ROCK MASS

CLASSIFICATION

PRESENTED BY : ABDULRAHMAN MOHAMED

HUSSIEN
 INTRODUCTION
• ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATIONS WERE DEVELOPED TO CREATE SOME ORDER
OUT OF THE CHAOS IN SITE INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES. THEY WERE NOT
INTENDED TO REPLACE ANALYTICAL STUDIES, FIELD OBSERVATIONS,
MEASUREMENTS OR ENGINEERING JUDGEMENT.
• AND MAIN BENEFITS OF ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATIONS:
• IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF SITE INVESTIGATIONS BY CALLING FOR THE
MINIMUM INPUT DATA AS CLASSIFICATION PARAMETERS.
• PROVIDING QUANTITATIVE INFORMATION FOR DESIGN PURPOSES.
• ENABLING BETTER ENGINEERING JUDGEMENT AND MORE EFFECTIVE
COMMUNICATION ON A PROJECT.
 INTRODUCTION

• LIST OF ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATIONS

• 1) TERZAGHI’S ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION OR ROCK LOAD CLASSIFICATION METHOD
• 2) STAND-UP TIME CLASSIFICATION
• 3) ROCK QUALITY DESIGNATION (RQD)
• 4) ROCK STRUCTURE RATING (RSR)
• 5) ROCK MASS RATING SYSTEM (RMR)
• 6) Q-SYSTEM
• 7) CSIR CLASSIFICATION OF JOINTED ROCK MASS
1. TERZAGHI’S ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION

• INTACT ROCK
• STRATIFIED ROCK
• MODERATELY JOINTED ROCK
• BLOCKY AND SEAMY ROCK
• CRUSHED
• SQUEEZING ROCK
• SWELLING ROCK
1. TERZAGHI'S ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION
• INTACT ROCK CONTAINS NEITHER JOINTS NOR HAIR CRACKS. HENCE, IF IT BREAKS, IT BREAKS ACROSS
SOUND ROCK. ON ACCOUNT OF THE INJURY TO THE ROCK DUE TO BLASTING, SPALLS MAY DROP OFF THE
ROOF SEVERAL HOURS OR DAYS AFTER BLASTING. THIS IS KNOWN AS A SPALLING CONDITION. HART, INTACT
ROCK MAY ALSO BE ENCOUNTERED IN THE POPPING CONDITION INVOLVING THE SPONTANEOUS AND VIOLENT
DETACHMENT OF ROCK SLABS FROM THE SIDES OR ROOF.
• STRATIFIED ROCK CONTAINS OF INDIVIDUAL STRATA WITH LITTLE OR NO RESISTANCE AGAINST SEPARATION
ALONG THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN THE STRATA. THE STRATA MAY OR MAY NOT BE WEAKENED BY TRANSVERSE
JOINTS. IN SUCH ROCK THE SPALLING CONDITION IS QUITE COMMON
• MODERATELY JOINTED ROCK CONTAINS JOINTS AND HAIR CRACKS, BUT THE BLOCKS BETWEEN JOINTS ARE
LOCALLY GROWN TOGETHER OR SO INTIMATELY INTERLOCKED THAT VERTICAL WALLS DO NOT REQUIRE
LATERAL SUPPORT. IN ROCKS OF THIS TYPE, BOTH SPALLING AND POPPING CONDITIONS MAY BE ENCOUNTERED
1. TERZAGHI'S ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION

