A quantitative comparison of strength criteria for hard rock masses

Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology

Volumn 22, Issue 1, 2007, Pages 57-68

  Edelbro, Catrin ^a   Sjöberg, Jonny ^b   Nordlund, Erling ^a  

^a LULEÅ UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY   (Sweden)

^b SwedPower Co   (Sweden)

Author keywords

Characterisation; Classification; Failure criterion; Rock mass strength; Round Robin test

Indexed keywords

EMPIRICAL FAILURE; FAILURE CRITERION; HARD ROCK MASSES; ROCK MASS STRENGTH; ROUND ROBIN TEST;

CHARACTERIZATION; FAILURE (MECHANICAL); NUMERICAL METHODS; ROCKS; STRENGTH OF MATERIALS; TESTING;

TUNNELING (EXCAVATION);

CHARACTERIZATION; FAILURE (MECHANICAL); NUMERICAL METHODS; ROCKS; STRENGTH OF MATERIALS; TESTING; TUNNELING (EXCAVATION);

EXCAVATION; FAILURE ANALYSIS; HARD ROCK; HOEK-BROWN CRITERION; ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION;

EID: 33749991807     PISSN: 08867798     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.tust.2006.02.003     Document Type: Article

References (45)

1. Barton N.R., Lien R., and Lunde J. Engineering classification of rock masses for the design of tunnel support. Rock Mech. 6 (1974) 189-239
2. Barton N. Some new Q-value correlations to assist in site characterisation and tunnel design. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. 39 (2002) 185-216
3. Bieniawski, Z.T., 1974. Geomechanics classification of rock masses and its application in tunnelling. In: Proceedings of the 3rd International Congress on Rock Mechanics, Denver, pp. 27-32.
4. Bieniawski Z.T. Engineering Rock Mass Classification: A Manual (1989), Wiley, New York pp. 205-219
5. Brook N., and Dharmaratne P.G.R. Simplified rock mass rating system for mine tunnel support. T. I. Min. Metall. A 94 (1985) 148-154 ISSN: 0371-7844 CODEN: TIMN AQ (in English)
6. Coates D.F., and Patching T.H. A recommended rock classification for rock mechanics purposes. CIM Bull. October (1968) 1195-1197
7. Coates, D.F., 1970. Rock mechanics principles. Mines Branch Monograph 874. Mines Branch, Dept. of Energy, Mines and Resources, Ottawa.
8. Cummings, R.A., Kendorski, F.S., Bieniawski, Z.T., 1982. Caving rock mass classification and support estimation. US Bureau of Mines Contract Report #J0100103. Engineers International Inc., Chicago.
9. Deere D.U. Geological considerations. Rock Mechanics in Engineering Practice, Division of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Wales, Swansea (1968), Wiley, New York pp. 1-20
10. Deere D.U., and Deere D.W. The rock quality designation (RQD) index in practice. Rock Classification Systems for Engineering Purposes, ASTM STP 984 (1988), American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia pp. 91-101
11. Edelbro, C., 2003. Rock mass strength-a review. Technical report 2003:16, Luleå University of Technology. ISSN:1402 - 1536. Available from: .
12. Goel R.K., Jethwa J.L., and Paithankar A.G. Correlation between Barton's Q and Bieniawski's RMR-a new approach. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. 33 2 (1995) 179-181 (Technical note)
13. Hoek, E., Brown, E.T., 1988. The Hoek-Brown failure criterion - a 1988 update. In: Proceedings of 15th Can. Rock Mech. Symp., University of Toronto, pp. 31-38.
14. Hoek E., Kaiser P.K., and Bawden W.F. Support of underground excavations in hard rock (1995), A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Brookfield
15. Hoek, E., Carranza-Torres, C., Corkum, B., 2002. Hoek-Brown failure criterion - 2002 ed. In: Proceedings of the 5th North American Rock Mechanics Symposium and 17th Tunnelling Association of Canada Conference: NARMS-TAC 2002, July 7-10, University of Toronto, pp. 267-271. Updated version (October 2, 2002). Available from: .
16. Hval, O., 2000. Sammenlikning av de ingeniørgeologiske klassifikasjonssystemene RMR, Q og RMi - erfaringer fra praktisk anvendelse i Tåsentunnelen og Svartdalstunnelen. Cand. Scient. Oppgave ved Institutt for geologi, Universitetet i Oslo (in Norwegian).
17. International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM). Commission on classification of rocks and rock masses. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Abstr. 18 (1981) 85-110
18. Krauland N., Söder P., and Agmalm G. Determination of rock mass strength by rock mass classification some experience and questions from Boliden mines. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. 26 1 (1989) 115-123
