Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A New Rock Mass Quality Rating System: Rock Mass Quality Rating (RMQR) and Its Application to the Estimation of Geomechanical Characteristics of Rock Masses

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The qualitative description of rock masses by means of classification systems and subsequent correlation to establish engineering quantities or design parameters has become one of the most challenging topics in rock engineering. Many rock mass classification systems have been proposed for rock masses with the consideration of a particular rock structure and/or specific purposes. Therefore, direct utilization of these systems, in their original form, for the characterization of complex rock mass conditions is not always possible. This is probably one of the reasons why rock engineers continue to develop new systems or modify and extend current ones. The recent tendency is to obtain rock mass properties from the utilization of properties of intact rock and rock classification indexes, which have some drawbacks. In this study, it is aimed to propose a new rock mass quality rating system designated as Rock Mass Quality Rating (RMQR). This new rock mass rating system is used to estimate the geomechanical properties of rock masses. In the first part of this paper, the input parameters of RMQR and their ratings are given and discussed. In the second part, the unified formula proposed by the first author is adopted for the new rock mass rating system for estimating the rock mass properties and compared with the results of the in situ tests carried out in Japan and those estimated from some empirical relationships developed by other investigators, and the outcomes of these studies are presented and discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
Fig. 20
Fig. 21

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agricola G (1556) De re metallica. Translated from the first Latin edition of 1556 by H.C. Hoover and L.H. Hoover, 1950. Dover Publications, Inc., New York

  • Akagi T, Aydan Ö (2000) The relation between rock mass classification indices and rock mass properties, Section 5. In: A guideline for testing methods of deformability and shear strength of in situ rock masses—commentary and application to design of structures. Rock Mechanics Committee of Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE-RMC) (in Japanese)

  • Aydan Ö (1995) The stress state of the Earth and the Earth’s crust due to gravitational pull. In: Proceedings of the 35th US rock mechanics symposium, Lake Tahoe, USA, June 1995, pp 237–243

  • Aydan Ö, Dalgıç S (1998) Prediction of deformation behaviour of 3-lanes Bolu tunnels through squeezing rocks of North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ). In: Proceedings of the regional symposium on sedimentary rock engineering, Taipei, Taiwan, November 1998, pp 228–233

  • Aydan Ö, Kawamoto T (1990) Discontinuities and their effect on rock mass. In: Proceedings of the international conference on rock joints, Loen, Norway, June 1990. ISRM, pp 149–155

  • Aydan Ö, Kawamoto T (2000) Assessing mechanical properties of rock masses through RMR rock classification system. In: Proceedings of the GeoEng 2000 symposium, Sydney, Australia, November 2000. Paper no. OA0926 (on CD)

  • Aydan Ö, Kawamoto T (2001) The stability assessment of a large underground opening at great depth. In: Proceedings of the 17th international mining congress and exhibition of Turkey (IMCET 2001), Ankara, Turkey, June 2001, vol 1, pp 277–288

  • Aydan Ö, Shimizu Y (1995) Surface morphology characteristics of rock discontinuities with particular reference to their genesis. Fractogr Geol Soc Spec Publ 92:11–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aydan Ö, Ulusay R (2003) Geotechnical and geoenvironmental characteristics of man-made underground structures in Cappadocia, Turkey. Eng Geol 69:245–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aydan Ö, Ulusay R (2013) Geomechanical evaluation of Derinkuyu Antique Underground City and its implications in geoengineering. Rock Mech Rock Eng 46(4):731–754. doi:10.1007/s00603-012-0301-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aydan Ö, Akagi T, Kawamoto T (1993) The squeezing potential of rocks around tunnels; theory and prediction. Rock Mech Rock Eng 26(2):137–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aydan Ö, Akagi T, Kawamoto T (1996) The squeezing potential of rock around tunnels: theory and prediction with examples taken from Japan. Rock Mech Rock Eng 29(3):125–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aydan Ö, Ulusay R, Kawamoto T (1997) Assessment of rock mass strength for underground excavations. In: Proceedings of the 36th US rock mechanics symposium, New York, June/July 1997, pp 777–786

