Engineering

Rock Mass
Classifications
A Complete Manual for
Engineers and Geologists
in Mining, Civil, and
Petroleum Engineering

Z. T. Bieniawski
Professor and Director
Mining and Minera] Resources Research Lnstitute
The Pennsylvania State University

A WILEY-INTERSCIENCE

John Wiley & Sons

Jew York I Chichester I Brisbane I Toronto I Singapore
 Contents

PREFACE xi

1 INTRODUCTION 1
I . l Function of Classifi cations in Engineering I
1.2 Rock Classifications as Design Aids I 2
References I 3

2 ROLE OF ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATIONS IN SITE

CHARACTERIZATION AND ENGINEERING DESIGN 5
2. I Rock as an Engineering Material I 6
2.2 Structural Features of Rock Masses I 9
2.3 Site Characterization Procedures I lO
2.4 Input Data Requirements: An Integral Approach I 2 1
2.5 Design Methodologies I 23
References I 26

3 EARLY ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATIONS 29

3. 1 Rock Load Classification Method I 32
3.2 Stand-Up T ime Classification I 33
3.3 Rock Quality Desig nation Lndex (RQD) I 37
3.4 Rock Structure Rating (RS R) Concept I 40
References I 4 7

vi/
v/li CONTENTS

4 GEOMECHANICS CLASSIFICATION (ROCK MASS

RATING SYSTEM) 51
4. I Cla~~ification Procedures I 52
4.2 Application I 63
-+.3 Data Base I 66
4.4 Correlations I 68
References I 69

5 Q-SYSTEM 73
5.1 Classification Procedures I 74
5.2 Correlations I 82
5.3 Data Base I 89
References I 90

6 OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS 91
6. 1 NATM Classifi cation I 91
6.2 Size- Strength Classification I 95
6.3 ISRM Classification I 101
6.4 Specialized Classification Approaches I 103
References I 103

7 APPLICATIONS IN TUNNELING 107

7. I Park River Tunnel I I07
7.2 Overvaal Ra ilroad Tunnel I 12 1
7.3 Assessment of Underground Conditions from Surface
Rock Exposures I 123
7.4 Large Underground Chambers I 123
7.5 Maximum Spans and Safety Factor for Unsupported
Excavations I 131
References I 134

8 APPLICATIONS IN MINING 137

8. 1 Hard Rock Mining: Africa I 137
8.2 Hard Rock Mining: USA I 143
8.3 Coal Mining: USA I 162
8.4 Coal Mining: India I 169
References I J75
 CONTENTS IX

9 OTHER APPLICATIONS 177

9. 1 E~timating Rm.:k Mass Strength I 177
9.2 Estimating Rock Mass Modulus I 185
9.3 A'::. es'::.i ng Rock Slope Stability I 186
9.4 Special Uses I I 7
9.5 lmproving Communication: Unified Classification
System I 198
References I 20 I

10 CASE HISTORIES DATA BASE 205

Listing of RMR Case Histories I 207

APPENDIX: DETERMINATION OF THE ROCK MASS

RATING 221
Output Example I 222
Program Listing for Personal Computer I 226

BIBLIOGRAPHY 239

INDEX 249