Engineering Geology II

Chapter 3.0 Rock Mass Classification

3.1 Introduction to Rock Mass

In civil engineering, we deal with rock mass, not just intact rock.1 A rock
mass is a natural, in-situ material comprising intact rock material (the
strong, unfractured rock) intersected by a network of discontinuities
(geological breaks like joints, faults, or bedding planes).2 These
discontinuities are the primary features dictating the overall mechanical
behavior and permeability of the rock mass, making it significantly different
from the intact rock itself.

Understanding rock mass behavior is fundamental for successful civil

engineering projects such as:

 Foundation Design: Assessing bearing capacity and settlement.

 Tunneling & Underground Excavations: Ensuring stability and
determining support needs.3
 Slope Stability: Analyzing risks of rockfalls and landslides.4
 Dam Design: Ensuring stable foundations and abutments.5
 Estimating Rock Mass Properties: Deriving strength and deformability
parameters for design.

A typical rock mass showing intact rock blocks separated by

discontinuities.

3.2 Discontinuity Characteristics

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 Engineering Geology II

The behavior of a rock mass is largely controlled by the characteristics of

its discontinuities.6 Key parameters to assess include:

1. Type of Discontinuity:
o Joints: Fractures with no significant displacement.7 Most common.
o Faults: Fractures with significant shear displacement, often with gouge or
breccia.8
o Bedding Planes: Depositional surfaces in sedimentary rocks.
o Cleavage/Foliation: Planar fabrics in metamorphic rocks.9
o Shear Zones: Zones of intense deformation and fracturing.
2. Orientation (Dip and Dip Direction):
o Dip: Angle of inclination from the horizontal (0∘−90∘).
o Dip Direction: Bearing perpendicular to strike, in the direction of dip
(0∘−360∘).
o Importance: Critical for assessing kinematic stability (e.g., planar or
wedge failures) relative to the engineering structure.10

Illustration of dip angle and dip direction for a discontinuity plane.

3. Spacing:
o The perpendicular distance between adjacent discontinuity planes within a
set.

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 Engineering Geology II

o Ranges: Very Wide (>2m), Wide (0.6-2m), Moderately Close (200-

600mm), Close (60-200mm), Very Close (<60mm).
o Importance: Closely spaced discontinuities lead to smaller blocks,
generally resulting in a weaker and more deformable rock mass.
4. Persistence (Continuity):
o The areal extent or length of a discontinuity surface.

o Ranges: Very Low (<1m), Low (1-3m), Medium (3-10m), High (10-20m),
Very High (>20m).
o Importance: Highly persistent discontinuities form continuous planes of
weakness, increasing the risk of large-scale failures.
5. Roughness:
o The texture and waviness of the discontinuity surface. Includes small-
scale asperities and large-scale waviness.

o Importance: Rough and undulating surfaces provide greater mechanical

interlocking and higher shear strength. Smooth or slickensided surfaces
have lower friction.

6. Wall Strength:
o The strength of the intact rock material immediately forming the
discontinuity walls.

o Importance: Weak or altered wall rock can crush under stress, reducing
shear strength.
7. Aperture:
o The perpendicular distance between the adjacent rock walls of a
discontinuity.

o Ranges: Tight (<0.1mm) to Very Wide (>100mm).

o Importance: Wide apertures reduce interlocking and facilitate water flow.
8. Filling Material:
o Any material within the discontinuity (e.g., clay, silt, calcite).

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 Engineering Geology II

o Importance: Weak, deformable fills (e.g., clay) significantly reduce shear

strength. Strong fills (e.g., quartz veins) can increase it.
9. Seepage/Groundwater Conditions:
o Presence and flow of water within discontinuities.

o Importance: Groundwater reduces effective normal stress (reducing

shear strength), can cause pore pressure build-up (hydraulic jacking), and
facilitates weathering or dissolution.

10. Block Size and Shape:

o The dimensions and form of intact rock blocks defined by intersecting
discontinuity sets.

o Importance: Smaller, angular, and poorly interlocked blocks are generally

more unstable. Influences kinematic failure modes.

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 Engineering Geology II

3.3 Rock Mass Classification Systems and Their Importance

Rock mass classification systems are standardized, empirical methods

to rate and group rock masses based on their properties. They aim to:

 Describe rock masses consistently.

 Estimate rock mass properties.

 Suggest support systems.

 Facilitate communication.

