Lecture 7-Introduction To Rock Mechanics

Part two: Fundamentals of rock mechanics
Engineering properties of rocks

 Engineering classification and index properties of rocks
 Rock strength (compressive, tensile and shear)
 Compression and shear tests on rocks
 Modules of elasticity, modulus of compression, Poisson's ratio
 Rock deformation and its significance in engineering
 Mode of failure of rocks (coulomb’s criteria)
 Stress- strain behavior in compression
 The effect of water on strength
 Controlling factors in rock strength and failure
1
Prepared by: Elias A.
 Planes of weakness and rock stability in rocks (12hrs)
Types of discontinuities
Effect of discontinuities in rock mass strength
Interrelationships among displacement & strength
Discontinuities and rock slope stability
Shear strength of discontinuities
Types of rock failures (plane, wedge, circular, toppling)
Water and rock slope stability
Criteria for support of rock cuts and slope stability 2

INTRODUCTION TO ROCK MECHANICS
3
Overview
Rock mechanics is a field of science in which
there is a mathematical analysis of forces acting
in rock, along planes, faults, and around
excavations.
In other words
Rock mechanics is the theoretical and applied
science of the mechanical behaviour of rock and
rock masses. Rock mechanics deals with the
mechanical properties of rock and the related
methodologies required for engineering design.
The subject of rock mechanics has evolved from

different disciplines of applied mechanics. It is a
truly interdisciplinary subject, with applications in
geology and geophysics, mining, petroleum and
geotechnical engineering.
4
5
Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering
Rock mechanics involves

char acterizing the intact strength and
the geometry and mechanical properties
of the natural fractures of the rock
mass.
Rock engineering is concerned with

specific engineering circumstances, for
example, how much load will the rock
support and whether reinforcement is
necessary.
6
Natureof Rock
A com mon assumption when dealing with the
mecha nical behaviour of solids is that they
are:
· homogeneous
· continuous
· isotropic
However, rocks are much more complex

than this and their physical and mechanical
properties vary according to scale. As a
solid material, rock is often:
· heterogeneous
· discontinuous
· anisotropic
7
8
Rock as an Engineering Material
One of the most important, and frequently neglected, aspects of rock
mechanics and rock engineering is that we are utilizing an existing
material which is usually highly variable.
intact ‘layered’ intact highly fractured
9
Rock as an Engineering Material
Rock as an engineering material will be used either:
… as a building material so the structure will be made
of rock
… or a structure will be built on the rock
… or a structure will be built in the rock
In the context of the mechanics, we must establish:

… the properties of the material
… the pre-existing stress state in the ground (which will be
disturbed by the structure)
… and how these factors relate to the engineering objective
10
Influence of Geological Factors
Five primary geological factors can be viewed as influencing a rock
mass . In the context of the mechanics problem, we should consider
the material and the forces applied to it.
We have the (1) intact rock which is itself divided by (2)

discontinuities to form the rock structure.
We find then the rock is already subjected to an (3) in situ

stress.
Superimposed on this fundamental mechanics circumstance are

the influence of )4) pore fluid/water flow and (5) time.
In all of these subjects, the geological history has played its part,
altering the rock and the applied forces.
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Influence Geological Factors –
(1) Intact Rock
The most useful description of the mechanical
beh aviour of intact rock is the complete
str ess-strain curve in uniaxial compression.
Fro m this curve, several features of interest

are derived:
· the deformation modulus

· the peak compressive strength
· the post-peak behaviour
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Influence of Geological Factors –
(1)Intact Rock
high stiffness low stiffness low stiffness

medium stiffness
high strength low strength low strength
medium strength
very brittle brittle ductile
medium brittleness
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(2) Discontinuities and Rock Structure
The result in terms of rock fracturing is to produce a geometrical
struc ture (often very complex) of fractures forming rock blocks. The
overall geometrical configuration of the discontinuities in the rock mass
is termed rock structure. It is often helpful to understand the way in
which discontinuities form.
There are three ways in which a fracture can be formed:
Mode 1 Mode 2 Mode 3

