Top

Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering

Published in:

01-07-2014 | Original Paper

A New Rock Mass Quality Rating System: Rock Mass Quality Rating (RMQR) and Its Application to the Estimation of Geomechanical Characteristics of Rock Masses

Authors: Ömer Aydan, Reşat Ulusay, Naohiko Tokashiki

Published in: Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering | Issue 4/2014

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config

AI-assisted search

Off

Abstract

The qualitative description of rock masses by means of classification systems and subsequent correlation to establish engineering quantities or design parameters has become one of the most challenging topics in rock engineering. Many rock mass classification systems have been proposed for rock masses with the consideration of a particular rock structure and/or specific purposes. Therefore, direct utilization of these systems, in their original form, for the characterization of complex rock mass conditions is not always possible. This is probably one of the reasons why rock engineers continue to develop new systems or modify and extend current ones. The recent tendency is to obtain rock mass properties from the utilization of properties of intact rock and rock classification indexes, which have some drawbacks. In this study, it is aimed to propose a new rock mass quality rating system designated as Rock Mass Quality Rating (RMQR). This new rock mass rating system is used to estimate the geomechanical properties of rock masses. In the first part of this paper, the input parameters of RMQR and their ratings are given and discussed. In the second part, the unified formula proposed by the first author is adopted for the new rock mass rating system for estimating the rock mass properties and compared with the results of the in situ tests carried out in Japan and those estimated from some empirical relationships developed by other investigators, and the outcomes of these studies are presented and discussed.

previous article A Morphological Visualization Method for Removability Analysis of Blocks in Discontinuous Rock Masses

next article Design of Raft Foundations for High-Rise Buildings on Jointed Rock

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 102.000 Bücher
über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 67.000 Bücher
über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Agricola G (1556) De re metallica. Translated from the first Latin edition of 1556 by H.C. Hoover and L.H. Hoover, 1950. Dover Publications, Inc., New York

Akagi T, Aydan Ö (2000) The relation between rock mass classification indices and rock mass properties, Section 5. In: A guideline for testing methods of deformability and shear strength of in situ rock masses—commentary and application to design of structures. Rock Mechanics Committee of Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE-RMC) (in Japanese)

Aydan Ö (1995) The stress state of the Earth and the Earth’s crust due to gravitational pull. In: Proceedings of the 35th US rock mechanics symposium, Lake Tahoe, USA, June 1995, pp 237–243

Aydan Ö, Dalgıç S (1998) Prediction of deformation behaviour of 3-lanes Bolu tunnels through squeezing rocks of North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ). In: Proceedings of the regional symposium on sedimentary rock engineering, Taipei, Taiwan, November 1998, pp 228–233

Aydan Ö, Kawamoto T (1990) Discontinuities and their effect on rock mass. In: Proceedings of the international conference on rock joints, Loen, Norway, June 1990. ISRM, pp 149–155

Aydan Ö, Kawamoto T (2000) Assessing mechanical properties of rock masses through RMR rock classification system. In: Proceedings of the GeoEng 2000 symposium, Sydney, Australia, November 2000. Paper no. OA0926 (on CD)

Aydan Ö, Kawamoto T (2001) The stability assessment of a large underground opening at great depth. In: Proceedings of the 17th international mining congress and exhibition of Turkey (IMCET 2001), Ankara, Turkey, June 2001, vol 1, pp 277–288

Aydan Ö, Shimizu Y (1995) Surface morphology characteristics of rock discontinuities with particular reference to their genesis. Fractogr Geol Soc Spec Publ 92:11–26CrossRef

Aydan Ö, Ulusay R (2003) Geotechnical and geoenvironmental characteristics of man-made underground structures in Cappadocia, Turkey. Eng Geol 69:245–272CrossRef

Aydan Ö, Ulusay R (2013) Geomechanical evaluation of Derinkuyu Antique Underground City and its implications in geoengineering. Rock Mech Rock Eng 46(4):731–754. doi:10.1007/s00603-012-0301-7 CrossRef

Aydan Ö, Akagi T, Kawamoto T (1993) The squeezing potential of rocks around tunnels; theory and prediction. Rock Mech Rock Eng 26(2):137–163CrossRef

