25 Rock Mass Strength

Strangth of a rock mass largely

depends on the density, nature and
exient of the fractures withi it.
Rock mass strength also relates to
rock strength, weathering and wather
conditions.
FRACTURE DENSITIES
Rock fractures include microfissures
(spacing mostly 1mm-1cm) and
faults
(>1m).
Also
bedding,
cleavage, schistosity. Fractures allow
inelastic deformation and reduce
rock mass strength to 1/5 to 1/10 of
the intact rock strength. This fraction
may be known as the Rock Mass
Factor. Assessing fracture density is
subjective, except by RQD. Rock
Quality Designation (RQD) is a
fracture quantification on borehole
core >50 mm diameter; lengths of
core pieces are measured as they
come from the drill barrel, and:
RQD=
(core
lengths
>10
cm)100/borehole length Values of
RQD >70 generally indicate sound
rock.
FRACTURE ORIENTATION
Influence of orientation is only
assessed subjectively in terms of
favourability with respect to potential
failure by sliding or rotation at a
particular site or part of a site.
Importance of orientation is shown
by UCS variation in blocks of slate
with well-defined cleavage.

FRACTURE TYPES
Fracture roughness influences its
shear strength. Shear of very rough
fractures requires dilation of rock
mass as irregularities override each
other. Roughness is difficult to assess
and quantify. Fracture infills include
clay gouge, clay from weathering,
breccias, and slickensided gouge.
Typical friction angles (): clean
rock 2050 clay fill 1020 breccia
2540 Cohesion across fractures
varies 0500 kPa.
ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
Assessment of rock mass strength
recognizes cumulative effect of
different
geological
features.
Classification is therefore an
accumulation of weighted values
given to selected parameters. Two
most widely used systems are
Geomechanics RMR system which
adds rating values (below), and
Norwegian
Q
system
which
multiplies rating values. Both
systems are dominated by fracture
properties. Applications to specific
engineering problems where rock
mass class gives approximate
guideline
values
of
ground
parameters, as in the lower table.

Geomechanics System of Rock Mass

Rating (RMR) uses parameters and
point scoring in table below.

Jn = Joint set number 120

Norwegian Q System successfully

multiplies rating values to determine
the rock mass quality (Q) as:

Ja = Joint alteration and clay fillings

120

Q=(RQD/Jn)(Jr/Ja)(Jw/SRF)
Factors with rating ranges from good
to bad are:

Jr = Joint roughness factor 41

Jw = Joint water inflow or pressure

101

RQD = Rock quality designation

10010

SRF = Stress reduction factor due to

excavation 120 Q values range from
<001 to >100. System is tabulated in
the appendix (page 82)

25
Rock
Mass
Strength
Geomechanics System of Rock Mass
Rating Parameter Assessment of
values and rating Intact rock UCS,
MPa >250 100250 50100 2550
125 Rating 15 12 7 4 1 RQD % >90
7590 5075 2550 <25 Rating 20
17 13 8 3 Mean fracture spacing >2
m 062 m 200600 mm 60200 mm
<60 mm Rating 20 15 10 8 5

Fracture conditions rough tight open

<1 mm weathered gouge <5 mm
gouge >5 mm Rating 30 25 20 10 0
Groundwater state dry damp wet
dripping flowing Rating 15 10 7 4 0
Fracture orientation v. favourable
favourable fair unfavourable v.
unfavourable Rating 0 -2 -7 -15 -25
Rock mass rating (RMR) is sum of
the six ratings Note that orientation

ratings are negative Guideline

Properties of Rock Mass Classes
Class I II III IV V Description very
good rock good rock fair rock poor
rock very poor rock R M R 80100
6080 4060 2040 <20 Q Value
>40 1040 410 14 <1 Friction
angle () >45 3545 2535 1525
<15 Cohesion (kPa) >400 300400
200300 100200 <100 SBP (MPa)
10 46 12 05 <02 Safe cut slope
() >70 65 55 45 <40 Tunnel support
none spot bolts pattern bolts
bolts+shotcrete steel ribs Stand up
time for span 20 yr for 15 m 1 yr for
10 m 1 wk for 5 m 12 h for 2 m 30
min for 1 m

Strong mudstones, soft sandstones 2

MPa 1 MPa Shale, sound chalk, soft
mudstone 750 kPa 400 kPa
Or based on rock strength and
fracturing:
Safe Bearing
values

