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CHAPTER 6: ROCK STABILISATION

METHODS

Mode of instability in rock & requirement for

Stabilisation methods

Principles of stabilisation method in rock

Classification & mechanism of methods

Considerations in selecting suitable method

CHAPTER 6: ROCK STABILISATION

Excavation in rock creates ‘new free faces’ for
discontinuous rock mass to move (tunnel closure
& slope face movement), i.e. excavation induces
disturbance in rock.
Rocks are discontinuous & display various types
of weakness planes & frequently weathered. Some
methods of excavation (e.g. blasting) may weaken
the rock further.
Volume of disturbed rock around an excavation is
called YIELD ZONE (disturbance due to
construction--induced stresses)
construction
Proper design & construction method for the
excavation help to reduce this disturbance. Less
disturbed rock means less cost on stabilisation
stabilisation..

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YIELD ZONE
(ZON ALAH)

CIRCULAR
TUNNEL

SURROUNDING
ROCK MASS

Design & construction of tunnel must be carefully

considered so that disturbance induced into the
surrounding rock mass can be reduced.
Thinner yield zone means less volume of ‘disturbed
rock’ to be stabilised – less stabilisation cost!

YIELD ZONE
(ZON ALAH)

CUT SLOPE

SURROUNDING
ROCK MASS

Similar approach in excavating slope face,

design & construction must be aimed at
minimising volume of disturbed rock - yield zone

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Types of discontinuities in rock mass

Geometrical orientation of weakness planes in

rock can indicate modes of failure
failure.. The size/type
of the discontinuity can indicates size of the
unstable block.
block.

In terms of size:
Faults:: often the largest, > 1000s km in length and
Faults
extends several 10 km in the earth’s crust. Occur
in all rock types
Bedding planes:
planes: may extend more than 100s km
and thickness of few m. Occur in sedimentary &
metamorphic rocks.
Joints:: is the smallest, with length of few m.
Joints
Occur in all rock types

Rock masses always exhibit discontinuities, more

than one types & at different orientations

Types of Rock types

structural Igneous Sedimentary Metamorphic
discontinuity
LARGE-SCALE:
Fault plane √ √ √
Joint plane √ √ √

Bedding plane - √ √
SMALL-SCALE:
Lamination - √ -
Foliation - - √

Microfractures √ √ √

Voids - √ √

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CHAPTER 6
Rock close to the fault may store residual strain in
the form of shear stress. Fault is large fracture or
discontinuity in rock.

Faults occur in all rock types

Faults can also occur at

depth in massive rock body

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Fault is much bigger than joints. In granite both

faults & joints are common weakness planes

Joints are fracture planes, often incline &

intersect (more than 2 joint sets). In strong rock
like granite, 3 sets of major joint is common, they
are intersecting & are almost perpendicular to
each other.

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Folded strata occurs in tectonically disturbed

stratified rocks (e.g. sandstone & shale).
Folded strata creates inclined bedding planes
which can become unstable upon excavation.
→ Detailed geological investigation is essential
of project area where in situ rocks have been
geologically disturbed by tectonic stresses.
Faults & joints may also occur in folded rocks

Joints & bedding planes in

sedimentary rock. Joints
can be parallel or
perpendicular to the
bedding planes

Inclined bedding planes in

clastic sedimentary rocks
(interbedding of shale &
sandstone)

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CHAPTER 5: EXCAVATION IN ROCK

Folded strata can also occur in rock at depth

CHAPTER 5: EXCAVATION IN ROCK

Folded strata can also occur in rock at depth

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lamination is minerals
arrangement due to
Lamination in sandstone sedimentation
(clastic sedimentary rock)

Lamination in shale
(clastic sedimentary rock)

Geological mapping & joint survey

Information like types of discontinuities and their
geometrical data (dip & dip direction) are
essential to determine modes of instability &
direction of sliding as well as size of unstable
blocks.

In major projects like major slope cut, HEP dam &

tunnel this info must be collected during
preliminary investigation stage.

For underground excavation this info is assessed

by directional drilling & geophysical methods, or
by assessing part of the exposed rock body where
the excavation is to be undertaken

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Geological mapping & joint survey

Dip angle & dip direction of weakness planes in
rock have significant effect on the stability of
excavation face created in the rock – as in
kinematic analysis in stereo-
stereo-net projection.

2 main issues must be addressed before

excavation face is created in rock:

Dip direction of weakness planes with respect to

dip direction of excavation face – are they parallel
or in opposite direction
Dip angle of the weakness planes compared to dip
angle of excavation face – is it larger or smaller

Take an fresh, strong & continuous (solid) rock.

Can a near vertical slope be excavated in this
rock mass, any problem on stability?

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. . . . . in terms of properties of the ‘ideal’ rock, a

vertical stable slope is possible

MPa,, γ = 26 kN/m
e.g. for granite (UCS = 120 MPa kN/m3)
slope of few km high is possible !!!

Rock mass in the field

In situ rock masses are subjected to

weathering (Zone 1 → Zone 2 … 6) thus, UCS &
γ are lower

In situ rock masses are not solid & continuous,

weakness planes (joints, bedding planes &
faults) are always present.

Disturbing forces are always there, natural or

man--made
man

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Rock mass in situ is discontinuous & may be

weathered (Grade II - V). Excavation of slope
induces further disturbance into the ‘weak rock’

A slope face cut in fresh (zone 1) and very strong

rock mass but, with horizontal bedding planes
(discontinuity or weakness plane) . . . . .