  • Aydan Ö, Dalgıç S, Kawamoto T (2000) Prediction of squeezing potential of rocks in tunnelling through a combination of an analytical method and rock mass classifications. Italian Geotech J 34(1):41–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Aydan Ö, Tokashiki N, Geniş M (2012) Some considerations on yield (failure) criteria in rock mechanics. In: Proceedings of the 46th US rock mechanics/geomechanics symposium, Chicago, Illinois, June 2012. ARMA 12-640 (on CD)

  • Barton N (1976) The shear strength of rock and rock joints. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 13:255–279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barton N (1995) The influence of joint properties in modelling jointed rock masses. In: Proceedings of the 8th international congress on rock mechanics, Tokyo, Japan, September 1995, pp 1023–1032

  • Barton N (2002) Some new Q-value correlations to assist in site characterisation and tunnel design. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 39:185–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barton N, Bieniawski ZT (2008) RMR and Q: setting records straight. Tunnels and Tunnelling International, pp 26–29

  • Barton N, Grimstad E (1994) The Q-system following twenty years of application in NATM support selection. Felsbau 12(6):428–436

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton N, Lien R, Lunde I (1974) Engineering classification of rock masses for the design of tunnel support. Rock Mech 6(4):189–239

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bieniawski ZT (1973) Engineering classification of jointed rock masses. Trans South Afr Inst Civil Eng 15:335–344

    Google Scholar 

  • Bieniawski ZT (1974) Estimating the strength of rock materials. J S Afr Inst Min Metall 74:312–320

    Google Scholar 

  • Bieniawski ZT (1978) Determining rock mass deformability: experience from case histories. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 15:237–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bieniawski ZT (1989) Engineering rock mass classifications. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Broch E (1979) Changes in rock strength by water. In: Proceedings of the 4th congress of the International Society of Rock Mechanics, Montreux, Switzerland, September 1979, vol 1, pp 71–75

  • Colback PSB, Wiid BL (1965) The influence of moisture content on the compressive strength of rock. In: Proceedings of the 3rd Canadian rock mechanics symposium, Toronto, Canada, January 1965, pp 65–83

  • Cummings RA, Kendorski FS, Bieniawski ZT (1982) Caving rock mass classification and support estimation. U.S. Bureau of Mines, Contract Report No. J0100103; Engineers International, Inc., Chicago

  • Deere DU, Hendron AJ Jr, Patton FD, Cording EJ (1967) Design of surface and near surface construction in rock. In: Fairhurst C (ed) Failure and breakage of rock. Society of Mining Engineers of AIME, New York, pp 237–302

    Google Scholar 

  • Diederichs MS, Kaiser PK (1999) Tensile strength and abutment relaxation as failure control mechanisms in underground excavations. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 36:69–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galera JM, Álvarez M, Bieniawski ZT (2005) Evaluation of the deformation modulus of rock masses: comparison of pressuremeter and dilatometer tests with RMR prediction. In: Proceedings of the ISP5-PRESSIO 2005 international symposium, Madrid, Spain, August 2005, pp 1–25

  • Grimstad E, Barton N (1993) Updating the Q-system for NMT. In: Proceedings of the international symposium on sprayed concrete—modern use of wet mix sprayed concrete for underground support, Fagernes, Norway, October 1993. Norwegian Concrete Association, Oslo, pp 25–32

  • Hibino S (2007) Necessary knowledge of rock mass for engineers (Gijutsusha ni hitsuyo na ganban no chishiki). Kajima Institute Publishing Co., Tokyo (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoek E (1999) Putting numbers to geology—an engineer’s viewpoint. Q J Eng Geol 32:1–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoek E, Brown T (1980) Empirical strength criterion for rock masses. J Geotech Eng Div ASCE 106(GT9):1013–1035

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoek E, Brown ET (1997) Practical estimates of rock mass strength. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 34(8):1165–1186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoek E, Diederichs MS (2006) Empirical estimation of rock mass modulus. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 43(2):203–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoek E, Kaiser PK, Bawden WF (1995) Support of underground excavations in hard rock. Balkema, Rotterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoek E, Carranza-Torres CT, Corkum B (2002) Hoek–Brown failure criterion—2002 edition. In: Proceedings of the 5th North American rock mechanics symposium, Toronto, Canada, July 2002, vol 1, pp 267–273

