Definition
Engineering properties of rocks are the indices used for comparing the engineering behavior of rocks tested under similar conditions, following standardized procedures.
Introduction
Rocks are significant in engineering construction because (West 1995):
- 1.
They are important building materials with numerous applications in engineering construction.
- 2.
Many engineering structures are built directly on rock, and their stability depends on the stability and quality of the foundation rock.
The engineering properties of rocks determine their behavior as construction materials and as structural foundations. There are two classes of rock properties: (a) intact rock properties and (b) rock mass properties. An intact rock contains no visible discontinuities (joints, bedding, foliation planes, etc.) whereas a rock mass is interrupted by discontinuities. Properties of intact rock are measured on small samples in the laboratory, whereas rock mass properties, being controlled by planes of...
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Shakoor, A. (2018). Rock Properties. In: Bobrowsky, P.T., Marker, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Engineering Geology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73568-9_246
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