ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION

ASHOK KUMAR
Director
Geological Survey of India
 Rock Classifications
• Geological Classification of rocks.
– Igneous
– Sedimentary
– Metamorphic

• Rock Classification for engineering

requirements.
– Intact rock classification
(strength based-UCS)
– Rock mass classification
Rock Mass

 The rock mass is the assemblage of blocks of

intact rock, which are bounded by various types
of discontinuities, i. e. joints, faults, shears, etc.

 The rock mass has the characteristics of both

intact rock and discontinuities.
ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATIONS

 Terzaghi's classification (1946)

 Lauffer (1958) modified many times by Austrian
engineers
 Deere's RQD (1964)
 Rock Structure Rating (RSR)-1972
 Geomechanics clasification (RMR system)
– 1973, 1976, 1989
 Rock Mass Quality 'Q' (Barton et al., 1974)
modified in 1993 and 1995)
Terzaghi’s Rock Load Classification
(1946)

– First practical method of rock load estimation

for design of steel rib supports.

– Most commonly used for over 3-4 decades,

particularly in America.

– Not suitable for modern tunnelling methods

using rock bolts, s(m), SFRS, PFRS, etc.
 Terzaghi’s Rock Load Classification (1946)
SURFACE
Rock condition Rock load Hp
(ft) W
1. Hard and intact - Zero Bt
2.Hard stratified - 0 to 0.5B
or schistose
3. Massive, moderately - 0 to 0.25B
jointed
H Hp
4. Moderately blocky - 0.25B to
and seamy 0.35 (B+Ht)
5. Very Blocky and seamy - ( 0.35 to 1.10)
(B+Ht)
6. Completely crushed - 1.10 (B+Ht)
7. Squeezing rock - (1.10 to 2.10)
(moderate depth) (B+Ht) Ht
8. Squeezing rock - (2.10 to 4.50)
(great depth) (B+Ht)
9. Swelling rock - Up to 250 ft B
 Lauffer (1958) Classification
Linder (1963), Pacher et al. (1974)
• Introduced the concept of Stand-up time
vs.-effective span.
• Linder (1963) gave quantitative prediction
of support required, based on rock classes
of Lauffer.
• It has been modified by number of Austrian
engineers, notably by Pacher et al. (1974).
 RQD by Deere (1964)
• Rock Quality Designation TOTAL CORE LENGTH = 2m
index was developed to
provide a quantitative L = 0, No core
estimate of rock mass
quality from drill core (NX
L = 37 cm
size)
• RQD is the percentage of
intact core pieces in the L = 0 cm, No pieces >10 cm
total length of core.
L = 65 cm
Drilling break

RQD = {(37+65+18)x100}/ 200

= 60%

RQD = 115 – 3.3 Jv (Palmstrom, 1982) L = 18 cm

 RQD by Deere (1964)
RQD% Rock Quality
< 25 - Very Poor
On the basis of RQD,
25-50 – Poor support recommendations
for tunnels (6-12 m dia)
50-75 – Fair were made by Deere et at.
(1970) and also related
75-90 – Good Terzaghi’s ROCK LOAD
with RQD
90-100- Excellent
 RSR CLASSIFICATION (Wickham et al., 1972)
• Quantitative method for evaluation of quality of rock mass
• Based on case studies of small tunnels, mainly steel supported
• Not widely used, but helped in developing modern classification
systems

Parameter A: Geology
Rock type, hardness, geologic structure.
•Parameter B: Geometry
Joint spacing, joint orientation and direction of
tunnel drive.
•Parameter C: GW and joint condition

RSR = A + B + C (Max. RSR = 100)