  • International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM) (2007) The complete ISRM suggested methods for rock characterization, testing and monitoring: 1974–2006. In: Ulusay R, Hudson JA (eds) Suggested methods prepared by the ISRM Commission on Testing Methods. Compilation arranged by the ISRM Turkish National Group, Ankara, Turkey

  • Jašarević I, Kovačević MS (1996) Analyzing applicability of existing classification for hard carbonate rock in Mediterranean area. In: Proceedings of EUROCK’96, Turin, Italy, September 1996, pp 811–818

  • Kalamaras GS, Bieniawski ZT (1995) A rock strength concept for coal seams incorporating the effect of time. In: Proceedings of the 8th ISRM congress, Tokyo, Japan, September 1995, vol 1, pp 295–302

  • Karakul H, Ulusay R (2013) Empirical correlations for predicting strength properties of rocks from P-wave velocity under different degrees of saturation. Rock Mech Rock Eng 46(5):981–999

    Google Scholar 

  • Kayabasi A, Gokceoglu C, Ercanoglu M (2003) Estimating the deformation modulus of rock masses: a comparative study. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 40(1):55–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kendorski FF, Cummings RA, Bieniawski ZT, Skinner EH (1983) A rock mass classification scheme for the planning of caving mine drift supports. In: Proceedings of the rapid excavation and tunneling conference, Chicago, Illinois, June 1983. AIME, New York, pp 193–223

  • Kikuchi K, Saito K (1975) A proposed method for the classifications of rock grades in connection with bearing resistance of foundation rock. In: Proceedings of the 9th Japan symposium on rock mechanics, Tokyo, Japan, pp 66–70 (in Japanese)

  • Kikuchi K, Saito K, Kusonoki KI (1982) Geotechnically integrated evaluation on the stability of dam foundation rocks. In: Proceedings of the 14th international congress on large dams, Rio de Janerio, Brazil, May 1982, pp 49–74

  • Mitri HS, Edrissi R, Henning J (1994) Finite element modeling of cable bolted slopes in hard rock ground mines. In: Proceedings of the SME annual meeting, Albuquerque, New Mexico, February 1994, pp 94–116

  • Nicholson GA, Bieniawski ZT (1990) A nonlinear deformation modulus based on rock mass classification. Int J Min Geol Eng 8:181–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nosei M (1962) On the in situ experiments of rock mass at the site of Kurobe IV Dam. In: Proceedings of the first rock mechanics symposium of Japan, Tokyo, paper no. 11 (in Japanese)

  • Palmström A (1996) RMi—a system for characterizing rock mass strength for use in rock engineering. J Rock Mech Tunn Technol 1(2):69–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Priest SD (1985) Hemispherical projection methods in rock mechanics. George Allen and Unwin, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Priest SD, Hudson JA (1981) Estimation of discontinuity spacing and trace length using scanline surveys. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 18:183–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Serafim JL, Pereira JP (1983) Considerations of the geomechanics classification of Bieniawski. In: Proceedings of the international symposium on engineering geology and underground construction, Lisbon, Portugal, LNEC, vol 1 (I), pp 33–44

  • Stini J (1950) Tunnelbaugeologie. Springer, Vienna

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka M (1964) Introduction to engineering geology for civil engineers. Sankaido, Tokyo (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanimoto C, Yoshikawa T, Hojo A (1989) Rapid excavation of a headrace tunnel and loosening in rock mass in Shin-Aimoto power station project. J Soc Mater Sci Japan 38(426):241–247 (in Japanese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Terzaghi K (1946) Rock defects and loads on tunnel support. In: Proctor RV, White T (eds) Rock tunneling with steel supports. Commercial Shearing & Stamping Co., Youngstown, pp 43–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Terzaghi RD (1965) Sources of error in joint surveys. Geotechnique 15:287–304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tokashiki N (2011) Study on the engineering properties of Ryukyu limestone and the evaluation of the stability of its rock mass and masonry structures. PhD thesis, Waseda University (in Japanese with English abstract)

