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Modification of rock mass strength assessment methods and their application in geotechnical engineering

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Abstract

Due to complicated structures and discontinuities in surrounding rock mass, existing empirical failure criteria cannot meet the requirements of engineering practice such as tunnels. To improve estimation accuracy on the strength of rock mass with joints, a modified chart of the Geological Strength Index using Hoek–Brown criteria was further tested to estimate rock mass strength [Lin et al. (2014) Bull Eng Geol Environ 4(73):1245–1258], and, in this paper, new strength estimation equations for jointed rock mass were then modified based on a large dataset obtained from Chinese projects. Here, standard drilling time is first introduced and described in this study, and then used as a parameter to estimate rock strength. Different empirical formulas based on joint density, rock mass classification, Hoek–Brown criteria, and elastic wave velocity are thus used to estimate rock mass strength by using data from the Jiubao tunnel. The results estimated based on different empirical formulas were similar, indicating that the modified assessment method presented in this paper can be used to estimate rock mass strength under certain circumstances. Cross-correlation of different empirical methods provides significant confidence in predicted rock mass strength calculations.

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Abbreviations

N :

Total number of joints in a rock mass specimen

f :

Correlation coefficient based on different engineering types

σ cm :

Uniaxial compressive strength of rock mass (MPa)

σ c :

Uniaxial compressive strength of rock (MPa)

σ sc :

Saturated compressive strength of a rock specimen (MPa)

σ dc :

Dry compressive strength of a rock specimen (MPa)

σ 1 :

Major principal compressive stresses at peak strength (MPa)

σ 3 :

Minor principal compressive stresses at peak strength (MPa)

γ :

Unit weight of rock mass

V pm :

Wave velocity of longitudinal waves in the jointed rock (km/s)

V pc :

Wave velocity of longitudinal waves in the intact rock (km/s)

RMR:

Rock mass rating

Q :

Rock mass quality

Jr:

Joint roughness

Ja:

Joint alteration

RMC:

Rock mineral condition

RCL:

Rock core length

Dt:

Drilling time (min/m)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute of Highway, Ministry of Transport, Beijing, 100088, China

    Daming Lin & Weixing Bao

  2. Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Kaiyang Wang, Kun Li, Wantong He & Yanjun Shang

  3. Traffic Planning and Design Institute of Yunnan Province, Kunming, 650011, China

    Kaiyang Wang

  4. Key Laboratory of Active Tectonics and Volcano, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing, 100029, China

    Renmao Yuan

  5. Sinkiang Traffic Construction Management Bureau, Ürümqi, 830001, China

    Weixing Bao

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  1. Daming Lin
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  2. Kaiyang Wang
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  3. Kun Li
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  4. Wantong He
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  5. Weixing Bao
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  6. Renmao Yuan
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  7. Yanjun Shang
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Correspondence to Renmao Yuan.

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Lin, D., Wang, K., Li, K. et al. Modification of rock mass strength assessment methods and their application in geotechnical engineering. Bull Eng Geol Environ 76, 1471–1480 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-016-0952-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-016-0952-9

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