SOIL MECHANICS, ROCK MECHANICS AND SOFT ROCK TECHNOLOGY

Soft rocks are often regarded as being a fringe group of geotechnical materials whose engineering behaviour can be extrapolated from the more established areas of soil or rock mechanics. However, there appears to be strong evidence for the argument that soft rocks are in fact central to one continuous geotechnical science which extends from soft soils through to hard rocks. Within this framework, all geotechnical materials behave according to the same engineering principles, with the obvious differences a function of degree rather than of fundamental nature. It follows that there may be some considerable advantages in considering the whole of geotechnical performance as one discipline. Such an approach is likely to lead to a more rational development of soft rock technology. It is also suggested that this could lead to a more thorough understanding of geomechanics in general. (A)

• Corporate Authors:

  Thomas Telford Limited

  London,   United Kingdom 
• Authors:
  • JOHNSTON, I W
  • NOVELLO, E A
• Conference:
  • PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS: GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
• Publication Date: 1994-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 3-9
• Serial:
  • Volume: 107
  • Issue Number: 1

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Classification; Compressibility; Rocks; Strength of materials; Technology
• ITRD Terms: 9001: Behaviour; 8513: Classification; 5905: Compressibility; 4154: Rock; 5544: Strength (mater); 3855: Technology
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00662524
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Jul 28 1994 12:00AM