Rock Engineering Series: Rock Mass Classifications and Properties

Yun Zhou, Ph.D., P.E.

Course Outline

In this course, you need to review three notes of “Practical Rock Engineering” that were selected from a free set of notes offered online to public by Dr. Evert Hoek.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

Upon completion of this course, the student will gain the following specific knowledge:

• Rock mass classifications and applications;
• Engineering classification;
• Geomechanics classification;
• Rock mass rating (RMR) system;
• Rock tunneling quality index, Q;
• Utilizations of rock mass classification systems;
• Rock mass properties and determinations;
• Generalized Hoek-Brown criterion;
• Intact rock properties;
• Influence of sample size;
• Geological strength index;
• Mohr-Coulomb parameters;
• Rock mass strength;
• Deformation modulus;
• Post-failure behavior;
• Reliability of rock mass strength estimates;
• Poor quality rock mass at shallow depth;
• Poor quality rock mass under high stress;
• Slope stability considerations;
• Shear strength of rock discontinuities and rock mass stability;
• Shear strength of planar surfaces;
• Shear strength of rough surfaces;
• Barton’s estimate of shear strength;
• Field estimates of joint roughness coefficient (JRC);
• Influence of scale on JRC and joint compressive strength (JCS);
• Shear strength of filled discontinuities;
• Influence of water pressure; and
• Instantaneous cohesion and friction.
  

Intended Audience

This course is applicable to civil, mining, structural, and geotechnical engineers, as well as design and construction personnel involved with the planning, design, and construction of building structures on, in, and with rocks.

Benefit to Attendees

Attendee of this course will be able to understand and deal with issues associated with rock mass classifications and properties.

Course Introduction

This course provides a general understanding of rock mass classifications and properties to geotechnical engineers and engineering geologists.

Course Content

The course content is contained in the following PDF file:

Rock Engineering Series: Rock Mass Classifications and Properties

Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Course Summary

This course, as a part of Rock Engineering Series, covers rock mass classifications and rock mass properties, including shear strength of rock discontinuities.

Related Links

For additional information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:

PDHonline Course C550 - Rock Engineering Series: Underground Openings
PDHonline Course C551 - Rock Engineering Series: Rock Slopes
PDHonline Course C553 - Rock Engineering Series: Background

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

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DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.

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