INTRODUCTION The strength and deformation parameters of rock mass are required for the design of tunnels and

other underground excavations. The key parameters are obtained by in situ test, laboratory test, and empirical relations and to a larger extent rely on sound engineering and geological judgement of the engineer. Reliable estimate of the strength characteristics of the rock mass is therefore vital to the design of the road tunnel. Tunnel Cross section The design tunnel cross section is based on standard design of D3 the proposed design.D3 is Dual carriage 3 lanes road !reference Design anual

for roads and "ridges, volume # road $eometry% and the vertical clearance of &.'m requirement in otor(ay (hich has carriage(ay (ith of ))m plus a shoulder of *.+m. Therefore a total carriage(ay length of the tunnel is taken as )&.,m. The vertical clearance above the road has to be &.'m therefore a theoretical height of '.)m (ill be excavated taking into consideration the temporary and permanent lining support. Diagram ) belo( sho(s the cross section shape of the proposed tunnel.

ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION Rock mass classification provides vital information about rock mass characteristics. -arious classification methods are available ho(ever. this (ork considers the $eological strength /ndex !$0/% method introduced by 1oek et al as a tool for estimating the reduction in rock mass strength for the sandstone rock. 0ince no rocks cores are available and the fact that clay in filling are present in joints (ith no information on the joint frequency per meter, estimating the rock quality designation !R2D% (ill not be suitable. The degree of fracturing and the conditions of fractures surfaces are both related to related to the $0/ values table. "ased on the geological information and description of the sandstone rock, it has a $0/ value of +,3 #, (hich is classified as $ood3rough, slightly (eathered surfaces.

DESIGN PARAMETERS The design parameters needed for the tunnel are4
a) 5oefficient of lateral earth pressure. !6,% b) Rock mass modulus of deformation. !7m % c) /n situ stresses !8), 83% d) 0tand up time e) 9oisson ratio f)

0hear modulus of the rock mass. !$%

g) The tensile stress of the rock mass. !8t% h) :riction angle of the rock mass i) j)

;rientation !Dip and 0trike% of major discontinues 9ermeability !6% of the rock mass

Estimation of Mo ulus of eformation !Em" :rom 1oek3"ro(n failure criterion, the rock mass modulus of deformation is estimated as 7m , (here D is factor (hich depends on the degree of disturbance and is , for undisturbed in situ rock. 8ci < the uniaxial compressive strength of the intact rock material< $0/ of the sandstone rock mass is taken as #' !+,3#,%