Physical and mechanical properties of rock masses at Stromboli: a dataset for volcano instability evaluation

Stromboli island has a complex geological history with repeated changes in the volcanic activity alternating with destructive events, caldera collapses and flank landslides. The last activity resulted in the creation of the Sciara del Fuoco depression which was modified by the recent 2002–2003 landslide. The variation in lithology, degree of tectonization and disturbance has resulted in the presence of a wide spectrum of geotechnical materials. This paper summarises the physical and mechanical properties of Stromboli’s intact rocks, rock masses and loose deposits, based on field surveys and laboratory tests. A new classification of the rock succession is introduced and four lithotechnical units defined: Lava, Lava-Breccia, Breccia and Pyroclastic deposit. The range of variability in bulk volume, porosity, intact rock compressive strength and geological strength index is presented. The Hoek and Brown’s failure criterion was applied for each lithotechnical unit and the rock mass friction angle, apparent cohesion, tensile and compressive strength, global strength and modulus of deformation calculated in a specified stress range.      

The Hoek–Brown failure criterion and GSI – 2018 edition

The Hoek–Brown criterion was introduced in 1980 to provide input for the design of underground excavations in rock. The criterion now incorporates both intact rock and discontinuities, such as joints, characterized by the geological strength index (GSI), into a system designed to estimate the mechanical behaviour of typical rock masses encountered in tunnels, slopes and foundations. The strength and deformation properties of intact rock, derived from laboratory tests, are reduced based on the properties of discontinuities in the rock mass. The nonlinear Hoek–Brown criterion for rock masses is widely accepted and has been applied in many projects around the world. While, in general, it has been found to provide satisfactory estimates, there are several questions on the limits of its applicability and on the inaccuracies related to the quality of the input data. This paper introduces relatively few fundamental changes, but it does discuss many of the issues of utilization and presents case histories to demonstrate practical applications of the criterion and the GSI system.     

Revisiting rock classification to estimate rock mass properties

This paper presents the results of ongoing research carried out by the author exploring methods to provide a more robust estimate of rock mass properties specifically for use in tunnel design. Data from various large-scale rock mass failures are introduced, including coal pillars. The damage-initiation,spalling-limit approach is compared to the coal pillar database. New comparisons of estimating the geological strength index(GSI) and relationships to estimate the Hoeke Brown failure criterion parameters, mb, s and a, are presented.     

Stability charts for rock slopes based on the Hoek–Brown failure criterion

This paper uses numerical limit analysis to produce stability charts for rock slopes. These charts have been produced using the most recent version of the Hoek–Brown failure criterion. The applicability of this criterion is suited to isotropic and homogeneous intact rock, or heavily jointed rock masses. The rigorous limit analysis results were found to bracket the true slope stability number to within ±9% or better, and the difference in safety factor between bound solutions and limit equilibrium analyses using the same Hoek–Brown failure criterion is less than 4%. The accuracy of using equivalent Mohr–Coulomb parameters to estimate the stability number has also been investigated. For steep slopes, it was found that using equivalent parameters produces poor estimates of safety factors and predictions of failure surface shapes. The reason for this lies in how these equivalent parameters are estimated, which is largely to do with estimating a suitable minor principal stress range. In order to obtain better equivalent parameter solutions, this paper proposes new equations for estimating the minor principal stress for steep and gentle slopes, which can be used to determine equivalent Mohr–Coulomb parameters.     

Numerical study on failure mechanism of tunnel in jointed rock mass

During underground excavation many surrounding rock failures have close relationship with joints. The stability study on tunnel in jointed rock mass is of importance to rock engineering, especially tunneling and underground space development. In this paper, a numerical code called RFPA was used to study the influence of different dip angle of layered joints and the lateral pressure coefficient on the stability of tunnel in jointed rock mass. Numerical analysis indicated that both the dip angle of joints and the lateral pressure coefficient have significant impacts on the failure mode and displacement characters of tunnel. The progressive failure processes of tunnel in jointed rock mass were presented and the mechanisms were discussed. The applicable condition of geographical method by Goodman is also discussed. These results offer a guideline in support design.     

云南粉土不同破坏标准的动强度研究

针对云南粉土,通过动三轴试验作了粉土的不同破坏标准的研究,作了应变破坏标准、极限平衡标准及初始液化标准时的动强度对比分析。结果表明:相同固结比时,不同破坏标准的动强度有差异,但随着固结比的增大,这种动强度的差异将有所减小。     

Influences of the valley morphology and rock mass strength on tunnel convergence: With a case study of Khimti 1 headrace tunnel in Nepal

Underground structures are constructed at the bottom of the valley sides for various purposes and for different reasons. Hydropower projects and transport tunnels are some of the examples of such structures. In this paper, literatures on topographical effects on the in situ stresses in valley and fjord sides are reviewed. An attempt is made to correlate stress anisotropy problems with the valley side topography by using Phase² numerical modelling. Based on an underground construction case study, fifteen in situ stress measurements and the Phase² analysis, stress induced problems have been found to be influenced by the valley morphology. This influence can be monitored by the convergence measurement and by the stress measurement. In addition to the overburden height, the total valley height and the slope need to be considered in the assessment of the stress induced problem. The second aspect dealt with is the influence of the rock strength on the tunnel convergence. In the Khimti 1 headrace tunnel and 66 cases from 15 countries, it has been observed that the tunnel convergence is larger in the weaker rocks than in the stronger rocks though they may have similar Q-values. Rock type such as gneiss or phyllite (corresponding to the rock mass strength) is not considered in the Q-system but it has influence on the convergence that takes place in underground works. Thus, it also needs to be considered in the assessment of potential convergence of an underground structure.     

