata with little or no
resistance against separation along the boundaries between the
strata. The strata may or may not be weakened by transverse
joints. In such rock the spalling condition is quite common.
• Moderately jointed rock contains joints and hair cracks, but
the blocks between joints are locally grown together or so
intimately interlocked that vertical walls do not require lateral
support. In rocks of this type, both spalling and popping
conditions may be encountered.
Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn
 Terzaghi’s Rock Mass Classification (1946)
• Blocky and seamy rock consists of chemically intact or almost
intact rock fragments which are entirely separated from each other and
imperfectly interlocked. In such rock, vertical walls may require lateral
support.
• Crushed but chemically intact rock has the character of crusher run.
If most or all of the fragments are as small as fine sand grains and no
recementation has taken place, crushed rock below the water table
exhibits the properties of a water-bearing sand.
• Squeezing rock slowly advances into the tunnel without perceptible
volume increase. A prerequisite for squeeze is a high percentage of
microscopic and sub-microscopic particles of micaceous minerals or
clay minerals with a low swelling capacity.
• Swelling rock advances into the tunnel chiefly on account of
expansion. The capacity to swell seems to be limited to those rocks that
contain clay minerals such as montmorillonite, with a high swelling
capacity.

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Rock Quality Designation Index (RQD)
(Deere et al. 1967)
• Aim : to provide a quantitative estimate of rock mass
quality from drill logs
• Equal to the percentage of intact core pieces longer than
100mm in the total length of core

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 RQD

• Directionally dependant parameter

• Intended to indicate rock mass quality in-situ
• Adapted for surface exposures as ‘Jv’ number of
discontinuities per unit volume
• Used as a component in the RMR and Q systems
• Palmstrom (1982) RQD  115  3.3 J v
• Priesta i Hudsona (1976) RQD  1001  0.1  e 0.1
 - number of joints per unit length

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Procedure for Measurement and Calculation of RQD

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn
 Weathering of Basalt with depth

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn
 Multi parameter Rock Mass Classification
Schemes
• Rock Mass Structure Rating (RSR)
• Rock Mass Rating (RMR)
• Rock Tunnelling Quality Index (Q)
• Geological Strength Index (GSI)

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Rock Mass Structure Rating (RSR) (1972)

• Introduced the concept of rating components to arrive at

a numerical value
• Demonstrates the logic in a quasi-quantitative rock mass
classification
• Has limitations as based on small tunnels supported by
steel sets only
• RSR = A + B + C

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Rock Structure Rating
Parameter A: General area geology

Considers (a) rock type origin

(b) rock ‘hardness’
(c) geotechnical structure

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Rock Structure Rating
Parameter B: Geometry : Effect of discontinuity pattern

Considers (a) joint spacing

(b) joint orientation (strike and dip)
(c) direction of tunnel drive
Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn
 Rock Structure Rating
Parameter C: Groundwater, joint condition

Considers (a) overall rock mass quality (on the basis of A + B)

(b) joint condition
(c) water inflow

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 RSR support estimates for a 7.3m diameter
circular tunnel
Examples
RSR = 62
2” shotcrete
1” rockbolts @
5ft centres

RSR = 30
5” shotcrete
1” rockbolts @
2.5ft centres
OR 8WF31 steel
sets @ 3ft centres

(After Wickham et al. 1972)

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn
 Geomechanics Classification or
Rock Mass Rating System (RMR) (Bieniawski 1976)

Based upon
• uniaxial compressive strength of rock material
• rock quality designation (RQD)
• spacing of discontinuities
• condition of discontinuities
• groundwater conditions
• orientation of discontinuities

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Rock Mass Rating System

• Rock mass divided into structural regions

• Each region is classified separately
• Boundaries can be rock type or structural, eg: fault
• Can be sub divided based on significant changes, eg:
discontinuity spacing

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Rock Mass Rating System

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Rock Mass Rating System

BUT: 1976 to 1989 Bieniawski

• System refined by greater data
• Ratings for parameters changed
• Adapted by other workers for different situations
• PROJECT SPECIFIC SYSTEMS

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Development of Rock Mass Rating System

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Rock Mass Rating System

(After Bieniawski 1989)

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn
 Rock Mass Rating System

Rating Class Description

81-100 I Very Good Rock
61-80 II Good Rock
41-60 III Fair Rock
12-40 IV Poor Rock
Less than 20 V Very Poor Rock

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn
 Rock Mass Rating System

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Guidelines for excavation and support of 10m
span rock tunnels in accordance with the RMR system

(After Bieniawski 1989)

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn
 Prediction of in-situ deformation modulus Em
from rock mass classifications

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Rock Mass Rating System

E rm
• Nicholson & Bieniawski (1990)  0.0028RMR 2  0.9e ( RMR / 22.82)
Es

• Bieniawski (1978) and Serafim & Pereira (1983)

