ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Geomechanical Classifications, Geotechnical Indexes, and Fractured Rock Media: the Influence of Discontinuities on the Rock Masses Description
 
More details
Hide details
1
Geology, University of Lisbon, Faculty of Sciences,
 
2
Engenharia Geotécnica, Instituto Politécnico do Porto Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto
 
 
Submission date: 2024-08-26
 
 
Final revision date: 2024-09-22
 
 
Acceptance date: 2024-09-30
 
 
Online publication date: 2024-10-09
 
 
Publication date: 2024-10-09
 
 
Corresponding author
Cláudio Santa   

Geology, University of Lisbon, Faculty of Sciences,
 
 
Civil and Environmental Engineering Reports 2024;34(4):43-54
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Using geotechnical indexes and geomechanical classifications is crucial in estimating the quality and behaviour of fissured rock masses. These tools play a significant role in large-scale engineering works, particularly in underground projects where the rock mass and its response to excavation are critical for project safety and financial feasibility. The widespread adoption of these classification systems in geoengineering necessitates continuous development and improvement to enhance accuracy and reliability and align them with the evolving construction landscape. Discontinuities, in particular, profoundly impact the strength, deformability, and permeability of the rock mass, therefore defining its behaviour. Given that rock mass assessment forms the basis of geotechnical characterization and evaluation, it is essential to understand and evaluate its characteristics and their influence on the classification systems or indexes.
 
REFERENCES (46)
1.
Barton, N and Bieniawski, ZT 2008. RMR and Q-setting records are straight. Tunnels and Tunnelling International, 26–29.
 
2.
Barton, N, Lien, R and Lunde, J 1974. Engineering classification of rock masses for the design of tunnel support. Rock Mechanics, 6 (4), 189-239.
 
3.
Barton, N, Lien, R and Lunde, J 1977. Estimation of support requirements for underground excavations. Proceedings of 16th Symposium on Design Methods in Rock Mechanics Rock Mechanics, Minnesota, ASCE, NY, 163-177.
 
4.
Barton, N and Quadros, E 2015. Anisotropy is everywhere, to see, to measure, and to model. Rock Mech Rock Eng, 48, 1323–1339.
 
5.
Bell, FG 2007. Engineering geology. Amsterdam: Butterworth-Heinemann.
 
6.
Bieniawski, R 1989. Engineering rock mass classifications: a complete manual for engineers and geologists in mining, civil, and petroleum engineering. New York: Interscience, John Wiley & Sons.
 
7.
Brady, BHG, Brown, ET 2007. Rock mechanics for underground mining. 3rd edn. Dordrecht: Springer.
 
8.
Celada, B, Bieniawski, ZT 2020. Ground characterisation and structural analyses for tunnel design. Boca Raton: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group.
 
9.
Celada, B, Tardáguila, I, Varona, P, Rodríguez, A and Bieniawski, Z 2014. Innovating Tunnel Design by an Improved Experience-Based RMR System. Proceedings of the World Tunnel Congress, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, 9–15.
 
10.
CFCFF—Committee on Fracture Characterization and Fluid Flow 1996. Rock fractures and fluid flow: contemporary understanding and applications. Washington DC: National Research Council, National Academy Press.
 
11.
Chaminé HI, Afonso MJ, Ramos L and Pinheiro, R 2015. Scanline sampling techniques for rock engineering surveys: insights from intrinsic geologic variability and uncertainty. In D Giordan, K Thuro, C Carranza-Torres, F Wu, P Marinos, C Delgado (eds.), Engineering Geology for Society and Territory – Applied Geology for Major Engineering Projects, IAEG, Springer, 6, 357–361.
 
12.
Chaminé, HI, Afonso MJ, Teixeira J, Ramos L, Fonseca L, Pinheiro R and Galiza, AC 2013. Using engineering geosciences mapping and GISbased tools for georesources management: lessons learned from rock quarrying. Eur Geol Journal, 36, 7–33.
 
13.
Deere, DU, Deere, DW 1988. The Rock quality designation (RQD) Index in practice. L, Kirkaldie, Ed., Rock classification systems for engineering purposes, ASTM STP 984, American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, 91 -101.
 
14.
González de Vallejo, LI, Ferrer, M 2011. Geological engineering. London: CRC Press, Taylor-Francis group.
 
15.
González de Vallejo, LI 1983. A new classification system for underground assessment using surface data. IAEG Symp. On Eng. Geol. and Underground Construction, Lisboa 2. Balkema, Rotterdam, 85–94.
 
16.
González de Vallejo, LI 1985. Tunnelling evaluation using the Surface Rock Mass Classification System SRC. ISMR Symp. The Role of Rock Mechanics in Excavations for Mining and Civil Works, Zacatecas, México, vol. 1. Soc. Mexicana de Mec. de Rocas, Mexico, D.F., 458–466.
 
17.
González de Vallejo, LI 2003. SRC rock mass classification of tunnels under high tectonic stress excavated in Weak Rocks, Engineering Geology, 69(3–4), 273–285.
 
18.
Hoek, E 2007. Practical rock engineering. Toronto: RocScience: Hoek’s Corner.
 
19.
Hoek, E, Carter T, G, Diederichs, M, S 2013. Quantification of the geological strength index chart. Proceedings geomechanics symposium 47th U.S. rock mechanics, San Francisco, CA, ARMA 13-672, 1–8.
 
20.
Hoek, E 1994. Strength of rock and rock masses. News Journal of ISRM, 2(2), 4-16.
 
21.
Hoek, E 1998. Reliability of Hoek-Brown estimates of rock mass properties and their impact on design. International Journal of Rock Mechanics & Mining Sciences, 35(1), 63-68.
 