19. Laubscher D.H. Geomechanics classification of jointed rock masses-mining applications. T. I. Min. Metall. A 86 (1977) A1-A8
20. Laubscher D.H. Design aspects and effectiveness of support systems in different mining conditions. T. I. Min. Metall. A. 93 (1984) A70-A81
21. Laubscher, D.H., Jakubec, J., 2000. The IRMR/MRMR rock mass classification system for jointed rock masses. In: SME Annual Meeting, February 28-March 1, Salt Lake City, Utah, pp. 475-481.
22. Lauffer H. Classification for tunnel construction. Geol Bauwesen 2 1 (1958) 46-51 (in German)
23. Lundman, P., Sjöberg, J., Lindfors, U., 2004. Banverkets syn på bergmekanisk dimensionering med exempel från framtida projetkeringshandbok. Bergmekanikdag 2004 - Föredrag (Stockholm, March 17, 2004). Stiftelsen Svensk Bergteknisk Forskning-SveBeFo, Stockholm, pp. 21-30 (in Swedish).
24. Matula, M., Holzer, R., 1978. Engineering typology of rock masses. In: Proceedings of Felsmekanik Kolloquium, Grundlagen und Andwendung der Felsmekanik, Karlsruhe, Germany, pp. 107-121.
25. Nilsen B., Shrestha GL., Panthi K.K., Holmøy KH., and Olsen V. RMR vs Q vs RMI. Tunnell Tunnelling Int. 35 5 (2003) 45-48
26. Palmström, A., 1995. RMi - A rock mass characterisation system for rock engineering purposes. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Oslo, Norway.
27. Rabcewicz L.v. The new Austrian tunnelling method. Part 1. Water Power November (1964) 511-515
28. Rabcewicz L.v. The new Austrian tunnelling method. Part 2. Water Power January (1965) 19-24
29. Rabcewicz L.v. Tunnel under Alps uses new, cost saving lining method. Civil Eng. - ASCE October (1975) 66-68
30. Ramamurthy T., and Arora V.K. A classification for intact and jointed rocks. Geotechnical Engineering of Hard Soils-Soft Rocks (1993), Balkema, Rotterdam pp. 235-242
31. Ramamurthy T. Shear strength response of some geological materials in triaxial compression. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. 38 (2001) 683-697
32. TAB. http://www.rocscience.com/products/ExamineTab.asp, accessed 19.05.03.
33. Rocscience, 2004. RocLab Version 1.010. Available from: .
34. Romana, M., 1985. New adjustment ratings for application of Bieniawski classification to slopes. In: Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Role of Rock Mechanics, Zacatecas, pp. 49-53.
35. Sandström, D., 2003. Analysis of virgin state of stress at the Kiirunavaara mine. Licentiate Thesis 2003:02, Luleå University of Technology.
36. Sheorey P.R., Biswas A.K., and Choubey V.D. An empirical failure criterion for rocks and jointed rock masses. Eng. Geol. 26 (1989) 141-159
37. Sheorey P.R. Empirical rock failure criteria (1997), A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam. 90 5410 670 0
38. Singh B., and Goel R.K. Rock Mass Classification - A Practical Approach in Civil Engineering (1999), Elsevier, Netherlands
39. Staub I., Fredriksson A., and Christiansson R. A theoretical model for the characterisation of rock mass mechanical properties - application at the Äspö HRL, Sweden. Proceedings of the 10th Congress of the ISRM, 8-12 September 2003, South Africa vol. 2 (2003), The South African institute of mining and metallurgy, Johannesburg 1161-1166
40. Stille, H., Groth, T., Fredriksson, A., 1982. FEM-analysis of rock mechanical problems with JOBFEM, Stiftelsen Bergteknisk Forskning - BeFo, Stockholm, 307, 1/82.
41. Terzaghi K. Introduction to tunnel geology. Rock Tunnelling with Steel Supports (1946) 5-153
42. Thorpe, R., Watkins, D.J., Ralph, W.E., Hsu, R., Flexser, S., 1980. Strength and permeability tests on ultra-large Stripa granite core. Technical information report No. 31. Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley.
43. Wickham G.E., Tiedeman H.R., and Skinner E.H. Support determination based on geological predictions. Proceedings of the North American Rapid Excavation and Tunnelling Conference (1972), American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York 43-64
44. Williamson D.A. Unified rock classification system. Bull Assoc. Eng. Geol. XXI 3 (1984) 345-354
45. Yudhbir, Lemanza, W., Prinzl, F., 1983. An empirical failure criterion for rock masses. In: Proceedings of the 5th International Congress on Rock Mechanics, Melbourne, Balkema, Rotterdam, vol. 1, pp. B1-B8.