 Geomechanics Classification (RMR)
(Bieniawski, 1973, 1976, 1989)
Parameters
A. UCS
B. RQD
C. Spacing of discontinuities
D. Condition of discontinuities
E. Ground water condition
F. Orientation of discontinuities &
tunnel direction (for adjustment)
RMR = A + B + C + D + E – F
(Max. RMR=100)
• Useful for modern tunnelling methods
• Widely practiced.
 Geomechanics Classification (RMR)
Classification parameters and their ratings
Parameter Ranges of Values
1 Strength of Point load 10 4.10 2.4 1.2 For the low range,
Intact rock strength unaxial compressive
material Index ((MPa) test is preferred
Unixial 250 100-250 50-250 25-50 5-25 1-5 1
compressive
strength (MPa)
Rating 15 12 7 4 2 1 0
2 Drill Core Quality RQD (%) 90-100 75-90 50-75 25-50 <25
Rating 20 17 13 8 3
3 Spacing of discontinuities >2m 0.6-2m 200-600mm 60-200mm <60mm
Rating 20 15 10 8 5
4 Condition of discontinuities Very rough Slightly Slightly Slickensided Salt gouge>5mm
surface Not rough rough surfaces thick
continuous surfaces surfaces or or
No separation Separation Separation < Gouge<5 mm Separation>5mm
Unweathered <1mm 1mm thick Continuous.
wall rock Slightly Highly or
weathered weathered Separation 1-5
walls wall mm
Continuous
Rating 30 25 20 10 0
5 Groundwater Inflow per or or or or or
10 m 0.0 <0.1 0.1-0.2 0.2-0.5 >0.5
tunnel
length
(L/min)
Joint water
pressure
Major
Principal
stress
Control Completely dry Damp Wet Drippping Flowing
conditions
Rating 15 10 7 4 0
Guidelines for discontinuty ratings (1989)

Discontn. <1m 1-3m 3-10m 10-20m >20m

Length

Rating 6 4 2 1 0
Separation None <0.1m 0.1-1.0mm 1-5mm > 5mm
m 4
Rating 6 5 1 0
Roughness Very Rough Slightly Smooth Slickensided
rough rough
Rating 6 5 3 1 0
Filling None Hard Hard Soft Soft
(gouge) <5mm >5mm <5mm >5mm

Rating 6 4 2 2 0
Weathering/ Unwea- Slight Moderate High Decompos-ed
Alteration thered 0
Rating 6 5 3 1
 Geomechanics Classification (RMR)

Effect of discontinuity strike and dip orientation in tunneling

Strike Perpendicular to Tunnel Axis
Drive with Dip Drive against Dip
Dip 45o-90o Dip 20o-45o Dip 45o-90o Dip 20o-45o
Very favourable Favourable Fair Unfavourable

Strike Parallel to Tunnel Axis Irrespective of Strike

Dip 20o-45o Dip 45o-90o Dip 0o-20o
Fair Very unfavourable Fair
 Geomechanics Classification (RMR)
Adjustment Factor (F)
Strike and Dip Very Favourable Fair Unfavourable Very
Orientations Favourable Unfavourable
of Discontinuities

Ratings Tunnels 0 -2 -5 -10 -12

and mines

Founda 0 -2 -7 -15 -25

tions

Slopes 0 -5 -25 -50 -60

 Geomechanics Classification (RMR)

C. Rock mass classes

Rating 100-81 80-61 60-41 40-21 < 20

Class I II III IV V

Description Very Good Good Fair Poor Very poor

 Geomechanics Classification (RMR)

Meaning of Rock Classes

Class No. I II III IV V
Average 20 Yrs 1 yr 1 wk 10 h 30 min
stand up for for for for for
time 15 m span 10m span 5 m span 2.5m span 1m span

Cohesion of
the rock > 400 300-400 200-300 100-200 <100
mass (kPa)

Friction of
the rock > 45 35-45 25-35 15-25 <15
mass (deg)
 Geomechanics Classification (RMR)

Guidelines for excavation and support of 10m dia tunnels in rock

Rock Mass Excavation Rock Bolts (20-mm dia, Shotcrete Steel Sets
Class Fully Grouted)
I Full face
3-m advance Generally, no support required except for occasional spot bolting
Very
Good
II Full face
1.0-1.5 m advance
Locally bolts in crown, 3m
long, spaced 2.5m with
50 mm in crown wherever
required
None
Complete support 20 m occasional wire mesh
Good from face
III Top heading and bench
1.5-3m advance in top
Systematic bolts 4 m long
spaced 1.5 -2 m in crown and
50-100 mm in crown and 30
mm in sides
None
heading. walls with wire mesh in
Fair Commence support after crown
each blast. Complete
support 10 m from face

IV Top heading and bench

1.0-1.5 madvnace in top
Systematic bolts 4-5 m long,
spaced 1-1.5 m in crown and
100-150 mm in crown and 100
mm in sides
Light to medium ribs
spaced 1.5 m where
heading install support wall with wire mesh required.
Poor concurrently with
excavation 10 m from
face
V Multiple drifts 0.5-1.5m
advance in top heading.
Systematic bolts 5-6 m long
spaced 1-1.5 m in crown and
150-200 mm in crown 150 mm
in sides and 50 mm on face
Medium to heavy ribs
spaced 0.75 m with steel
Install support walls with wire mesh. Bolt lagging and forepoling if
Very concurrently with invert required. Close invert.
poor excavation. Shotcrete as
soon as possible after
blasting

Notes : Above recommendations are applicable when

Tunnel width 10 m, depth < 1000 m, vertical stress below 25 Mpa, Drill & Blast excavation
Stand-up time vs. span w. r. t. RMR classes.