22.
Hoek, E and Brown, ET 1997. Practical estimates of rock mass strength. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. Geomech. Abstr., 34(8), 1165-1186.
 
23.
Hoek, E and Marinos, P 2000. Predicting tunnel squeezing problems in weak heterogeneous rock masses: Part 1 (estimating rock mass strength); Part 2 (potential squeezing problems in deep tunnels). Tunnels and Tunnelling International, 132(12),1-21.
 
24.
Hoek, E, Marinos, P and Benissi, M 1998. Applicability of the geological strength index (GSI) classification for very weak and sheared rock masses. The case of the Athens Schist Formation, Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 57(2), 151–160.
 
25.
Hudson JA, Priest SD (1983) Discontinuity frequency in rock mass. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geom Abstr, 20(2),75–89.
 
26.
ISRM – International Society for Rock Mechanics 1978. Suggested methods for the quantitative description of discontinuities in rock masses. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. & Geom. Abstr., 15, 6, 319-368.
 
27.
ISRM – International Society for Rock Mechanics 1981. Basic geotechnical description of rock masses. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. & Geom. Abstr., 18, 85-110.
 
28.
ISRM – International Society for Rock Mechanics 2007. The complete ISRM suggested methods for characterisation, testing and monitoring: 1974-2006. Ankara: Ulusay R. & Hudson J.A., eds., suggested methods prepared by the commission on testing methods, ISRM.
 
29.
ISRM – International Society for Rock Mechanics (2015). The ISRM Suggested Methods for Rock Characterization, Testing and Monitoring: 2007–2014. Cham, Heidelberg: Ulusay R., ed., suggested methods prepared by the commission on testing methods, ISRM, Springer.
 
30.
Marinos, P, Hoek, E 2000. GSI: a geologically friendly tool for rock mass strength estimation. Proceedings GeoEng2000 on Geotechnical and Geological Engineering. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Technomic Publishers, Lancaster, PA. 1422-1442.
 
31.
Marinos, P and Hoek, E 2001. Estimating the geotechnical properties of heterogeneous rock masses such as flysch. Bull. Eng. Geol. Env., 60, 85-92.
 
32.
Mateus, S, Afonso, MJ, Fernandes, I and Chaminé, HI 2023. RMR|14 Versus RMR|89: A Methodological Approach for Rock Mass Excavations (N Portugal). Chaminé, H.I., Fernandes, J.A. (eds) Advances in Geoengineering, Geotechnologies, and Geoenvironment for Earth Systems and Sustainable Georesources Management. Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation. Springer, Cham., 187–192.
 
33.
NGI [Norwegian Geotechnical Institute] 2015. Using the Q-system: Rock mass classification and support design. Oslo: NGI.
 
34.
Palmström, A 1995. RMi - A rock mass characterisation system for rock engineering purposes. PhD Thesis. Norway: The University of Oslo.
 
35.
Palmström, A 1996. RMi - A system for characterising rock mass strength for use in rock engineering. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Tunneling Technology, 1, 69-108.
 
36.
Pinheiro R, Ramos L, Teixeira J, Afonso MJ, Chaminé HI 2014. MGC– RocDesign|CALC: a geomechanical calculator tool for rock design. Alejano LR, Perucho A, Olalla C, Jiménez R (eds) Proceedings of Eurock 2014, rock engineering and rock mechanics: structures in and on rock masses (ISRM European regional symposium, Vigo, Spain). CRC, London, pp 655–660.
 
37.
Priest, SD 1993. Discontinuity analysis for rock engineering. London: Chapman and Hall.
 
38.
Priest, SD 2004. Determination of discontinuity size distributions from scanline data. Rock Mech Rock Eng, 37(5), 347–36.
 
39.
Romana, M 1985. New adjustment ratings for application of Bieniawski classification to slopes. Int. Symp. On the role of rock mechanics ISRM. Zacatecas, 49-53.
 
40.
Romana, M 1993. A geomechanics classification for slopes: Slope Mass Rating. Comprehensive Rock Engineering. Ed. J. Hudson. Pergamon, Vol 3, 575-600.
 
41.
Romana, M, Serón, JB, Montalar, E 2003. SMR Geomechanics classification: Application, experience, and validation, ISRM 2003–Technology roadmap for rock mechanics, South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
 
42.
Romana, M, Tomás, R and Serón, JB 2015. Slope Mass Rating (SMR) geomechanics classification: thirty years review. Hadjigeorgiou, J., Archibald, J. (eds.), Proceedings of the 13th International Symposium on Rock Mechanics, ISRM, Quebec, 1-9.
 
43.
Santa, C, Gonçalves, L and Chaminé, HI 2019. Comparative study of GSI chart versions in a heterogeneous rock mass media (Marão tunnel, north Portugal): a reliable index in geotechnical surveys and rock engineering design. Bull Eng Geol Environ, 78, 5889‐5903.
 
44.
Serafim, JL and Pereira, JP 1983. Consideration of the geomechanics classification of Bieniawski. Proceedings of the international symposium on engineering geology and underground constructions, Lisbon, 1,1133–1144.
 
45.
Singh, B, Goel, RK 2011. Engineering Rock Mass Classification. Amsterdam: Elsevier Inc. Publication.
 
46.
Smith, JV 2004. Determining the size and shape of blocks from linear sampling for geotechnical rock mass classification and assessment. J Struct Geol, 26(6–7), 1317–1339.
 
eISSN:2450-8594
ISSN:2080-5187
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top