Determination of blast-induced ground vibration equations for rocks using mechanical and geological properties

In the recent decades, effects of blast loads on natural and man-made structures have gained considerable attention due to increase in threat from various man-made activities. Site-specific empirical relationships for calculation of blast-induced vibration parameters like peak particle velocity （PPV） and peak particle displacement （PPD） are commonly used for estimation of blast loads in design. However, these relation- ships are not able to consider the variation in rock parameters and uncertainty of in situ conditions. In this paper, a total of 1089 published blast data of various researchers in different rock sites have been collected and used to propose generalized empirical model for PPV by considering the effects of rock parameters like unit weight, rock quality designation （ROD）, geological strength index （GSI）, and uniaxial compressive strength （UCS）. The proposed PPV model has a good correlation coefficient and hence it can be directly used in prediction of blast-induced vibrations in rocks. Standard errors and coefficient of correlations of the predicted blast-induced vibration parameters are obtained with respect to the observed field data. The proposed empirical model for PPV has also been compared with the empirical models available for blast vibrations predictions given by other researchers and found to be in good agreement with specific cases.

Discussion on“Empirical methods for determining shaft bearing capacity of semi-deep foundations socketed in rocks”[J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 6(2017)1140-151]

A new comprehensive set of data（n = 178） is compiled by adding a data set（n = 72） collected by Arioglu et al.（2007） to the data set（n = 106） presented in Rezazadeh and Eslami（2017）. Then, the compiled data set is evaluated regardless of the variation in lithology/strength. The proposed empirical equation in this study comprises a wider range of uniaxial compressive strength（UCS）（0.15 MPa 〈 σ_（rc） 〈156 MPa） and various rock types. Rock mass cuttability index（RMCI） is correlated with shaft resistance（r_s） to predict the shaft resistance of rock-socketed piles. The prediction capacity of the RMCI versus r_s equation is also found to be in a fair good agreement with the presented data in Rezazadeh and Eslami（2017）. Since the RMCI is a promising parameter in the prediction of shaft resistance, the researchers in the rock-socketed pile design area should consider this parameter in the further investigations.

The use of point load test for Dubai weak calcareous sandstones

Intact rock is typically described according to its uniaxial compressive strength （UCS）. The UCS is needed in the design of geotechnical engineering problems including stability of rock slopes and design of shallow and deep foundations resting on and/or in rocks. Accordingly, a correct measure-ment/evaluation of the UCS is essential to a safe and economic design. Typically, the UCS is measured using the unconfined compression tests performed on cylindrical intact specimens with a minimum length to width ratio of 2. In several cases, especially for weak and very weak rocks, it is not possible to extract intact specimens with the needed minimum dimensions. Thus, alternative tests （e.g. point load test, Schmidt hammer） are used to measure rock strength. The UCS is computed based on the results of these tests through empirical correlations. The literature includes a plethora of these correlations that vary widely in estimating rock strength. Thus, it is paramount to validate these correlations to check their suitability for estimating rock strength for a specific location and geology. A review of the available correlations used to estimate the UCS from the point load test results is performed and summarized herein. Results of UCS, point load strength index and Young＇s modulus are gathered for calcareous sandstone specimens extracted from the Dubai area. A correlation for estimating the UCS from the point load strength index is proposed. Furthermore, the Young＇s modulus is correlated to the UCS.

Influence of zeolite and cement additions on mechanical behavior of sandy soil

It is well known that the cemented sand is one of economic and environmental topics in soil stabilization. In this instance, a blend of sand, cement and other materials such as fiber, glass, nanoparticle and zeolite can be commercially available and effectively used in soil stabilization in road construction. However, the influence and effectiveness of zeolite on the properties of cemented sand systems have not been completely explored. In this study, based on an experimental program, the effects of zeolite on the characteristics of cemented sands are investigated. Stabilizing agent includes Portland cement of type II and zeolite. Results show the improvements of unconfined compressive strength （UCS） and failure properties of cemented sand when the cement is replaced by zeolite at an optimum proportion of 30% after 28 days. The rate of strength improvement is approximately between 20% and 78%. The efficiency of using zeolite increases with the increases in cement amount and porosity. Finally, a power function of void-cement ratio and zeolite content is demonstrated to be an appropriate method to assess UCS of zeolite-cemented mixtures.

Estimating uniaxial compressive strength of rocks using genetic expression programming

The aim of this paper is to estimate the uniaxial compressive strength（UCS） of rocks with different characteristics by using genetic expression programming（GEP）.For this purpose,five different types of rocks including basalt and ignimbrite（black,yellow,gray,brown） were prepared.Values of unit weight,water absorption by weight,effective porosity and UCS of rocks were determined experimentally.By using these experimental data,five different GEP models were developed for estimating the values of UCS for different rock types.Good agreement between experimental data and predicted results is obtained.

Reply to Discussion on “Empirical methods for determining shaft bearing capacity of semi-deep foundations socketed in rocks”

Semi-deep foundations socketed in rocks are considered to be a viable option for the foundations in the presence of heavy loads imposed by high-rise buildings and special structures, due to the low settlement and high bearing capacity. In this study, the unconfined compressive strength（UCS） and rock mass cuttability index（RMCI） have been applied to investigating the shaft bearing capacity. For this purpose, a comprehensive database of 178 full-scale load tests is compiled by adding a data set（n = 72）collected by Arioglu et al.（2007） to the data set（n = 106） presented in Rezazadeh and Eslami（2017）.Using the database, the applicability and accuracy of the existing empirical methods are evaluated and new relations are derived between the shaft bearing capacity and UCS/RMCI. Moreover, a general equation in case of unknown rock types is proposed and it is verified by another set of data（series 3 in Rezazadeh and Eslami（2017））. Since rock-socketed shafts are supported by rock mass（not intact rock）,a reduction factor for the compressive strength is suggested and verified in which the effect of discontinuities is considered using the modified UCS, based upon RMR and RQD to consider the effect of the rock mass properties.