IV Poor
V Very
Poor
Lauffer (1988) presented a revised stand-up time diagram for
tunnel boring machine (TBM) excavation and superimposed on
RMR diagram.
 Q-SYSTEM (Barton et al., 1974)
Based on the evaluation of large number of case histories, Barton,
Lien and Lunde (1974) of NGI proposed Tunnelling Quality
Index (Q) to classify the rock mass into 9 rock mass
categories.
The Q-value varies on logarithmic scale from 0.001 to 1000 and it is
defined by:

Block Size Shear strength Active Stress

Q = (RQD/ Jn) x (Jr/Ja) x (Jw /SRF)

where RQD = Rock quality designation

Jn = Joint set number
Jr = Joint roughness number
Ja = Joint alteration number
Jw = Joint water reduction factor
SRF = Stress reduction factor
 Q-SYSTEM (Barton et al., 1974)
On the basis of Q-value, rock mass is classified into 9
classes.

Q Rock mass category

0.001 – 0.01 - Exceptionally Poor
0.01 – 0.1 - Extremely Poor
0.1 – 1.0 - Very Poor
1.0 – 4.0 - Poor
4.0 – 10 - Fair
10 – 40 - Good
40 – 100 - Very Good
100 – 400 - Extremely Good
400 – 1000 - Exceptionally Good
 Description and Rating of Q Parameters
RQD - Rock Quality Designation
Very Poor 0-25 Note:
Poor 25-50 (i) Where RQD is reported or measured as ≤ 10
(including 0), a normal value of 10 is used to
Fair 50-75 evaluate Q.
Good 75-90 (ii) RQD intervals of 5, i.e. 100, 95, 90 etc., are
sufficiently accurate.
Excellent 90-100 (iii) RQD = 115 - 3.3Jv, Jv is Volumetric Joint
Count (Number of Joints/M3 of Rockmass )
Jn - Joint Set Number
Massive, none or few joints 0.5-1.0 Note:
One joint set 2 (i) for intersection, use (3.0 X Jn)
(ii) For portals, use (2.0 X Jn)
One Joint set plus random 3
Two joint sets 4
Two joint sets plus random 6
Three joints sets 9
Three joints + random, 12
heavily jointed.
Four or more joint sets, 15
random heavily jointed.
“sugar cube”, etc
Crushed rock, earthlike 20
 Jr - Joint Roughness Number
(a) Rock wall contact and Note:
(b) Rock wall contact before 10-cm shear (i) Add 1.0 if the mean spacing of
Discontinuous joint 4.0 the relevant joint set is grater
Rough or irregular, undulating 3.0 than 3 m.
Smooth, undulating 2.0 (ii) Jr = 0.5 can be used for planar
slicknesided joints having
lineation, provided the lineations
are unfavorably oriented.
(iii) Descriptions B to G refer to
small-scale features and
intermediate-scale features, in
Slickenesided, undulating 1.5
the order
Rough or irregular, planar 1.5
Smooth planar 1.0
Slickensided, planar 0.5
(c) No rock wall contact when sheared 1.0
Zone containing clay minerals thick
enough to prevent rock wall contact.
Sandy, gravelly or crushed zone thick 1.0
enough to prevent rock wall contact
 Ja - Joint Alteration Number
(a) Rock wall contact Ja Фt (approx)

A. Tightly healed, hard, nonsoftening, impermeable filling i.e., quartz or epidote. 0.75 25-350
B. Unaltered joint walls, surface staining only. 1.0
C. Slightly altered joint walls. Nonsoftening mineral coatings, snady particles, clay-free 2.0 25-300
disintegrated rock, etc.
D. silty or sandy clay coatings, small clay fraction (nonsoftening) 3.0 20-250
E. Softening or low-friction clay mineral coatings, i.e., kaolinite, mica Also chlorite, talc, gypsum, 8-160
and graphite, etc and small quantities of swelling clays(discontinuous coatings, 1-2 mm or
less in thickness.
(b) Rock wall contact before 10 cm shear.
F. Sandy particles, clay-free disintegrated rock, etc. 4.0 25-300
G. Strongly over-consolidated, non-softening clay mineral fillings (continuous. < 5 mm in 6.0 16-240
thickness)
H. Medium or low over-consolidation, softening clay mineral fillings. (continuous, < 5 mm in 8.0 12-160
thickness)
J. Swelling clay fillings, i.e. montimorllonite (continuous, < mm in thickness) value of Ja depends 8.0-12.0 6-120
on percentage of swelling clay sized particles, and access to water ect.
(c) No rock wall contact when sheared.
K Zones or bands of disintegrated or crushed rock and clay (see G.,H., J. for description of clay 6.0-8.0 or 6-240
condition) 8.0-12.0
L. Zones or bands of silty or sandy clay, small clay fraction (non-softening) 5.0
M. Thick, continuous zones or bands of clay (see G..,H.,J. for description of clay condition) 10., 130 or 6-240
Note: 13.- 20
(i) Values of Ф, are intended as an approximate guide to the mineralogical properties of the
alteration products. If present.
 Jw - Joint Water Reduction Factor
Jw Water
Description Pressure
(kg/cm2)

A. Dry excavations or minor inflow. 1.0 <1 Note:

i.e., 5 L/min locally (i) Factors (C-F are
crude estimates.
B. Medium inflow or pressure occasional 0.66 1.0-2.5 Increase Jw if
outwash of joint filling drainage measures
are installed.
C. Large inflow or high pressure in 0.5 2.5-10.0 (ii) Special problems
competent rock with unfilled joints caused by ice
formation are not
D. Large inflow or high pressure, 0.33 2.5-10.0
considered.
considerable outwash of joint fillings
E. Exceptionally high inflow or water 0.2-0.1 >10.0
pressure at blasting, decaying with time.
F. Exceptionally high inflow or water 0.1- 10.0
pressure continuing without noticeable 0.0
decay. 5
 SRF - Stress Reduction Factor
a) Weakness zones intersecting excavation, which may Note:
cause loosening of rock mass when tunnel is (i) Reduce these SRF values by
excavated. 25-50% if the relevant shear
A. Multiple occurrences of weakness zones containing 10.0 zones only influence but do not
clay or chemically disintegrated rock, very loose
intersect the excavation.
surrounding rock (any depth)

B. Single-weakness zones containing clay or chemically 5.0

disintegrated rock (depth of excavation ≤ 50 m)

C. Single –weakness zones containing clay or chemically 2.5

disintegrated rock (depth of excavation > 50 m)

D. Multiple- shear zones in competent rock (clay-free), 7.5

loose surrounding rock (any depth)

E. Single-shear zones in competent rock (clay-free) (depth 5.0

of excavation ≤ 50 m)

F. Single- shear zones in competent rock (clay-free) depth 2.5

of excavation > 50m)

G. Loose open joints, heavily jointed or “sugar cube” etc. 5.0

(any depth)
(b) Competent rock, rock stress problems (ii) For strongly anisotropic
stress field (if measured): when
5 ≤ Ợ1/Ợ3 ≤ 10, reduce Ợc and
Ợt to 0.8 Ợc and 0.8 Ợt when
H. Low stress, near surface ỢC/ Ợ1 Ợt/ Ợ1 Ợ1/Ợ3 > 10 reduce Ợc and Ợt to
> 200 > 13 2.5 0.6 Ợc = unconfined
compressive strength Ợt =
tensile strength (point load) Ợ1
and Ợ3 = major and minor
principal stresses)
J. Medium stress 200-10 13-0.66 1.0
K High-stress, very tight structure (usually favorable to 0.5-2.0
stability, may be unfavorable to wall stability
10-5 0.66-0.33
L Mild rock burst (massive rock) 5-10
5-2.5 0.33-0.16

M. Heavy rock burst (massive rock) 10-20

<2.5 <0.16
(c) Squeezing rock; plastic flow of incompetent rock
under the influence of high rock pressures. 5-10
N. Mild squeezing rock pressure.
O. Heavy squeezing rock pressure. 10-20 (iii) Few case records available
where depth of crwn below
(d) Swelling rock; chemical swelling activity depending surface is less than span
on presence of water width .Suggest SRF increase
from 2.5 to 5 for such cases
P. Mild swelling rock pressure 2-10

R. Heavy swelling rock pressure 10-15

 EQUIVALENT DIMENSION
For tunnel support requirements , Q value is
related to Equivalent Dimension (De) , which is
calculated by dividing excavation span, diameter
or height with the excavation support ratio
(ESR).

