UNIFORM ROCK CLASSIFICATION FOR GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING PURPOSES

The Unified Rock Classification System (URCS) is used by a large organization, such as the Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to handle projects of all sizes that involve rock. Existing geologic classifications have not provided the necessary information. The usefulness of URCS is that the pertinent natural conditions related to design and strength are emphasized and can be read at a glance, which allows an immediate assessment. A decision is then made as to the appropriate level of detail and the extent of investigation needed to complete or evaluate the project. Efforts can be concentrated toward the rock conditions that are most critical to the project. The data base that covers rock conditions is, in many instances, too detailed for collective analysis. URCS is a type of engineering shorthand to convey maximum design and construction information and omit specific details unrelated to a general evaluation. (Author)

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1980/783/783-002.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=UNIFORM+ROCK+CLASSIFICATION+FOR+GEOTECHNICAL+ENGINEERING+PURPOSES&author=D.+Williamson&publication_year=1980
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309031710
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Exploration and Classification of Earth Materials. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Williamson, Douglas A
• Conference:
  • 59th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1980-1-21 to 1980-1-25
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 9-14
• Monograph Title: Rock classifications and horizontal drilling and drainage
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 783
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Classification; Design; Geotechnical engineering; Mass; Rocks; Strength of materials
• Uncontrolled Terms: Rock mass
• Subject Areas: Design; Geotechnology; Highways; I41: General Soil Surveys;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00335183
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309031710
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 16 1981 12:00AM