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Will the stability of the cut slope be

affected by the horizontal bedding planes?

Is there any immediate effect due to rock

mass properties & bedding planes
planes??

A slope face cut in fresh & strong rock mass

with horizontal bedding planes and inclined
fracture planes (e.g. joints)

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SLOPE B
SLOPE A

For slope (A), is the stability being

affected by the horizontal bedding &
inclined joint planes?
planes?

Slope (B) on the other side of the hill?

SLOPE A SLOPE B

The rock properties & the horizontal bedding

planes have no immediate effect on the stability
of both slopes A and B. The orientation of the
inclined joints can affect SLOPE B.
Similar effect of joint orientation & discontinuities
on underground excavation in rock (tunnel &
cavern).

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Intact rock – material properties of intact small rock sample

Rock mass – mass properties of discontinuous massive rock
body (in the field)

Joints display certain pattern of orientation,

grouped into set (1, 2 … nth sets). Joint sets
reduces strength of rock mass. The more the sets
the weaker is the rock

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Direction of tunneling with respect to

orientation of weakness planes

Direction of tunneling with respect to

joint & bedding orientation

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Discontinuities & mode of failure

in rock mass
Mode of failure in rock is dictated by:
types of discontinuity
spacing of discontinuities
orientation of discontinuities
number of set of discontinuities
In general, specific mode of failure requires
specific method of stabilisation
stabilisation.. However, a given
rock face may display more than one modes of
failure

Mode of instability in rock and methods

of stabilisation

Different mode of instability requires different

stabilisation methods, hence it is important to
understand the following principles:

What is the prevailing instability or mode of

failure?
failure ?

How specific stabilisation method works

(mechanisms) to produce effective stability?

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Modes of failure in rock (slope or tunnel) can be any

one or combination of these 4 modes

Modes of failure in rock slope

Plane failure:
failure:

Associated with
sliding of unstable
block along a single
distinctive inclined
weakness plane.
Weakness plane can
be bedding or fault
(joints create smaller
plane failure).

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Inclined fault leads to plane failure &

intersecting faults leads to wedge failure

Single inclined joint (and fault) leads

to plane failure

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Plane failure induced by inclined bedding planes

Parallel & inclined bedding planes lead to

plane failure

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Parallel & inclined bedding planes lead to

plane failure

Parallel & inclined bedding planes lead to

plane failure

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Modes of failure in rock slope

Wedge failure:
failure:

Associated with
sliding of unstable
block (wedge) along
two intersecting &
inclined weakness
planes.
Plane can be joints or
faults (not bedding
plane).
Common in rock
exhibiting more than 2
joint sets that are

Two JOINT sets or more (and faults) which are

intersecting lead to wedge failure

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Closely spaced & intersecting joints (> two

sets) lead to wedge failure & rock fall

Modes of failure in rock slope

Toppling failure/rock
fall::
fall

Associated with
toppling of unstable
small rock blocks, not
sliding along
weakness planes.
planes.
Common in rock mass
exhibiting more than 3
joint sets that are
closely spaced.
Weakness planes are
joints only

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Closely spaced & intersecting joints (more

than 3 sets) can lead to rock fall

Highly fractured & weathered rock leads to

rock fall + plane + wedge failure

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Modes of failure in rock slope

Flexural toppling:
toppling:
Associated with
bending of unstable
(slender) rock blocks,
not associated with
sliding along
weakness planes.
Common in rock
exhibiting more than 2
joint sets and folded
beddings that are
almost vertical in
orientation.

Near vertical joints and vertical bedding plane

(recumbent fold) lead to flexural toppling

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Near vertical joint sets lead to flexural toppling –

note there is no smooth sliding plane

Single inclined joint (and fault) leads

to plane failure + flexural toppling

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Very often rock faces display more than one mode

of failure, e.g. wedge + rock fall or plane failure +
rock fall etc.
Therefore, stabilisation will requires more
than one methods

RQD (from core logging) can indicate mode of

failure. RQD < 50% may lead to rock falls & RQD >
90% may lead to plane failure

S. No. Rock mass quality RQD (%)

1 Very poor 0 - 25
2 Poor 25 - 50
3 Fair 50 - 75
4 Good 75 - 90
5 Excellent 90 - 100

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Disturbing force:
mg sin θ
Resisting force:
θ
τjoint = σn tan φ

If resisting force >> disturbing force, stabilisation

may not be required. However, longlong--term effect
must also be considered e.g. water reduces σn, φ
& τ (it acts as lubricant on joint surface)

The rougher the joint

surface, the higher is
the JRC & shear
(τ).
strength (τ
Since φb is constant,
therefore variations of
shear strength in rough JRC value for
joint is mainly due to roughness

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Roughness & frictional strength of joint

Description of roughness Friction angle

Smooth Basic + 20
Defined ridges Basic + 60
Small steps Basic + 100
Very rough Basic + 140

Note: Basic friction angle is rock material

Note:
dependent (a constant for given rock type).
Increasing frictional strength for rough
joint is due to increasing JRC (degree of
roughness)

Scale of roughness & its effect on stability

Small scale roughness (mm in scale, e.g. asperity)

is due to material texture, it affects shear strength
(frictional angle) of a weakness plane

Large scale roughness (m in scale, e.g.

undulation), due to nature of joint surface, affects
direction of sliding.

Preliminary assessment like stereo-

stereo-net projection
only give indication on potential failure & direction
of sliding. No consideration on shear strength &
other properties of rock mass is being considered
in this approach.

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