Aydan Ö, Akagi T, Kawamoto T (1996) The squeezing potential of rock around tunnels: theory and prediction with examples taken from Japan. Rock Mech Rock Eng 29(3):125–143CrossRef

Aydan Ö, Ulusay R, Kawamoto T (1997) Assessment of rock mass strength for underground excavations. In: Proceedings of the 36th US rock mechanics symposium, New York, June/July 1997, pp 777–786

Aydan Ö, Dalgıç S, Kawamoto T (2000) Prediction of squeezing potential of rocks in tunnelling through a combination of an analytical method and rock mass classifications. Italian Geotech J 34(1):41–44

Aydan Ö, Tokashiki N, Geniş M (2012) Some considerations on yield (failure) criteria in rock mechanics. In: Proceedings of the 46th US rock mechanics/geomechanics symposium, Chicago, Illinois, June 2012. ARMA 12-640 (on CD)

Barton N (1976) The shear strength of rock and rock joints. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 13:255–279CrossRef

Barton N (1995) The influence of joint properties in modelling jointed rock masses. In: Proceedings of the 8th international congress on rock mechanics, Tokyo, Japan, September 1995, pp 1023–1032

Barton N (2002) Some new Q-value correlations to assist in site characterisation and tunnel design. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 39:185–216CrossRef

Barton N, Bieniawski ZT (2008) RMR and Q: setting records straight. Tunnels and Tunnelling International, pp 26–29

Barton N, Grimstad E (1994) The Q-system following twenty years of application in NATM support selection. Felsbau 12(6):428–436

Barton N, Lien R, Lunde I (1974) Engineering classification of rock masses for the design of tunnel support. Rock Mech 6(4):189–239CrossRef

Bieniawski ZT (1973) Engineering classification of jointed rock masses. Trans South Afr Inst Civil Eng 15:335–344

Bieniawski ZT (1974) Estimating the strength of rock materials. J S Afr Inst Min Metall 74:312–320

Bieniawski ZT (1978) Determining rock mass deformability: experience from case histories. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 15:237–247CrossRef

Bieniawski ZT (1989) Engineering rock mass classifications. Wiley, New York

Broch E (1979) Changes in rock strength by water. In: Proceedings of the 4th congress of the International Society of Rock Mechanics, Montreux, Switzerland, September 1979, vol 1, pp 71–75

Colback PSB, Wiid BL (1965) The influence of moisture content on the compressive strength of rock. In: Proceedings of the 3rd Canadian rock mechanics symposium, Toronto, Canada, January 1965, pp 65–83

Cummings RA, Kendorski FS, Bieniawski ZT (1982) Caving rock mass classification and support estimation. U.S. Bureau of Mines, Contract Report No. J0100103; Engineers International, Inc., Chicago

Deere DU, Hendron AJ Jr, Patton FD, Cording EJ (1967) Design of surface and near surface construction in rock. In: Fairhurst C (ed) Failure and breakage of rock. Society of Mining Engineers of AIME, New York, pp 237–302

Diederichs MS, Kaiser PK (1999) Tensile strength and abutment relaxation as failure control mechanisms in underground excavations. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 36:69–96CrossRef

Galera JM, Álvarez M, Bieniawski ZT (2005) Evaluation of the deformation modulus of rock masses: comparison of pressuremeter and dilatometer tests with RMR prediction. In: Proceedings of the ISP5-PRESSIO 2005 international symposium, Madrid, Spain, August 2005, pp 1–25

Grimstad E, Barton N (1993) Updating the Q-system for NMT. In: Proceedings of the international symposium on sprayed concrete—modern use of wet mix sprayed concrete for underground support, Fagernes, Norway, October 1993. Norwegian Concrete Association, Oslo, pp 25–32

Hibino S (2007) Necessary knowledge of rock mass for engineers (Gijutsusha ni hitsuyo na ganban no chishiki). Kajima Institute Publishing Co., Tokyo (in Japanese)

Hoek E (1999) Putting numbers to geology—an engineer’s viewpoint. Q J Eng Geol 32:1–19CrossRef

Hoek E, Brown T (1980) Empirical strength criterion for rock masses. J Geotech Eng Div ASCE 106(GT9):1013–1035

