Rock Mass Quality Rating Based on the Multi-Criteria Grey Metric Space

Assessment of rock mass quality significantly impacts the design and construction of underground and open-pit mines from the point of stability and economy.This study develops the novel Gromov-Hausdorff distance for rock quality(GHDQR)methodology for rock mass quality rating based on multi-criteria grey metric space.It usually presents the quality of surrounding rock by classes(metric spaces)with specified properties and adequate interval-grey numbers.Measuring the distance between surrounding rock sample characteristics and existing classes represents the core of this study.The Gromov-Hausdorff distance is an especially useful discriminant function,i.e.,a classifier to calculate these distances,and assess the quality of the surrounding rock.The efficiency of the developed methodology is analyzed using the Mean Absolute Percentage Error(MAPE)technique.Seven existing methods,such as the Gaussian cloud method,Discriminant method,Mutation series method,Artificial neural network(ANN),Support vector machine(SVM),Grey wolf optimizer and Support vector classification method(GWO-SVC)and Rock mass rating method(RMR)are used for comparison with the proposed GHDQR method.The share of the highly accurate category of 85.71%clearly indicates compliance with actual values obtained by the compared methods.The results of comparisons showed that the model enables objective,efficient,and reliable assessment of rock mass quality.

Load-bearing characteristics and energy evolution of fractured rock masses after granite and sandstone grouting

Experiments on grouting-reinforced rock mass specimens with different particle sizes and features were carried out in this study to examine the effects of grouting reinforcement on the load-bearing characteristics of fractured rock mass.The strength and deformation features of grouting-reinforced rock mass were analyzed under different loading manners;the energy evolution mechanism of grouting-reinforced rock mass specimens with different particle sizes and features was investigated;the energy dissipation ratio and post-peak stress decreasing rate were employed to evaluate the bearing stability of grouting-reinforced rock mass.The results show that the strength and ductility of granite-reinforced rock mass(GRM)under biaxial loading are higher than that of sandstone-reinforced rock mass(SRM)under uniaxial loading.Besides,the energy evolution characteristics of grouting-reinforced rock mass under uniaxial and biaxial loading mainly could be divided into early,middle,and late stages.In the early stage,total,elastic,and dissipation energies were quite small with flatter curves;in the middle stage,elastic energy increased rapidly,whereas dissipation energy increased slowly;in the late stage,dissipation energy increased sharply.The energy dissipation ratio was used to represent the pre-peak plastic deformation.Under uniaxial loading,this ratio increased as the particle size increased and the pre-peak plastic deformation of grouting-reinforced rock mass became larger;under biaxial loading,it dropped as the particle size increased,and the pre-peak plastic deformation of grouting-reinforced rock mass became smaller.The post-peak stress decline rate A_(v) was used to assess the post-peak bearing performance of grouting-reinforced rock mass.Under uniaxial loading,parameter A_(v) exhibited reduction as the particle size kept increasing,and the ability of post-peak of grouting-reinforced rock mass to allow deformation development was greater,and the bearing capacity was greater;under biaxial loading,A_(v) increased with the particle size,and the ability of post-peak of grouting-reinforced rock mass to allow deformation development was low and the bearing capacity was reduced.The findings are considered instrumental in improving the stability of the roadway-surrounding rock by granite and sandstone grouting.

Coal mine roof rating(CMRR),rock mass rating(RMR)and strata control:Carborough Downs Mine,Bowen Basin,Australia

The rock mass rating(RMR)has been used across the geotechnical industry for half a century.In contrast,the coal mine roof rating(CMRR)was specifically introduced to underground coal mines two decades ago to link geological characterization with geotechnical risk mitigation.The premise of CMRR is that strength properties of mine roof rock are influenced by defects typical of coal measures stratigraphy.The CMRR has been used in longwall pillar design,roof support methods,and evaluation of extended cuts,but is rarely evaluated.Here,the RMR and CMRR are applied to a longwall coal mine.Roof rock mass classifications were undertaken at 67 locations across the mine.Both classifications showed marked spatial variability in terms of roof conditions.Normal and reverse faulting occur across the mine,and while no clear relationships exist between rock mass character and faulting,a central graben zone showed heterogeneous rock mass properties,and divergence between CMRR and RMR.Overall,the CMRR data fell within the broad envelope of results reported for extended cuts at Australian and U.S.coal mines.The corollary is that the CMRR is useful,and should not be used in isolation,but rather as a component of a strata control programme.

