TRANSACTION PAPER

 

What happened to the mechanics in rock mechanics and the geology in engineering geology?

 

 

P.J.N. Pells

Pells Sullivan Meynink Pty Ltd

 

 

---

SYNOPSIS

A good thing is becoming a bad thing. Rock mass classification systems, that are so excellent for communications between engineers and geologists, and that can be valuable in categorizing project experience, are emasculating engineering geology and rock mechanics. Some engineering geologists have been sucked into thinking that Q and RMR values are all that is needed for engineering purposes, and seem to have put aside what can be learned from structural geology and geomorphology. Many rock mechanics engineers seem to have forgotten the scientific method. This paper attempts to redress the situation by showing how mechanics can be used in rock engineering to design with a similar rigour to that used in the fields of structural engineering, hydraulics and soil mechanics. It also attempts to remind practitioners of what can be achieved by skilled engineering geology.

---

 

 

“Full text available only in PDF format”

 

 

References

BERTUZZI, R. and PELLS, P.J.N. Design of rockbolts in Sydney sandstone. ITA World Tunnel Congress, 2002.         [ Links ]

BROWN, E.T. Rock mechanics and the Snowy Mountains Scheme. ATSE Conference, 1999.         [ Links ]

CARTER, J. Pells analysis of the shear behaviour of a reinforced rock joint. Report by Advanced Geomechanics, November 2003.         [ Links ]

DIGHT, P.M. Improvements in the stability of rock walls in open pit mines. PhD Thesis, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, 1982.         [ Links ]

EGGER, P. Rock stabilisation. Rock mechanics, Muller, L. (ed.), 1974.         [ Links ]

ENDERSBEE, L.A. The Snowy Vision and the Young Team-The First Decade of Engineering for the Mountains Scheme. ATSE Conference, 1999.         [ Links ]

EVANS, W.H. The strength of undermined strata. Trans Inst. Mining and Metallurgy, vol. 50, 1941.         [ Links ]

HOEK, E. and BROWN, E.T. Practical estimates of rock mass strength. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, vol. 34, no. 8, 1997.         [ Links ]

HOEK, E. and BROWN, E.T. Underground excavations in rock. Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, London, 1980.         [ Links ]

MOSTYN, G. and DOUGLES, K. Strength of intact rock and rock masses. GeoEng 2000, Melbourne.         [ Links ]

MULLER, L. (ed.). Rock Mechanics, Springer-Verlag, 2nd printing, 1974.         [ Links ]

PALMSTROM, A. and BROCH, E. Use and misuse of rock mass classification systems with particular reference to the Q-system. Tunnels and Underground Space Technology, Elsevier, 21, 2006. pp. 575-593.         [ Links ]

PECK, W.A. and LEE, M.F. Application of the Q-system to Australian Underground metal mines. Aus IMM.         [ Links ]

PELLS, P.J.N. and BERTUZZI, R. Limitations of rock mass classification systems. Tunnels and Tunnelling International, April 2007.         [ Links ]

PELLS, P.J.N. Developments in the design of caverns in the Triassic rocks of the Sydney region. International Journal Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, vol. 39, 2002.         [ Links ]

PELLS, P.J.N. Geometric design of underground openings for high horizontal stress fields. 3rd Aust-NZ Geomechanics Conference, Wellington,1980.         [ Links ]

PENDER, E.B., HOSKING, A.D. and MATTNER, R.H. Grouted Rockbolts for Permanent Support of Major Underground Works. Journal Institution Engineers Australia, vol. 35, no. 7-8, 1963. pp. 129-145.         [ Links ]

ROWE, R.K. and ARMITAGE, H.H. The design of piles socketed into weak rock. Geotechnical Research Report GEOT-11-84, University of Western Ontario, 1984.         [ Links ]

SRK CONSULTING AND PELLS SULLIVAN MEYNINK PTY LTD. Technical Audit. Failure in M1/K1 transfer cavern Chuquicamata, November 2006.         [ Links ]