Hoek E, Brown ET (1997) Practical estimates of rock mass strength. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 34(8):1165–1186CrossRef

Hoek E, Diederichs MS (2006) Empirical estimation of rock mass modulus. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 43(2):203–215CrossRef

Hoek E, Kaiser PK, Bawden WF (1995) Support of underground excavations in hard rock. Balkema, Rotterdam

Hoek E, Carranza-Torres CT, Corkum B (2002) Hoek–Brown failure criterion—2002 edition. In: Proceedings of the 5th North American rock mechanics symposium, Toronto, Canada, July 2002, vol 1, pp 267–273

International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM) (2007) The complete ISRM suggested methods for rock characterization, testing and monitoring: 1974–2006. In: Ulusay R, Hudson JA (eds) Suggested methods prepared by the ISRM Commission on Testing Methods. Compilation arranged by the ISRM Turkish National Group, Ankara, Turkey

Jašarević I, Kovačević MS (1996) Analyzing applicability of existing classification for hard carbonate rock in Mediterranean area. In: Proceedings of EUROCK’96, Turin, Italy, September 1996, pp 811–818

Kalamaras GS, Bieniawski ZT (1995) A rock strength concept for coal seams incorporating the effect of time. In: Proceedings of the 8th ISRM congress, Tokyo, Japan, September 1995, vol 1, pp 295–302

Karakul H, Ulusay R (2013) Empirical correlations for predicting strength properties of rocks from P-wave velocity under different degrees of saturation. Rock Mech Rock Eng 46(5):981–999

Kayabasi A, Gokceoglu C, Ercanoglu M (2003) Estimating the deformation modulus of rock masses: a comparative study. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 40(1):55–63CrossRef

Kendorski FF, Cummings RA, Bieniawski ZT, Skinner EH (1983) A rock mass classification scheme for the planning of caving mine drift supports. In: Proceedings of the rapid excavation and tunneling conference, Chicago, Illinois, June 1983. AIME, New York, pp 193–223

Kikuchi K, Saito K (1975) A proposed method for the classifications of rock grades in connection with bearing resistance of foundation rock. In: Proceedings of the 9th Japan symposium on rock mechanics, Tokyo, Japan, pp 66–70 (in Japanese)

Kikuchi K, Saito K, Kusonoki KI (1982) Geotechnically integrated evaluation on the stability of dam foundation rocks. In: Proceedings of the 14th international congress on large dams, Rio de Janerio, Brazil, May 1982, pp 49–74

Mitri HS, Edrissi R, Henning J (1994) Finite element modeling of cable bolted slopes in hard rock ground mines. In: Proceedings of the SME annual meeting, Albuquerque, New Mexico, February 1994, pp 94–116

Nicholson GA, Bieniawski ZT (1990) A nonlinear deformation modulus based on rock mass classification. Int J Min Geol Eng 8:181–202CrossRef

Nosei M (1962) On the in situ experiments of rock mass at the site of Kurobe IV Dam. In: Proceedings of the first rock mechanics symposium of Japan, Tokyo, paper no. 11 (in Japanese)

Palmström A (1996) RMi—a system for characterizing rock mass strength for use in rock engineering. J Rock Mech Tunn Technol 1(2):69–108

Priest SD (1985) Hemispherical projection methods in rock mechanics. George Allen and Unwin, London

Priest SD, Hudson JA (1981) Estimation of discontinuity spacing and trace length using scanline surveys. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 18:183–197CrossRef

Serafim JL, Pereira JP (1983) Considerations of the geomechanics classification of Bieniawski. In: Proceedings of the international symposium on engineering geology and underground construction, Lisbon, Portugal, LNEC, vol 1 (I), pp 33–44

Stini J (1950) Tunnelbaugeologie. Springer, ViennaCrossRef

Tanaka M (1964) Introduction to engineering geology for civil engineers. Sankaido, Tokyo (in Japanese)

Tanimoto C, Yoshikawa T, Hojo A (1989) Rapid excavation of a headrace tunnel and loosening in rock mass in Shin-Aimoto power station project. J Soc Mater Sci Japan 38(426):241–247 (in Japanese)CrossRef

