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Rock Mechanics
The study of the Engineering Properties of Rocks is
termed Rock Mechanics, which is defined as follows:
The theoretical and applied science of the
mechanical behaviour of rock and rock masses in
response to force fields of their physical
environment.
It is really a subdivision of Geomechanics which
is
concerned with the mechanical responses of all
geological materials, including soils.
Rock Mechanics
Committee on Rock Mechanics of
Geological Society of America defined
Rock mechanics in the following terms
Rock mechanics is the theoretical and
applied science of mechanical behaviour
of rocks; it is that branch of mechanics
concerned with the response of rocks to
the force fields of its physical environment
(JUDD, 1964)
Rock Mass
An assemblage of the rock blocks separated by
different types of geological discountinuties.(e.g
faults, folds)
Folds- the wavy undulations in the rock bed are
called folds. They consists of arches and trough
in alternate manner. The size of the fold vary
greatly from kilometers to centimeters
Fault is a fracture along which there has been
relative displacement of beds which were once
continuous. The fracture surface is called fault
plane. The displacement may be less than
meter, several meters or kilometers
Rock Descriptions
Concise and consistent rock descriptions are
needed when logging core, rock outcrops or
hand specimen in the laboratory.
The following checklist has to be followed
Intact Rock
Rock Name
Colour, mineral composition, alteration
Texture, grain size and shape
Porosity, density and water content
Strength, isotropy and hardness
Durability, plasticity, swelling potential
Igneous Family
An igneous rock is one that has solidified
from molten material (magma).
It may be crystalline or glassy or both.
Igneous rocks are further divided
according to their grain size and their light
or dark colours.
Metamorphic Rocks
A metamorphic rock is one derived from
preexisting igneous, sedimentary or
metamorphic rock as a result of marked change
in temperature or stresses.
Dynamic metamorphism generates intense
stresses locally which tends to deform, fracture
and pulverize the rock.
Regional metamorphism affects an extensive
large area through an increase in pressure and
temperature.
Sedimentary Rocks
Sedimentary rocks are composed of broken
fragments derived from existing rocks or from
the weathering products of such rocks that have
been transported by rivers, wind or glaciers.
Sedimentary rocks are further subdivided into
different families
Sandstone family
Limestone family
Shale family
Salt family
Physical Characteristics
Color
Mineral
Chemical composition
Mechanical Characteristics
Strength
Strength Index Test
Uniaxial compressive strength test
Point load strength test
Brazillian strength test
Hardness
Depending upon the test method we can
define scratch, indentation, abrasion,
impact and rebound hardness.
Rock Mass
Properties measured on larger scale
Influence of jointing taken into
consideration
Rock Mass
For geotechnical mapping unit (GMU)
Block Size, RQD and block shape
Number and types of joint sets
Block Size
Block Size- is defined as the average
diameter of a typical rock block.
It is measured by observing exposed rock
face at the surface or underground, or the
rock core obtained by drilling or pile of
broken rock.
RQD
The parameter core recovery is defined as
the ratio of recovered core length to the
total length drilled.
RQD is defined as the sum of the length of
core pieces longer than 10 cm expressed
as a percentage of a given total length
drilled.
RQD
RQD Value (%)
Status
100-90
Excellent
90-75
Good
75-50
Fair
50-25
Poor
< 25
Very poor
Block Shape
Most rock masses have a characteristic
shape of block that depends on the
number of joint sets and their relative
orientation and spacing.
Cubic blocks
Slabby block- single closely spaced set
and two at wider spacing
Prismatic- two closely spaced set and one
at wider spacing
Depth
Insitu stresses
DEER RQD