Modification of rock mass rating system:Interbedding of strong and weak rock layers

Rock mass classification systems are the very important part for underground projects and rock mass rating(RMR) is one of the most commonly applied classification systems in numerous civil and mining projects. The type of rock mass consisting of an interbedding of strong and weak layers poses difficulties and uncertainties for determining the RMR. For this, the present paper uses the concept of rock bolt supporting factor(RSF) for modification of RMR system to be used in such rock mass types. The proposed method also demonstrates the importance of rock bolting practice in such rock masses. The geological parameters of the Shemshak Formation of the Alborz Tunnel in Iran are used as case examples for development of the theoretical approach.

Classification and assessment of rock mass parameters in Choghart iron mine using P-wave velocity

Engineering rock mass classification,based on empirical relations between rock mass parameters and engineering applications,is commonly used in rock engineering and forms the basis for designing rock structures.The basic data required may be obtained from visual observation and laboratory or field tests.However,owing to the discontinuous and variable nature of rock masses,it is difficult for rock engineers to directly obtain the specific design parameters needed.As an alternative,the use of geophysical methods in geomechanics such as seismography may largely address this problem.In this study,25 seismic profiles with the total length of 543 m have been scanned to determine the geomechanical properties of the rock mass in blocks Ⅰ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ-2 of the Choghart iron mine.Moreover,rock joint measurements and sampling for laboratory tests were conducted.The results show that the rock mass rating（RMR） and Q values have a close relation with P-wave velocity parameters,including P-wave velocity in field(V;).P-wave velocity in the laboratory(V;) and the ratio of V;V;(i.e.K;= V;/V;.However,Q value,totally,has greater correlation coefficient and less error than the RMR,In addition,rock mass parameters including rock quality designation（RQD）,uniaxial compressive strength（UCS）,joint roughness coefficient（JRC） and Schmidt number（RN） show close relationship with P-wave velocity.An equation based on these parameters was obtained to estimate the P-wave velocity in the rock mass with a correlation coefficient of 91%.The velocities in two orthogonal directions and the results of joint study show that the wave velocity anisotropy in rock mass may be used as an efficient tool to assess the strong and weak directions in rock mass.

Research on unloading nonlinear mechanical characteristics of jointed rock masses

Geological environments of rock mass projects are always very complicated, and further investigations on rock mechanical characteristics are needed. There are considerable distinctions in rock mechanical characteristics under unloading and loading conditions. A series of tests are conducted to study the stress-strain relationship of rock masses under loading and unloading conditions. Also, the anisotropy, the size effect, and the rheological property of unloading rock mass are investigated. The tests presented in the paper include model test and granite rheological test, which are conducted considering geological condition, rock mass structure, in-situ stress field of the permanent shiplock of the Three Gorges Project. The main differences between loading and unloading rock masses are stress paths, yield criteria, deformation and strength parameters, etc.. Different structural plane directions affect unloading rock mass evidently. With increasing size, the tensile strength, the compressive strength, the deformation modulus, the Poisson’s ratio and the anisotropy of rock mass all decrease. For sandstone samples with parallel bedding planes, the cohesion c increases but the internal friction angle ? decreases under unloading condition when compared with the values under loading condition. While for samples with vertical bedding planes, the trend is adverse. The rheological property of rocks has close relationship with the tensile stresses of rock masses. When the sandstone samples are tested under high stress condition, their rheological properties are very obvious with the unloading of confining pressure, and three typical rheological stages are shown. Rheological rate changes with the variations in axial stress and confining pressure.

Application of rock mass classification systems to rock slope stability assessment:A case study

The stability of rock slopes is considered crucial to public safety in highways passing through rock cuts, as well as to personnel and equipment safety in open pit mines. Slope instability and failures occur due to many factors such as adverse slope geometries, geological discontinuities, weak or weathered slope materials as well as severe weather conditions. External loads like heavy precipitation and seismicity could play a significant role in slope failure. In this paper, several rock mass classification systems developed for rock slope stability assessment are evaluated against known rock slope conditions in a region of Saudi Arabia, where slopes located in rugged terrains with complex geometry serve as highway road cuts. Selected empirical methods have been applied to 22 rock cuts that are selected based on their failure mechanisms and slope materials. The stability conditions are identified, and the results of each rock slope classification system are compared. The paper also highlights the limitations of the empirical classification methods used in the study and proposes future research directions.