  • Tokashiki N, Aydan Ö (2010) The stability assessment of overhanging Ryukyu limestone cliffs with an emphasis on the evaluation of tensile strength of rock mass. J Geotech Eng JSCE 66(2):397–406

    Google Scholar 

  • Tokashiki N, Aydan Ö (2011a) A comparative study on the analytical and numerical stability assessment methods for rock cliffs in Ryukyu Islands. In: Proceedings of the 13th international conference of the International Association for Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics (IACMAG), Melbourne, Australia, May 2011, pp 663–668

  • Tokashiki N, Aydan Ö (2011b) Application of rock mass classification systems to Ryukyu limestone and the evaluation of their mechanical properties. In: Proceedings of the 40th symposium on rock mechanics, Tokyo, Japan, January 2011, pp 387–392 (in Japanese)

  • Tokashiki N, Aydan Ö (2012) Estimation of rockmass properties of Ryukyu limestone. In: Proceedings of the 7th Asian rock mechanics symposium, Seoul, Korea, October 2012, pp 725–734

  • Ulusay R, Aydan Ö (1998) A study on merits and de-merits of excavation by TBM by considering Takisato Tunnel in Japan as an example. Jeoloji Mühendisliği (Geol Eng) 51:51–61 (in Turkish)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ünal E (1996) Modified rock mass classification: M-RMR system. Milestones in rock engineering. The Bieniawski Jubilee Collection, Balkema, pp 203–223

    Google Scholar 

  • Ünal E, Özkan İ, Ulusay R (1992) Characterization of weak, stratified and clay-bearing rock masses. In: Hudson JA (ed) ISRM symposium: EUROCK’92 rock characterization, Chester, UK, September 1992. British Geotechnical Society, London, pp 330–335

  • Van Heerden WL (1975) In situ complete stress–strain characteristics of large coal specimens. J S Afr Min Metall 75:207–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Wickham GE, Tiedemann HR, Skinner EH (1972) Support determinations based on geologic predictions. In: Proceedings of 1st rapid excavation tunnelling conference. AIME, New York, pp 43–64

  • Wickham GE, Tiedemann HR, Skinner EH (1974) Ground support prediction model—RSR concept. In: Proceedings of 2nd rapid excavation tunneling conference. AIME, New York, pp 691–707

  • Yoshinaka R, Sakurai S, Kikuchi K (1989) Rock mass classification and its application. Japanese Civil Engineering Organization, Tokyo, pp 20–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L, Einstein HH (2004) Using RQD to estimate the deformation modulus of rock masses. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 41:337–341

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors sincerely thank Prof. Hasan Gerçek of Bülent Ecevit University (Turkey) for reading the draft and making many valuable suggestions for the improvement of this manuscript. The authors also sincerely acknowledge Emeritus Prof. T. Kawamoto of Nagoya University for providing the reports on the results of many in situ tests on rock mass properties, as well as his participation in the evaluation of properties of rock masses in large projects in Japan and his advice. Furthermore, the members of the Sub-committee for In-situ Testing and Monitoring of Rock Mechanics Committee of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers are gratefully acknowledged for their hectic discussions on the generally non-accessible results of experiments of in situ tests of rock masses in the meetings of the sub-committee. The authors also acknowledge the two anonymous reviewers for their critical reviews and constructive comments that lead to significant improvements to the article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Oceanic Research and Development, Tokai University, Shizuoka, Japan

    Ömer Aydan

  2. Geological Engineering Department, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

    Reşat Ulusay

  3. Civil Engineering Department, Ryukyu University, Okinawa, Japan

    Naohiko Tokashiki

Authors
  1. Ömer Aydan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Reşat Ulusay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Naohiko Tokashiki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ömer Aydan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Aydan, Ö., Ulusay, R. & Tokashiki, N. A New Rock Mass Quality Rating System: Rock Mass Quality Rating (RMQR) and Its Application to the Estimation of Geomechanical Characteristics of Rock Masses. Rock Mech Rock Eng 47, 1255–1276 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-013-0462-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-013-0462-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation