STRENGTH OF JOINTED ROCK MASSES

Jointed rock masses comprise interlocking angular particles or blocks of hard brittle material separated by discontinuity surfaces which may or may not be coated with weaker materials. The strength of such rock masses depends on the strength of the intact pieces and on their freedom of movement which, depends on the number, orientation, spacing and shear strength of the discontinuities. A complete understanding of this problem presents formidable theoretical and experimental problems and, hence, simplifying assumptions are required in order to provide a reasonable basis for estimating the strength of jointed rock masses for engineering design purposes. This paper summarizes some of the basic information upon which such simplifying assumptions can be made. A simple empirical failure criterion is presented and its application in engineering design is illustrated by means of a number of practical examples. (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00168505
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper is the text of the twenty-third Rankine lecture of the British Geotechnical Society given on 1st March 1983 in London.
• Authors:
  • Hoek, E
• Publication Date: 1983-9

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 187-222
• Serial:
  • Geotechnique
  • Volume: 33
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Thomas Telford Limited
  • ISSN: 00168505

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Compression; Estimating; Failure; Granite; Limestone; Mass; Rock jointing; Rocks; Strength of materials; Stresses; Triaxial shear tests
• Uncontrolled Terms: Criteria; Discontinuity; Rock mass
• ITRD Terms: 5532: Compression; 5520: Failure; 4101: Granite; 4089: Joint (geomorphol); 4131: Limestone; 4154: Rock; 5544: Strength (mater); 5575: Stress (in material); 5566: Triaxial
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; I43: Rock Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00389495
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 30 1984 12:00AM