• BLOCKY AND SEAMY ROCK CONTAINS OF CHEMICALLY INTACT OR ALMOST INTACT ROCK
FRAGMENTS, WHICH ARE ENTIRELY SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER AND IMPERFECTLY INTERLOCKED.
IN SUCH ROCK, VERTICAL WALLS MAY REQUIRE LATERAL SUPPORT.
• CRUSHED BUT CHEMICALLY INTACT ROCK HAS THE CHARACTER OF CRUSHER RUN. IF MOST OR ALL
OF THE FRAGMENTS ARE AS SMALL AS FINE SAND GRAINS AND NO RECEMENTATION HAS TAKEN
PLACE, CRUSHED ROCK BELOW THE WATER TABLE EXHIBITS THE PROPERTIES OF A WATER-BEARING
SAND.
• SQUEEZING ROCK SLOWLY ADVANCES INTO THE TUNNEL WITHOUT PERCEPTIBLE VOLUME INCREASE.
A PREREQUISITE FOR SQUEEZE IS A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF MICROSCOPIC AND SUB-MICROSCOPIC
PARTICLES OF MICACEOUS MINERALS OR CLAY MINERALS WITH A LOW SWELLING CAPACITY.
• SWELLING ROCK ADVANCES INTO THE TUNNEL CHIEFLY ON ACCOUNT OF EXPANSION. THE CAPACITY
TO SWELL SEEMS TO BE LIMITED TO THOSE ROCKS THAT CONTAIN CLAY MINERALS SUCH AS
MONTMORILLONITE, WITH A HIGH SWELLING CAPACITY.
 2. STAND-UP TIME CLASSIFICATION
• THE STAND-UP TIME FOR AN UNSUPPORTED SPAN IS RELATED TO THE
QUALITY OF THE ROCK MASS IN WHICH THE SPAN IS EXCAVATED (LAUFFER,
1958)
• THE MAIN SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS METHOD IS THAT AN INCREASE IN TUNNEL
SPAN LEADS TO A MAJOR REDUCTION IN THE STAND UP TIME.
 3. ROCK QUALITY DESIGNING INDEX (RQD)

• THE ROCK QUALITY DESIGNING INDEX (RQD) WAS DEVELOPED BY DEERE IN

1964 TO PROVIDE A QUANTITATIVE ESTIMATE OF ROCK MASS QUALITY FROM
DRILL CORE LOGS.
• RQD IS DEFINED AS THE PERCENTAGE OF INTACT CORE PIECES LONGER
THAN 100 MM (4 INCHES) IN THE TOTAL LENGTH OF CORE.
• THE CORE SHOULD BE AT LEAST NW SIZE (54.7 MM OR 2.15 INCHES IN
DIAMETER) AND SHOULD BE DRILLED WITH A DOUBLE- TUBE CORE BARREL.
3. ROCK QUALITY DESIGNING INDEX (RQD)
 3. ROCK QUALITY DESIGNING INDEX (RQD)

• PALMSTROM (1982) SUGGESTED THAT, WHEN NO CORE IS AVAILABLE BUT

DISCONTINUITY TRACES ARE VISIBLE IN SURFACE EXPOSURES OR
EXPLORATION ADITS, THE RQD MAY BE ESTIMATED FROM THE NUMBER OF
DISCONTINUITIES PER UNIT VOLUME. THE SUGGESTED RELATIONSHIP FOR
CLAY-FREE MASSES IS:
RQD = 115- 3.3 JV
• WHERE JV IS THE SUM OF THE NUMBER OF JOINTS PER UNIT LENGTH FOR
ALL JOINT (DISCONTINUITY) SETS KNOWN AS THE VOLUMETRIC JOINT COUNT.
 3. ROCK QUALITY DESIGNING INDEX (RQD)

• RQD IS A DIRECTIONALLY DEPENDENT PARAMETER AND ITS VALUE MAY

CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY, DEPENDING UPON THE BOREHOLE ORIENTATION.
• RQD IS INTENDED TO REPRESENT THE ROCK MASS QUALITY IN SITU. WHEN
USING DIAMOND DRILL CORE, CARE MUST BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT
FRACTURES, WHICH HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY HANDLING OR THE DRILLING
PROCESS, ARE IDENTIFIED AND IGNORED WHEN DETERMINING THE VALUE OF
RQD.
• WHEN USING PALMSTROM’S RELATIONSHIP FOR EXPOSURE MAPPING, BLAST
INDUCED FRACTURES SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED WHEN ESTIMATING JV.
 3. ROCK QUALITY DESIGNING INDEX (RQD)

• ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION BASED ON RQD

 4. ROCK STRUCTURE RATING (RSR)

• ROCK STRUCTURE RATING (RSR) IS A QUANTITATIVE METHOD FOR DESCRIBING

QUALITY OF A ROCK MASS AND THEN APPROPRIATE GROUND SUPPORT.
• THERE ARE CONSIDERED TWO GENERAL CATEGORIES:
• GEOTECHNICAL PARAMETERS:
• - ROCK TYPE; JOINT PATTERN; JOINT ORIENTATIONS; TYPE OF DISCONTINUITIES;
MAJOR FAULTS; SHEARS AND FOLDS; ROCK MATERIAL PROPERTIES; WEATHERING
OR ALTERATION. AND
• CONSTRUCTION PARAMETERS:
• - SIZE OF TUNNEL; DIRECTION OF DRIVE; METHOD OF EXCAVATION.
 4. ROCK STRUCTURE RATING (RSR)
PARAMETER A, GEOLOGY: GENERAL APPRAISAL OF GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE ON THE BASIS OF:
ROCK TYPE ORIGIN (IGNEOUS, METAMORPHIC, SEDIMENTARY).
ROCK HARDNESS (HARD, MEDIUM, SOFT, DECOMPOSED).
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURE (MASSIVE, SLIGHTLY FAULTED/FOLDED, MODERATELY FAULTED/FOLDED, INTENSELY
FAULTED/FOLDED).
PARAMETER B, GEOMETRY: EFFECT OF DISCONTINUITY PATTEM WITH RESPECT TO THE DIRECTION OF THE
TUNNEL DRIVE ON THE BASIS OF:
JOINT SPACING.
JOINT ORIENTATION (STRIKE AND DIP)
DIRECTION OF TUNNEL DRIVE.
PARAMETER C: EFFECT OF GROUNDWATER INFLOW AND JOINT CONDITION ON THE BASIS OF:
OVERALL ROCK MASS QUALITY ON THE BASIS OF A AND B COMBINED.
JOINT CONDITION (GOOD, FAIR, POOR).
AMOUNT OF WATER INFLOW (IN GALLONS PER MINUTE PER 1000 FEET OF TUNNEL).
 4. ROCK STRUCTURE RATING (RSR)

• PARAMETER “A”
 4. ROCK STRUCTURE RATING (RSR)

• PARAMETER "B“
 4. ROCK STRUCTURE RATING (RSR)

• PARAMETER “C”
4. ROCK STRUCTURE RATING (RSR)
 5. ROCK MASS RATING SYSTEM (RMR)

• PROPOSED BY BIENIAWSKI (1976)

• THE FOLLOWING SIX PARAMETERS ARE USED TO CLASSIFY A ROCK MASS USING THE RMR
SYSTEM
UNIAXIAL COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF ROCK MATERIAL.
ROCK QUALITY DESIGNATION (RQD).
SPACING OF DISCONTINUITIES.
CONDITION OF DISCONTINUITIES.
GROUNDWATER CONDITIONS.
ORIENTATION OF DISCONTINUITIES.
5. ROCK MASS RATING SYSTEM (RMR)
5. ROCK MASS RATING SYSTEM (RMR)
5. ROCK MASS RATING SYSTEM (RMR)
 5. ROCK MASS RATING SYSTEM (RMR)
• GUIDELINES FOR EXCAVATION AND SUPPORT OF 10 M SPAN
ROCK TUNNELS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RMR SYSTEM
(AFTER BIEINIAWSKI 1989)
 5. ROCK MASS RATING SYSTEM (RMR)
• EXAMPLES OF EXCAVATION
 5. ROCK MASS RATING SYSTEM (RMR)
• 5. ROCK MASS RATING SYSTEM (RMR)
 5. ROCK MASS RATING SYSTEM (RMR)
• EXAMPLES OF SHOTCRETE
 5. ROCK MASS RATING SYSTEM (RMR)
• PRACTICAL EXAMPLE :
• A TUNNEL IS TO BE DRIVEN THROUGH A SLIGHTLY WEATHERED GRANITE
WITH A DOMINANT JOINT SET DIPPING AT 60° AGAINST THE DIRECTION OF
THE DRIVE. INDEX TESTING AND LOGGING OF DIAMOND DRILLED CORE GIVE
TYPICAL POINT- LOAD STRENGTH INDEX VALUES OF 8 MPA AND AVERAGE
RQD VALUES OF 70%. THE SLIGHTLY ROUGH AND SLIGHTLY WEATHERED
JOINTS WITH A SEPARATION OF <1 MM, ARE SPACED AT 300 MM. TUNNELING
CONDITIONS ARE ANTICIPATED TO BE WET.
 5. ROCK MASS RATING SYSTEM (RMR)

Note 1: For slightly rough and altered discontinuity sufaces with separation of < I mm,
Table A.4 gīves a rating of 25. When more detailed information is available, Table E can be
used to obtain a more refined rating. Hence, in this case, the ruting is the sum of: 4 (1-3
m discontinuity length), 4 (separation 0.1-10 mm), 3 (slightly rough), 6 (no infilling) and 5
(stightly weathered) = 22.

Note 2: Table 4.4F gives a description of Fair for the conditions assumed where the tunnel
is to be driven against the dip of a set joints dipping at 6la. Using this description for
"Tunnel and Mines in Table 4.4.B gives an eadjustment rating of -5.
• NOTE 1: FOR SLIGHTLY ROUGH AND ALTERED DISCONTINUITY SURFACES
WITH A SEPARATION OF < 1 MM, TABLE A.4 GIVES A RATING OF 25. WHEN
MORE DETAILED INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE, TABLE E CAN BE USED TO
OBTAIN A MORE REFINED RATING. HENCE, IN THIS CASE, THE RATING IS THE
SUM OF: 4 (1-3 M DISCONTINUITY LENGTH), 4 (SEPARATION 0.1-1.0 MM), 3
(SLIGHTLY ROUGH), 6 (NO INFILLING) AND 5 (SLIGHTLY WEATHERED) =22.
NOTE 2: TABLE 4.4.F GIVES A DESCRIPTION OF 'FAIR' FOR THE CONDITIONS
ASSUMED WHERE THE TUNNEL IS TO BE DRIVEN AGAINST THE DIP OF A SET
JOINTS DIPPING AT 60O. USING THIS DESCRIPTION FOR 'TUNNEL AND MINES'
IN TABLE 4.4.B GIVES AN ADJUSTMENT RATING OF -5.
 5. ROCK MASS RATING SYSTEM (RMR)
• WITH RMR = 59, TABLE SUGGESTS • WITH RMR = 59, TABLE SUGGESTS THAT A
THAT A TUNNEL COULD BE TUNNEL COULD BE EXCAVATED BY TOP
HEADING AND BENCH, WITH A 1.5 TO 3 M
EXCAVATED BY TOP HEADING AND
ADVANCE IN THE TOP HEADING. SUPPORT
BENCH, WITH A 1.5 TO 3 M SHOULD BE INSTALLED AFTER EACH
ADVANCE IN THE TOP HEADING. BLAST AND THE SUPPORT SHOULD BE
SUPPORT SHOULD BE INSTALLED PLACED AT A MAXIMUM DISTANCE OF 10
AFTER EACH BLAST AND THE M FROM THE FACE.
SUPPORT SHOULD BE PLACED AT A
MAXIMUM DISTANCE OF 10 M FROM
THE FACE.
6. ROCK TUNNELING QUALITY INDEX, Q
 6. ROCK TUNNELING QUALITY INDEX, Q
• CLASSIFICATION OF INDIVIDUAL PARAMETERS
 6. ROCK TUNNELING QUALITY INDEX, Q
• CLASSIFICATION OF INDIVIDUAL PARAMETERS
6. ROCK TUNNELING QUALITY INDEX, Q
6. ROCK TUNNELING QUALITY INDEX, Q
 6. ROCK TUNNELING QUALITY INDEX, Q
• ESTIMATED SUPPORT CATEGORIES
 6. ROCK TUNNELING QUALITY INDEX, Q

• PRACTICAL EXAMPLE
A 15 M SPAN CRUSHER CHAMBER FOR AN UNDERGROUND MINE IS TO BE EXCAVATED IN A
NORITE AT DEPTH OF 2,100 M BELOW SURFACE. THE ROCK MASS CONTAINS TWO SETS OF
JOINTS CONTROLLING STABILITY. THESE JOINTS ARE UNDULATING, ROUGH AND
UNWEATHERED WITH VERY MINOR SURFACE STAINING. RQD VALUES RANGE FROM 85% TO
95% AND LABORATORY TESTS ON CORE SAMPLES OF INTACT ROCK GIVE AN AVERAGE
UNIAXIAL COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF 170 MPA. THE PRINCIPAL STRESS DIRECTIONS ARE
APPROXIMATELY VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL AND THE MAGNITUDE OF THE HORIZONTAL
PRINCIPAL STRESS IS APPROXIMATELY 1.5 TIMES THAT OF THE VERTICAL PRINCIPAL STRESS.
THE ROCK MASS IS LOCALLY DAMP BUT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF FLOWING WATER.
6. ROCK TUNNELING QUALITY INDEX, Q
6. ROCK TUNNELING QUALITY INDEX, Q
6. ROCK TUNNELING QUALITY INDEX, Q
6. ROCK TUNNELING QUALITY INDEX, Q
 7. CSIR CLASSIFICATION FOR JOINTED ROCK
BIENIAWSKI SUGGESTED THAT A CLASSIFICATION FOR JOINTED ROCK MASS SHOULD:
• DIVIDE THE ROCK MASS INTO GROUPS OF SIMILAR BEHAVIOUR;
• PROVIDE A GOOD BASIS FOR UNDERSTANDING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ROCK
MASS;
• FACILITATE THE PLANNING AND THE DESIGN OF STRUCTURES IN ROCK BY YIELDING
QUANTITATIVE DATA REQUIRED FOR THE SOLUTION OF REAL ENGINEERING PROBLEMS;
AND
• PROVIDE A COMMON BASIS FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AMONG ALL PERSONS
CONCERNED WITH A GEOMECHANICS PROBLEM.
7. CSIR CLASSIFICATION FOR JOINTED ROCK