E m  2 RMR  100 for RMR  50 (GPa)

E m  10 ( RMR 10) / 40 for RMR  50 (GPa)
• Hoek i Brown (1997)
Rc
Em   10 ( RMR10) / 40
10

•Verman (1993 E m  0.3H   10 ( RMR  20) / 38 (GPa)

•H – depth,  = 0.16-0.3 (decreases with rock strength)
Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn
Prediction of in-situ deformation modulus Em from rock mass classifications

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Estimates of support capacity for tunnels
of different sizes

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Rock Mass Rating System
100  RMR
Support pressure - Unal (1983) pv    s
100
s - tunnel width
RMR 100 RMR 100
Hoek (1994): m  mi e 28
se 9

mi - constant – from 4 (weak shales) to 32 (granite).

Rcrm  sRc Rrrm 

Rc
2

m  m2  4 s 
Aydan & Kawamoto (2000) Rcrm  0.0016 RMR 2.5

Rc RMR  15
Kalamaras & Bieniawski (1995) Rcrm 
2 85

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Rock Mass Rating System
RMR
Aydan & Kawamoto (2000) Rcrm  Rc
RMR  6100  RMR 
Let’s assume: RMR  60 Rc  80 MPa

Hoek: Rc  8.67 MPa

Aydan: Rc  44.62 MPa
Kalamaras & Bieniawski: Rc  21.18 MPa

Aydan & Kawamoto (2000)  rm  22  0.05RMR

Rcrm 1  sin  rm
crm 
2 cos rm
Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn
 Rock Tunnelling Quality Index Q – Barton, Lien, Lunde

• Based on case histories in Scandinavia

• Numerical values on a log scale
• Range 0.001 to 1000

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 ‘Q’ Classification System

(After Barton et al. 1974)

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn
 ‘Q’ Classification System

• represents the structure of the rockmass

• crude measure of block or particle size

(After Barton et al. 1974)

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn
 ‘Q’ Classification System

• represents roughness and frictional

characteristics of joint walls or infill material

(After Barton et al. 1974)

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn
 ‘Q’ Classification System

• consists of two stress parameters

• SRF can be regarded as a total stress parameter
measure of
– loosening load as excavated through shear zones
– rock stress in competent rock
– squeezing loads in plastic incompetent rock
• JW is a measure of water pressure
(After Barton et al. 1974)
Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn
 Classification of individual parameters used in
the Tunnelling Quality Index Q

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Classification of individual parameters used in
the Tunnelling Quality Index Q (cont’d)

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Classification of individual parameters used in
the Tunnelling Quality Index Q (cont’d)

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 ‘Q’ Classification System – SRF update

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Q Classification Scheme

Resolves to three parameters

• Block size ( RQD / Jn )
• Interblock shear strength ( Jr / Ja )
• Active stress ( Jw / SRF )

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Q Classification Scheme

Resolves to three parameters

• Block size ( RQD / Jn )
• Interblock shear strength ( Jr / Ja )
• Active stress ( Jw / SRF )

• Does NOT include joint orientation

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Equivalent Dimension De

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Estimated support categories based on the
tunnelling quality index Q

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Q Classification Scheme

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn
Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn
 Q Classification Scheme

 J n  1  0.2  J n  1
Roof pressure: p roof  Q 3 p roof  Q 3
 Jr   3 Jr 
   

2  0.15s 2  0 .15 H
Length of the bolts: L  (roof) L  (walls)
ESR ESR
 40 s   13
Bhasin & Grimstad (1996): p roof   Q
 Jr 
Rc
Young’s modulus: E  103 3 Q  MPa
3
Rc
Seismic wave velocity: V p  3.5  log Q [km / s ]
100

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 RMR – Q - Correlations

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Rock Mass Classification System

• RMR and Q system or variants are the most widely used

• both incorporate geological, geometric and
design/engineering parameters to obtain a “value” of
rock mass quality
• empirical and require subjective assessment

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Rock Mass Classification System

Approach:
• accurately characterise the rockmass ie: full and
complete description of the rockmass
• assign parameters for classification later
• always use two systems for comparison

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Geological Strength Index (GSI)

• Method to link the constants m and s of Hoek-Brown

failure criterion to observations in the field
ie: a possible solution to the problem of estimating
strength of jointed rockmass
• A system for estimating the reduction in rockmass
strength for different geological conditions
• Overcomes deficiencies of RMR for poor quality rock

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Estimate of Geological Strength Estimation of constants based upon rock
Index GSI mass structure and discontinuity surface
based on geological descriptions conditions

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Geological Strength Index (GSI)

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Geological Strength Index
(GSI)

Estimate of Geological
Strength Index GSI
based on geological
descriptions.

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Plots of cohesive strength and friction angles
for different GSI and mi values

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn

 Klasyfikacja KF

Marek Cała – Dept. of Geomechanics, Civil Engineering & Geotechn