Pressureguidance

Foundations on Rock
SAFE BEARING PRESSURES
Guideline values for maximum loads
that may safely be imposed on
undisturbed ground. May be
estimated in many ways, all based on
past experience and incorporating
ample safety factors to allow for
variable ground conditions. Values
are useful preliminary design guides,
as it is normally uneconomic to
complete meaningful field tests on
fractured rock masses. May be based
on rock type:
Safe
Bearing
Pressuretypical
values Rock types Unweathered
Heavily and massive fractured or
thinly bedded Strong igneous rock,
gneisses 10 MPa 6 MPa Strong
limestones and sandstones 4 MPa 3
MPa Schists and slates 3 MPa 2 MPa

Improved estimates of SBP can take

account of the rock modulus ratio
(E/UCS); less deformable rocks with
high modulus ratios, such as
limestone or granite, can be assessed
higher SBP than softer rocks, such as
shale, for the same values of UCS
and RQD. SBP values are also
adjusted by conventional factors with
respect
to
foundation
shape;
reductions for large, shallow or
cyclicly loaded foundations, are
generally of little direct significance
due to the high bearing capacities of
rock (as opposed to soil). Settlements
on rock are generally small, and are
rarely constraining influences once
bearing capacity criteria have been
satisfied. (They are normally the

limiting factor for foundations on

clay soils.)
UPB
=
Ultimate
Bearing
Pressure=load at failure SBP = Safe
Bearing
Pressure=UBPSafety
Factor, usually 3; similar to
Presumed Bearing Value quoted for
soils. ABP = Acceptable Bearing
Pressure=SBP further reduced to
satisfy
specific
structural
requirements such as settlement;
reduction factor may be significant
on soils, usually close to 1 for rocks.
FOUNDATIONS FOR TORONTO
CN TOWER Worlds tallest freestanding structure is 550 m high,
weighing 110000 t. Founded on
shale, UCS=1025 MPa, E=37 GPa,
RQD=50 80, with some thin weak
bands which were mapped and
avoided. Slab foundation 7 m below
rockhead, beneath 10 m drift. Mean
load on shale is 580 kPa, with peak
stress in high wind of 289 MPa;
compared to design SBP for deep
caissons of 72 MPa in the same
rock. Settlement was 6 mm, after 6
mm heave in excavations.

FAILURE OF ROCK
Sound rock is capable of bearing
most normal engineering loads; the
same cannot be said for soils.
Normal variations in rock properties
are covered by generous factors of
safety in engineering design. Major
zones of significant weakness,
including underground voids, can
cause failures; should be avoided by
adequate site investigation.
There are four possible modes of
failures:
Shear failure and upward
displacement of the rock, due to
imposed loading > rock strength.
Compaction of porous rocks (causing
extreme settlement), also due to
loading > rock strength.
Rock failure into underground
cavity, where rock roof fails in shear
or flexural tension.


Landsliding
and
lateral
displacement, where slope profiles
are too steep.

Cover of weak rock or soil (with

progressive failure and cavity
migration) <10 times cavity height.

INFLUENCE OF BURIED VOIDS

GROUND IMPROVEMENT

Plug or beam failures of rock under

structural loading over underground
cavities depend on the rock strength
and fracturing, the cavity size and
depth, and the applied loads and
stresses. Natural and mined cavities
can vary greatly in size, shape and
stability, and each one requires
individual assessment if it is relevant
to engineering works.

Treatment of fresh rock is rarely

necessary or economic for structural
foundations. Weathered and weak
rock near surface is better removed
or piled through. Injection of cement
grout to fill rock pores and increase
strength is limited by low
permeability of intact rock. Grouting
can double mass strength of fissured
rocks. Underground cavities can be
filled with grout injected through 100
mm boreholes; may need 34 m grid
of holes if cavities are partially
blocked; use fluid mixture of 1:10
ratio of cement:PFA or fines; need
stiff grout with sand or gravel to
form perimeter barrier to avoid high
losses away from site. Alternatives to
cement grout are foamed concrete or
uncemented rock paste if need is
only to prevent progressive roof falls.

Risk of ground failure increases if

any one of the following guideline
criteria is met: Cover thickness <
cavity width;
Cover thickness underneath end
bearing piles <5 times pile diameter;
Loading to SBP above <3 m of
strong rock;