An experimental investigation of the failure mechanism of simulated transversely isotropic rocks

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation of the failure mechanism, including failure process and failure modes, of transversely isotropic rock. This paper employs a rotary scanner to obtain the “unrolled” images of rock specimens at different stress levels during the uniaxial compressive tests. The unrolled image constitutes a circumferential surface image of the cylindrical specimen in a single picture and facilitates the study of failure processes and failure modes. Based on the experimental results, the failure of simulated transversely isotropic rock with varied orientations at different confining pressures is classified into one of two modes: (a) sliding failure along the discontinuities and (b) non-sliding failure along the discontinuities. The latter can be further classified into one of the following three sub-failure modes: (1) tensile fracture across the discontinuities, (2) tensile-split along the discontinuities, and (3) sliding failure across the discontinuities. The failure processes of these modes are also examined in this study. Failure criterion proposed by Tien and Kuo is found to predict accurately the strength and failure modes of simulated transversely isotropic rocks.     

幂函数型岩石强度准则研究

论述了幂函数型的岩石强度准则。用我院的５５种岩石岩样的单向压缩试验、三向压缩试验及巴西法试验所求得的结果,获得一种幂函数型强度准则。试验结果与强度准则的对比令人满意。     

A simplified three-dimensional extension of Hoek-Brown strength criterion

The Hoek-Brown(HB) strength criterion has been applied widely in a large number of projects around the world.However,this criterion ignores the intermediate principal stress σ_2.Many evidences have demonstrated that the rock strength is dependent on σ_2. Thus it is necessary to extend the HB criterion into a three-dimensional(3D) form.In this study,the effect of σ_2 on the strength of rocks is identified by reviewing the true triaxial tests of various rock types reported in the literature.A simple 3D strength criterion is developed.The modified criterion is verified by the true triaxial tests of 13 rock types.The results indicate that the modified criterion can achieve a good fit to most of rock types.It can represent a series of criteria as b varies.For comparisons,several existing 3D versions of the HB criterion are selected to predict the strengths of these rock types.It is indicated that the proposed criterion works better than other criteria.A substantial relationship between parameter b and the unconfined compressive strength is established,which guarantees that the proposed criterion can still work well even in the absence of true triaxial test data.     

大光包滑坡滑带碎裂岩体原位钻孔剪切试验研究

安县大光包滑坡是汶川地震触发的最大规模滑坡,滑坡南侧暴露长约1.8 km顺层滑带,其岩体高度碎裂化,引起广泛关注.为准确评价滑带碎裂岩体的强度参数,笔者在前人研究的基础上开展了细致的野外调查工作,采用法国Phicometre岩土两用原位钻孔剪切试验仪对大光包滑坡滑带碎裂岩体进行了原位剪切试验.将试验结果与Hoek-Brown岩体强度准则估值和基于工程地质类比法的力学参数建议值进行了对比分析.基于以上研究,提出了大光包滑坡南侧顺层滑带碎裂岩体力学参数建议值:内聚力为245~480 kPa,内摩擦角为25.0°~26.5°.     

基于原位试验和规范的岩体抗剪强度与Hoek-Brown准则估值比较

 简要论述目前岩体抗剪强度确定方法,以黄河上游玛尔挡水电站坝基岩体为例,在岩体质量分级基础上,引入规范建议值及现场原位大型剪切试验结果,建立岩体抗剪强度指标与BQ岩体质量分级的相关关系。同时利用实测资料建立BQ与GSI的相关关系,运用Hoek-Brown准则估算各试验点岩体的抗剪强度指标。结果表明,采用该研究成果较符合工程实际,而采用Hoek-Brown准则估算的等效内摩擦因数偏小,黏聚力则偏大很多。误差分析表明,这一结果主要是由Hoek-Brown准则中最小主应力的取值范围引起的,据此提出公式应用中需注意的问题及相应解决方法。     

Shear failure envelope of Hoek-Brown criterion for rockmass

The Mohr-Coulomb (MC) criterion possesses a linear shear failure envelope and is widely used in geotechnical engineering calculations. However, the failure process in rockmass is more complex than that of soils, and it can be more adequately described by the Hoek-Brown (HB) failure criterion. This criterion has been updated as well as modified, but its effect on the shear failure envelope has not been studied. The shear failure envelope for the modified form of HB criterion is derived in this paper, which shows that a change in the value of parameter a from 0.5 to 0.6 affects the shear envelope more significantly for a rockmass characterized by a larger value of parameter m and high effective normal stress. The instantaneous friction angle is also affected by a change in the value of parameter a.     

Development of a new classification system for assessing of rock mass drillability index (RDi)

The drilling process and its results are affected by various parameters of the rock material and rock mass. The effects of rock material have been emphasized in various studies; however lack of perfect knowledge of rock mass structural parameters may lead to unpredictable results. This paper presents a new classification system for specifying the rock mass drillability index (RDi). For this purpose, six parameters of the rock mass, including texture and grain size, Mohs hardness, uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), joint spacing, joint filling (aperture) and joint dipping have been investigated by physical modeling and rated. Physical modeling in particular has been used for investigating the effects of joint characteristics on drilling rate. In the proposed RDi system, each rock mass is assigned a rating from 7 to 100, with a higher rating corresponding greater ease of drilling. Based on the RDi rating, the drilling rate may be classified into five modes: slow, slow-medium, medium, medium-fast, and fast.