(tensile) (in-plane shear) (out-of-plane shear)
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(2) Discontinuities and Rock Structure
In practice, failure is most often associated with discontinuities which

act as pre-existing planes of weakness. Some examples of the way in
which the discontinuity genesis leads to differing mechanical properties
are:
… open joint which will … stylolitic discontinuity

allow free flow of with high shear
water. resistance.
15
(3) Pre-Existing In Situ Rock Stress
When considering the loading conditions imposed on the rock structure,
it must be recognized that an in situ pre-existing state of stress
already exists in the rock.
In some cases, such as a dam or

nuclear power station foundation,
the load is applied to this.
In other cases, such as the

excavation of a mine or tunnel,
no new loads are applied but the
pre- existing stresses are
redistributed.
16
Influence of
Structure & In
Situ Rock
Stress Together
… types of
failure which
occur in
different rock
masses under
low and
high in situ
stress levels. 17
(4) Pore Fluids and Water Flow
Many rocks in their intact state have a very low permeability

compared to the duration of the engineering construction, but the
main water flow is usually via secondary permeability, (i.e. pre-
existingfractures).
Thus the study of flow in rock masses will generally be a function of
the discontinuities, their connectivity and the hydrogeological
environment.
A primary concern is when the water is under

pressure, which in turn acts to reduce the effective
stress and/or induce instabilities.
Other aspects, such as groundwater chemistry and the
alteration of rock and fracture surfaces by fluid movement
may also be of concern.
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(5) Time
Rock as an engineering material may be
millions of years old, however our engineering
construction and subsequent activities are
generally only designed for a century or less.
Thus we have two types of behaviour: the
geological processes in which equilibrium will
have been established, with current geological
activity superimposed; and the rapid
engineering process.
The influence of time is also important given
such factors as the decrease in rock strength
through time, and the effects of creep and
relaxation
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Normal and Shear Stress Components
On a real or imaginary plane through a material, there can be normal
forces and shear forces. These forces create the stress tensor. The
normal and shear stress components are the normal and shear forces
per unit area.
It should be remembered that a solid can sustain a shear force,

whereas a liquid or gas cannot. A liquid or gas contains a pressure,
which acts equally in all directions and hence is a scalar quantity.
20
21
Knowledge of the magnitudes and directions of these in situ
– is an essential component of rock engineering mainly in
underground excavation design
22
Force and Stress
We are now in a position to obtain an initial idea of the crucial
difference between forces and stresses.
When the normal force component, Fn, is

found in a direction 𝜽 from F, the value is
F cos𝜽 i.e. Fn = F cos𝜽 .
However, when the normal stress

component, σ n , is found in the same
direction, the value is σcos2𝜽 i.e. σ n =
σcos2𝜽 .
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Force and Stress
The reason for this is that it is only the force that is resolved in the
first case (i.e. vector), whereas, it is both the force and the area
that are resolved in the case of stress (i.e. tensor).
In fact, the strict definition of a second-order tensor is a quantity

that obeys certain transformation laws as the planes in question are
rotated. This is why the conceptualization of the stress tensor
utilizes the idea of magnitude, direction and “the plane in question”.
lecture 8- Engineering Properties of Rocks.ppt.pptx 24

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Part two: Fundamentals of rock mechanics

Engineering properties of rocks

Effect of discontinuities in rock mass strength

Interrelationships among displacement & strength

Discontinuities and rock slope stability

Shear strength of discontinuities

Types of rock failures (plane, wedge, circular, toppling)

Water and rock slope stability

Criteria for support of rock cuts and slope stability 2

The subject of rock mechanics has evolved from

Rock mechanics involves

Rock engineering is concerned with

However, rocks are much more complex

intact ‘layered’ intact highly fractured

In the context of the mechanics, we must establish:

We have the (1) intact rock which is itself divided by (2)

We find then the rock is already subjected to an (3) in situ

Superimposed on this fundamental mechanics circumstance are

Fro m this curve, several features of interest

· the deformation modulus

high stiffness low stiffness low stiffness

Mode 1 Mode 2 Mode 3

In practice, failure is most often associated with discontinuities which

… open joint which will … stylolitic discontinuity

In some cases, such as a dam or

In other cases, such as the

Many rocks in their intact state have a very low permeability

A primary concern is when the water is under

It should be remembered that a solid can sustain a shear force,

When the normal force component, Fn, is

However, when the normal stress

In fact, the strict definition of a second-order tensor is a quantity

lecture 8- Engineering Properties of Rocks.ppt.pptx 24

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