Terzaghi K (1946) Rock defects and loads on tunnel support. In: Proctor RV, White T (eds) Rock tunneling with steel supports. Commercial Shearing & Stamping Co., Youngstown, pp 43–64

Terzaghi RD (1965) Sources of error in joint surveys. Geotechnique 15:287–304CrossRef

Tokashiki N (2011) Study on the engineering properties of Ryukyu limestone and the evaluation of the stability of its rock mass and masonry structures. PhD thesis, Waseda University (in Japanese with English abstract)

Tokashiki N, Aydan Ö (2010) The stability assessment of overhanging Ryukyu limestone cliffs with an emphasis on the evaluation of tensile strength of rock mass. J Geotech Eng JSCE 66(2):397–406

Tokashiki N, Aydan Ö (2011a) A comparative study on the analytical and numerical stability assessment methods for rock cliffs in Ryukyu Islands. In: Proceedings of the 13th international conference of the International Association for Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics (IACMAG), Melbourne, Australia, May 2011, pp 663–668

Tokashiki N, Aydan Ö (2011b) Application of rock mass classification systems to Ryukyu limestone and the evaluation of their mechanical properties. In: Proceedings of the 40th symposium on rock mechanics, Tokyo, Japan, January 2011, pp 387–392 (in Japanese)

Tokashiki N, Aydan Ö (2012) Estimation of rockmass properties of Ryukyu limestone. In: Proceedings of the 7th Asian rock mechanics symposium, Seoul, Korea, October 2012, pp 725–734

Ulusay R, Aydan Ö (1998) A study on merits and de-merits of excavation by TBM by considering Takisato Tunnel in Japan as an example. Jeoloji Mühendisliği (Geol Eng) 51:51–61 (in Turkish)

Ünal E (1996) Modified rock mass classification: M-RMR system. Milestones in rock engineering. The Bieniawski Jubilee Collection, Balkema, pp 203–223

Ünal E, Özkan İ, Ulusay R (1992) Characterization of weak, stratified and clay-bearing rock masses. In: Hudson JA (ed) ISRM symposium: EUROCK’92 rock characterization, Chester, UK, September 1992. British Geotechnical Society, London, pp 330–335

Van Heerden WL (1975) In situ complete stress–strain characteristics of large coal specimens. J S Afr Min Metall 75:207–217

Wickham GE, Tiedemann HR, Skinner EH (1972) Support determinations based on geologic predictions. In: Proceedings of 1st rapid excavation tunnelling conference. AIME, New York, pp 43–64

Wickham GE, Tiedemann HR, Skinner EH (1974) Ground support prediction model—RSR concept. In: Proceedings of 2nd rapid excavation tunneling conference. AIME, New York, pp 691–707

Yoshinaka R, Sakurai S, Kikuchi K (1989) Rock mass classification and its application. Japanese Civil Engineering Organization, Tokyo, pp 20–31

Zhang L, Einstein HH (2004) Using RQD to estimate the deformation modulus of rock masses. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 41:337–341CrossRef

Title: A New Rock Mass Quality Rating System: Rock Mass Quality Rating (RMQR) and Its Application to the Estimation of Geomechanical Characteristics of Rock Masses
Authors: Ömer Aydan
Reşat Ulusay
Naohiko Tokashiki
Publication date: 01-07-2014
Publisher: Springer Vienna
Published in: Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering / Issue 4/2014
Print ISSN: 0723-2632
Electronic ISSN: 1434-453X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-013-0462-z

Springer Professional

Abstract

Please log in to get access to your license.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Springer Professional "Technik"

Other articles of this Issue 4/2014

A Morphological Visualization Method for Removability Analysis of Blocks in Discontinuous Rock Masses

Effects of High-Frequency Torsional Impacts on Rock Drilling

Numerical Homogenization of Jointed Rock Masses Using Wave Propagation Simulation

Tensile Fracture Strength of Brisbane Tuff by Static and Cyclic Loading Tests

The Mechanical Properties of Mudstone at High Temperatures: an Experimental Study

Prediction of Collapsing Region Above Deep Spherical Cavity Roof Under Axis-Symmetrical Conditions