ROCK MECHANICS AND THE
PROPERTIES OF ROCKS
(PHYSICAL, MECHANICAL, AND
DYNAMIC PROPERTIES).
SAMONTE , CHRISTIAN MARK C.
ROCK MECHANICS
is a discipline that uses the
principles of mechanics to describe
the behaviour of rocks under
various physical forces.
In 1963, the Rock Mechanics Committee of the American
National Academy of Science was founded and the term
adopted the following definition:
Rock mechanics is the theoretical and applied science of
the mechanical behaviour of rock. It is the branch of
mechanics concerned with the response of rock to the
force fields of its physical environment.
TWO MAJOR BRANCHES
OF ROCK MECHANICS:
STRUCTURAL ROCK MECHANICS
COMMINUTION
1. STRUCTURAL ROCK
MECHANICS
is concerned with the stability of engineering
structures in which the material is predominantly rock.
2. COMMINUTION
which is concerned with the reduction of rock to small
fragments by the application of external forces as in
drilling, blasting, cutting, and grinding.
UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS
OF ROCKS VS. CONSTRUCTION
MATERIALS
Construction Materials: Typically continuous,
homogeneous, isotropic, and linearly elastic (CHILE). Their
properties are well-known and controllable during
production.
Rocks: Are discontinuous, inhomogeneous, anisotropic, and
non-linearly elastic (DIANE). The properties of rocks are
often variable and difficult to control, making their
behavior less predictable.
DISCONTINUITIES IN ROCKS
Discontinuities are fractures or breaks in rocks that
affect their mechanical behaviour. They can be
classified into two types:
Normal Discontinuities
Artificial Discontinuities
Normal Discontinuities: These include large, smooth
fractures that are often weathered or infilled, such
as faults, joints, bedding, and fractures.
Artificial Discontinuities: These are smaller, rough,
and often fresh fractures with no specific pattern,
typically created by human activities.
INHOMOGENEITY OF ROCKS
Inhomogeneity of Rock Materials: This refers to the
variation in rock properties at different locations, often
due to mineral composition or the presence of
discontinuities.
Inhomogeneity of Rock Masses: This is primarily caused by
the existence of discontinuities in the rock mass, which
significantly affect its mechanical behavior.
ANISOTROPY OF ROCKS
Anisotropy is defined as variations of properties with respect
to the directions concerned in design and analysis of rock
structures.
STRESS IN ROCKS
Stress is the force per unit area applied to a rock. It
can be classified into:
Normal Stress: Stress that acts perpendicular to a
surface.
Shear Stress: Stress that acts parallel to a
surface.
PHYSICAL, MECHANICAL,
AND DYNAMIC PROPERTIES
OF ROCKS
Physical
Properties
may be known as Index
Properties
it describes the rock material
and helps in classifying them
Physical Properties
Mineralogic Composition, Structure, and
Texture
The composition, structure, and texture of rock
materials directly control their strength. While
there are over 2,000 known minerals, only about
nine play a significant role in rock formation.
Physical Properties
Specific Gravity and Unit Weight
Specific Gravity (G), is the ratio of the density
of the rock to the density of water. It helps
determine whether the rock will float or sink.
Unit Weight (Y), also known as specific weight,
relates the rock's size, mass, density, and
force.
Physical Properties
Density, Void Ratio, and Porosity:
Density refers to how compact the rock is, and
it is related to its mineral composition.
Void Ratio is the ratio of the volume of voids to
the volume of solids, and is related to porosity.
Porosity is the proportion of the volume that is
not solid, affecting water storage and
permeability.
Physical Properties
Moisture Content and Degree of Saturation:
Moisture Content influences physical
properties such as weight and density.
Degree of Saturation indicates how much
moisture is present in the rock relative to its
total void capacity.
Physical Properties
Permeability and Electrical and Thermal
Properties
Permeability: Describes the rock's ability to
transmit fluids. Highly porous rocks with well-
connected voids have high permeability.
Electrical Properties: majority of rocks are
dielectric, and measurements of dielectric
constants are used to interpret data.
Physical Properties
Permeability and Electrical and Thermal
Properties
Thermal Properties: The increase in
temperature also makes rock weaker due to the
formation of cracks in the rock mass.
Physical Properties
Swelling, Anisotropy and Durability
Swelling occurs when rocks absorb water and
increase in volume.
Anisotropy refers to the condition where the
properties of a rock mass vary depending on the
direction.
Physical Properties
Swelling, Anisotropy and Durability
Durability refers to how resistant rocks are to
weathering and other forms of degradation
over time.
Mechanical
Properties
Mechanical properties
describe a rock's strength
and its ability to resist
deformation under load.
Mechanical Properties
Compressive Strength: The ability of a rock to
withstand axial loads without failure. Uniaxial
Compressive Strength is determined by dividing
the load at failure by the cross-sectional area
of the rock.
Mechanical Properties
Direct Methods: Tests like the uniaxial
compression and triaxial compression tests
directly measure compressive strength.
Indirect Methods: Techniques like the Schmidt
Hammer Test and Point Load Test estimate
compressive strength without damaging the
rock sample.
Mechanical Properties
Tensile Strength: The maximum tension a rock
can withstand before failure. Rocks are
generally weak in tension, but tensile strength
is important for understanding failure
mechanisms.
Mechanical Properties
Direct Methods: Involve applying uniaxial
tensile stress.
Indirect Methods: Techniques like the Brazilian
Disc Test estimate tensile strength non-
destructively.
Mechanical Properties
Shear Strength: This refers to the maximum
resistance to deformation caused by shear
stresses. It is essential for analyzing rock
slopes and foundations.
Mechanical Properties
Shear Strength Tests: Include laboratory tests
to measure shear resistance along weakness
planes in the rock.
Dynamic Properties
Stress Waves: Stress waves are generated when
stress is applied to a rock, causing deformation
that propagates as sound waves through the
material. They are essential for understanding
seismic activities.
Dynamic Properties
Lithostatic Stress: Pressure experienced by
rocks due to the weight of overlying materials.
Differential Stress: Unequal stress
experienced by rocks, often caused by tectonic
forces.
Dynamic Properties
Strain: The deformation or change in shape that
occurs in response to applied stress.
Elastic Deformation: The rock returns to its
original shape after the stress is removed.
Dynamic Properties
Ductile Deformation: Occurs under high
temperature and pressure, causing the rock to
flow rather than fracture.
Brittle Deformation: Characterized by rock
fracturing when stress exceeds its yield
strength.
Dynamic Properties
Elastic Constants: These constants describe the
rock's ability to return to its original shape
after deformation:
Modulus of Elasticity (Young’s Modulus):
Measures resistance to compression.
Dynamic Properties
Shear Modulus: Measures resistance to shear
deformation.
Bulk Modulus: Measures resistance to volume
change under pressure.
Poisson's Ratio: Describes the relationship
between lateral strain and longitudinal strain
under loading.
THANK
YOU!