THESE AIMS SHOULD BE FULFILLED BY ENSURING THAT THE ADOPTED

CLASSIFICATION IS
• SIMPLE AND MEANINGFUL IN TERM; AND
• BASED ON MEASURABLE PARAMETERS WHICH CAN BE DETERMINED QUICKLY
AND CHEAPLY IN THE FIELD.
7. CSIR CLASSIFICATION FOR JOINTED ROCK

IN ORDER TO SATISFY THESE REQUIREMENTS, BIENIAWSKI ORIGINALLY PROPOSED THAT HIS “GEOMECHANICS
CLASSIFICATION” SHOULD INCORPORATE THE FOLLOWING PARAMETERS:
• ROCK QUALITY DESIGNATION (RQD),
• STATE OF WEATHERING,
• UNIAXIAL COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF INTACT ROCK,
• SPACING OF JOINTS AND BEDDING,
• STRIKE AND DIP ORIENTATIONS,
• SEPARATION OF JOINTS,
• CONTINUITY OF JOINTS, AND
• GROUND WATER INFLOW.
7. CSIR CLASSIFICATION FOR JOINTED ROCK

• THE FIVE CLASSIFICATION PARAMETERS THEN BECAME:

• STRENGTH OF INTACT ROCK MATERIAL → TABLE 3
• ROCK QUALITY DESIGNATION
• SPACING OF JOINTS → TABLE 4
• CONDITION OF JOINTS
• GROUND WATER CONDITIONS
 7. CSIR CLASSIFICA TION FOR JOINTED
ROCK
• TABLE 3 – DEERE AND MILLER’S CLASSIFICATION OF INTACT ROCK STRENGTH

Table 4 - DEERE'S CLASSIFICATION FOR JOINT SPACING

7. CSIR CLASSIFICATION FOR JOINTED ROCK
7. CSIR CLASSIFICATION FOR JOINTED ROCK
7. CSIR CLASSIFICATION FOR JOINTED ROCK
• TABLE 6- THE EFFECT OF JOINT STRIKE AND DIP ORIENTATIONS IN
TUNNELING
7. CSIR CLASSIFICATION FOR JOINTED ROCK
7. CSIR CLASSIFICATION FOR JOINTED ROCK

PRACTICAL EXAMPLE
• THE TUNNEL HAS BEEN ORIENTED SUCH THAT THE DOMINANT JOINT SET STRIKES
PERPENDICULAR TO THE TUNNEL AXIS WITH A DIP OF 30° AGAINST THE DRIVE DIRECTION. FROM
TABLE 6,
• >THIS SITUATION IS DESCRIBED AS UNFAVOURABLE FOR WHICH A RATING ADJUSTMENT OF-10 IS
OBTAINED FROM TABLE 5B.
• >THUS THE FINAL ROCK MASS RATING BECOMES 59 WHICH PLACES THE ROCK MASS AT THE
UPPER END OF CLASS III WITH A DESCRIPTION OF FAIR.
• >FIGURE 6 GIVES THE STAND-UP TIME OF AN UNSUPPORTED 3 METRE TUNNEL IN THIS ROCK
MASS AS APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH.
7. CSIR CLASSIFICATION FOR JOINTED ROCK

Figure 6: relationship between the stand-up time of an unsupported

underground excavation span and the CSIR Geomechanics Classification
proposed by Bieniawski
HTTP://WWW.GEOCONSOL.COM/PAGE
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7. CSIR CLASSIFICATION FOR JOINTED ROCK

Figure 7. Relationship between the maximum equivalent dimension De of an

unsupported underground excavation and the NGI tunneling quality index Q.