Importance in Civil Engineering: These systems are crucial for:

 Preliminary Design: Quick assessment for feasibility.

 Support System Selection: Guiding ground support for excavations (e.g.,
tunnels).
 Cost Estimation: Aiding in project budgeting.
 Risk Assessment: Identifying unstable zones.
 Empirical Design: Forming a basis for design decisions.
 Input for Numerical Models: Providing parameters for advanced
analyses.

3.4 Key Rock Mass Classification Systems

3.4.1 Rock Mass Rating (RMR) System (Bieniawski, 1976, 1989)

The RMR system (Geomechanics Classification) sums ratings from six

parameters to classify rock mass quality.

Parameters and Basic Ratings:

1. UCS of Intact Rock: (e.g., >250 MPa: 15; <1 MPa: 0)

2. RQD: (e.g., 90-100%: 20; <25%: 3)

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 Engineering Geology II

3. Spacing of Discontinuities: (e.g., >2m: 20; <60mm: 5)

4. Condition of Discontinuities: Based on roughness, aperture,
persistence, infill, weathering (range 0-30).
5. Groundwater Conditions: (e.g., Dry: 15; Flowing: 0)
6. Orientation of Discontinuities: A deduction factor (0 to -60) based on
favorability to the structure.

RMR Classification and Support Guidelines:

The total RMR score (sum of 1-5 minus orientation adjustment)

categorizes rock mass into 5 classes (Very Good to Very Poor), with
associated strength properties (cohesion, friction angle) and general
tunnel support recommendations.

RMR Friction
Cla Descrip Cohesio Tunnel Support
Rang Angle
ss tion n (MPa) Guidelines
e (Deg)

81- Very No support/spot

I >0.4 >45
100 Good bolting

Spot bolting, local

61-80 II Good 0.3-0.4 40-45
mesh

Systematic bolting,
41-60 III Fair 0.2-0.3 35-40
shotcrete

Bolting, shotcrete,
21-40 IV Poor 0.1-0.2 30-35
steel sets

Very Heavy support,

<20 V <0.1 <30
Poor grouting

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 Engineering Geology II

Importance: Used for preliminary design of various rock structures,

estimating rock mass properties, and basic tunnel support.

3.4.2 NGI-Q System (Barton, Lien & Lunde, 1974)

The Q-system, by Barton et al. (NGI), is primarily for tunnel support

design.

Formula: Q=JnRQD×JaJr×SRFJw

Parameters:

 RQD (RQD): Rock quality designation.

 Jn (Joint Set Number): Number of discontinuity sets.
 Jr (Joint Roughness Number): Roughness of critical joints.
 Ja (Joint Alteration Number): Alteration/infill of joints.
 Jw (Joint Water Reduction Factor): Water pressure/inflow.
 SRF (Stress Reduction Factor): Stress conditions (squeezing, swelling,
shear zones).

Q-value and Equivalent Dimension (De):

Q is combined with De=ESRExcavation Span to determine support.

 ESR (Excavation Support Ratio): Varies based on excavation purpose

and risk (e.g., 1.6 for temporary mines, 1.0 for permanent power caverns).

Importance: Widely used for direct design of support in tunnels and

underground excavations.

3.4.3 Geological Strength Index (GSI) System (Hoek et al., 1995, 2013)

GSI, by Hoek et al., is a visual classification for estimating rock mass

strength and deformability parameters for the Hoek-Brown failure
criterion. It doesn't give direct support recommendations.

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 Engineering Geology II

How GSI is Determined (Visual Assessment):

1. Rock Mass Structure (Blockiness): Degree of fracturing and block

interlocking (Intact, Blocky, Very Blocky, Disintegrated/Friable,
Laminar/Sheared).
2. Surface Condition of Discontinuities (Quality): Roughness, alteration,
and infilling (Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor, Very Poor).

Applications of GSI:

 Input for Hoek-Brown Failure Criterion: GSI is a key parameter (GSI) to

calculate rock mass strength constants (mb,s,a).
 Estimating Rock Mass Deformation Modulus (Erm): Helps estimate
stiffness.

Importance: Crucial for quantifying rock mass quality for advanced

numerical modeling, especially in highly fractured or heterogeneous rock.

Approximate Correlations (Use with Caution):

 RMR≈9lnQ+44
 GSI ≈ RMR (before orientation/groundwater adjustments)

Prepared By: Er. Suman Timsina