De = Span, diameter or height (m)

ESR.

The ESR is related to the use for which the

excavation is intended and degree of safety
demanded.
 Excavation Support Ratio (ESR)

Excavation Category ESR No. of

cases.
A. Temporary mine openings 3-5 2
B Vertical shafts:
Circular section 2.5
Rectangular/square section 2.0
C. Permanent mine openings, water tunnels for hydropower 1.6 83
(excluding high-pressure penstocks), pilot tunnels drifts,
and headings for large excavations.
D. Storage caverns, water treatment plants, minor highway 1.3 25
and railroad tunnels, surge chambers, access tunnels
E. Power stations, major highway or railroad tunnels, civil 1.0 73
defense chambers portals intersections.
F Underground nuclear power stations, railroad stations, 0.8 2
factories
The equivalent dimension (De) and Q-value is used to
determine the appropriate support measures using the
following chart (Grimstad and Barton, 1993).
 BOLT LENGTH AND UNSUPPORTED SPAN

The bolt length L is determined from the

equation:

L= 2+ 0.15B
ESR

Where B is the excavation width.

The maximum unsupported span can be

obtained from equation:

Max span (unsupported ) = 2(ESR) Q0.4

it
 Q-system - Modification

As the strength of rock was not a direct parameter in the

equation of Q, it was considered to be a drawback of this
system. Therefore, Barton modified the equation in 1995,
which is presented below.
Q = (RQD/ Jn) x (Jr/ Ja) x (Jw / SRF) x (σc/ 100)

Where σc = UCS of intact rock

But the original equation is quite popular and is widely
used.
 PERMANENT SUPPORT PRESSURE AND
DEFORMATION MODULUS
Permanent support pressure Proof can be estimated as follows:

Proof = (2 Jn1/2 Q-1/3 )/ 3 Jr

Deformation modulus Em is estimated using both RMR and Q

values from following equations.

Em = 2RMR-100 Em = 10(RMR - 10)/ 40 Em = 25 Log10 Q

These equations give approximate idea of deformation modulus

and such values may be used at the planning stage. But detail
design of important structures is recommended to be based on
in situ test results.
 Correlation between RMR and Q

RMR = 9 Loge Q + 44
 Using RMR and Q systems

For using any one method for classification, one may take two
approaches.
1. To evaluate the rock mass for parameter ratings of a
classification scheme (only ratings given at site, no description)
2. To characterise the rock mass properly at site and apply
parameter ratings later.
Latter approach appears better because verification is possible at a
later date.
One should not depend upon one classification system. Use of two
methods is always advisable and better.
Data sheet for
collection of field
data to characterise
the rock mass
properly at site and
apply parameter
ratings later for
evaluation of both
Q and RMR values.
Example - Q
Underground cavern for power station:
Span = 15m, RQD = 85% - 95%, 2 Joint sets, rough and undulating, no
weathering along joints- surface staining only, Rock cover = 2100m,
UCS = 170 MPa, ratio of σ1 and σ2 is 1.5, rock mass damp, no flow .
Q = (RQD/ Jn) x (Jr/ Ja) x (Jw / SRF)
Here: RQD=90, Jn= 4, Jr= 3, Ja = 1, Jw = 1, for SRF it is the condition of
stress problem in competent rock. At 2100m depth, σ2 =57 MPa
approx. and σ1=85 MPa and σc /σ1= 2, it means there is possibility of
heavy rock burst. In such situation, SRF is 10-20. We can take
conservative value of 20. So, SRF=20
Q = (90/4).(3/1).(1/20) = 3.4 (Poor), De=15/ 1=15 (ESR=1 for PH)

From chart, support category = 5

Support - Bolting at 2.1m c/c with 50-90 mm steel fibre
reinforced shotcrete.
Example - RMR
Hydropower tunnel in quartzite:
Span = 6m, RQD = 60%-70%, UCS = 150 MPa, slightly rough and
weathered, spacing 0.3 – 1m, no filling, continuous joints, rock
mass wet, moderate inflow, joints dip 60o against the drive.
Here: UCS 150MPa - 12 Basic RMR = 69
RQD 60-70% - 13 Orient. Adj.= - 05
Joint spacing - 12
Joint condition- 25 TOTAL RMR= 64
Gr. Water - 07 Rock Mass - Good
Output:
Stand-up time – about 1 year for 6m span tunnel
Support - 3m long bolts at 2.5m c/c with 50mm
Recommen - shotcrete and wiremesh.
dation