CASE STUDIES: PREDICTION OF ROCK MASS BEHAVIOUR BY THE GEOMECHANICS CLASSIFICATION

After a brief review of the present state of knowledge concerning engineering classifications of jointed rock masses, a classification system developed in South Africa and known as the geomechanics classification is described. It is shown how this classification provides an engineering assessment of rock masses, based on a rating system of the most significant geological parameters and how this leads to direct practical guidelines such as selection of rock support and reinforcement measures. The main part of the paper is devoted to case histories involving recent applications of the geomechanics classification to tunnels, caverns, slopes and foundation problems in civil engineering and to haulage and chamber stability as well as to caveability assessment in mining projects. Results from these case studies, most of which are failure cases, demonstrate that rock mass behaviour can be effectively assessed, for practical engineering purposes, by means of the geomechanics classification. (A) /TRRL/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Proceedings of 2nd Australia-New Zealand Conference
• Corporate Authors:

  Institution of Engineers

  Science House, Gloucester and Essex Streets
  Sydney,   Australia 
• Authors:
  • Bienawski, Z T
• Conference:
  • Proceedings of 2nd Australia-New Zealand Conference
• Publication Date: 1975

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 36-41

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Anchorages; Bridges; Civil engineering; Classification; Forecasting; Foundations; Geophysics; Groundwater; Mass; Rock jointing; Rocks; Strength of materials; Timbering; Tunnels
• Uncontrolled Terms: Rock mass
• ITRD Terms: 3420: Anchorage; 3455: Bridge; 8513: Classification; 132: Forecast; 3377: Foundation; 4383: Ground water; 4089: Joint (geomorphol); 4154: Rock; 5544: Strength (mater); 3605: Timbering; 3374: Tunnel
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Geotechnology; Highways; I25: Design of Tunnels; I43: Rock Mechanics; I53: Construction of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I54: Construction of Tunnels;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00148007
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 31 1977 12:00AM