Performance analysis of empirical models for predicting rock mass deformation modulus using regression and Bayesian methods

Deformation modulus of rock mass is one of the input parameters to most rock engineering designs and constructions.The field tests for determination of deformation modulus are cumbersome,expensive and time-consuming.This has prompted the development of various regression equations to estimate deformation modulus from results of rock mass classifications,with rock mass rating(RMR)being one of the frequently used classifications.The regression equations are of different types ranging from linear to nonlinear functions like power and exponential.Bayesian method has recently been developed to incorporate regression equations into a Bayesian framework to provide better estimates of geotechnical properties.The question of whether Bayesian method improves the estimation of geotechnical properties in all circumstances remains open.Therefore,a comparative study was conducted to assess the performances of regression and Bayesian methods when they are used to characterize deformation modulus from the same set of RMR data obtained from two project sites.The study also investigated the performance of different types of regression equations in estimation of the deformation modulus.Statistics,probability distributions and prediction indicators were used to assess the performances of regression and Bayesian methods and different types of regression equations.It was found that power and exponential types of regression equations provide a better estimate than linear regression equations.In addition,it was discovered that the ability of the Bayesian method to provide better estimates of deformation modulus than regression method depends on the quality and quantity of input data as well as the type of the regression equation.

A comparative assessment of rock mass deformation modulus

Deformation modulus of a rock mass(E_m) is one of the most important design parameters in construction of rock engineering projects such as underground excavations.However,difficulties are frequently encountered during in-situ tests which are also time-consuming and expensive for determining this parameter.Although E_m is often estimated indirectly from proposed equations by different researchers,many of these equations cannot be used in case of problematic rock conditions(thinly bedded,highly jointed rock masses,etc.) as high quality core samples are required.This study aims to explore more practical and useful equation for E_m estimation using Rock Quality Designation(RQD) and point load index values.Comparisons were made between available empirical equations and the proposed E_m equation in terms of the estimation capacity.Multiple comparison tests(ANOVA) showed that E_m can be reliably estimated using proposed equation especially at the preliminary stages of projects.

Assessment of Rock Mass Quality and Deformation Modulus by Empirical Methods along Kandiah River, KPK, Pakistan

The pivotal aim of this study is to evaluate the rock mass characterization and deformation modulus. It is vital for rock mass classification to investigate important parameters of discontinuities. Therefore, Rock Mass Rating (RMR) and Tunneling quality index (Q) classification systems are applied to analyze 22 segments along proposed tunnel routes for hydropower in Kandiah valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. RMR revealed the range of fair to good quality rocks, whereas Q yielded poor to fair quality rocks for investigated segments of the rock mass. Besides, Em values were acquired by empirical equations and computer-aided program RocLab, and both methods presented almost similar variation trend of their results. Hence, the correlations of Em with Q and RMR were carried out with higher values of the regression coefficient. This study has scientific significance to initially understand the rock mass conditions of Kandiah valley.

基于钻孔数据库和RMR法的露天矿非均匀性岩体质量参数表征及应用

露天矿边坡岩体质量评价对于边坡稳定性分析及开采方案设计具有重大意义,一般主要是分岩组、分区域选择代表性测点进行岩体质量分级,结合Hoek-Brown等经验方法确定岩体力学参数,这些经验方法精度低,误差大,且未充分利用实测数据,因此深入挖掘矿山实测的地质钻孔资料从中提取岩体结构信息进行岩体质量评价具有现实的工程意义。以司家营和研山铁矿西帮为研究对象,通过结构面半自动识别得到不同区域表面结构面信息;根据矿山含有钻孔岩芯描述文字的工程地质钻孔资料,采用3DMine建立地质钻孔数据库,建立基于钻孔编录的定量评价指标体系,从文字描述中提取评价参数,结合地质统计学方法,建立基于RMR法的非均匀性岩体力学参数块体模型,实现了精细化岩体质量分级表征。研究表明:从浅部到深部坡表结构面的节理体密度越来越小,RMR值呈现上升趋势,说明西帮浅部到深部岩体质量越来越好,确保了后期西帮深部的安全开采,为边坡加陡及最终开采境界边坡的稳定性分析提供了参考依据。

Modeling and Simulation of Dynamic Unloading of Prestressed Rockmass

During the excavation of deep rock,a sudden change in boundary conditions will cause the in-situ stress on the excavation surface to release instantaneously.This disturbance propagates in the form of an unloading stress wave,which will enlarge the damage field of surrounding rock.In this paper,the dynamic unloading problem of the insitu stress in deep rock excavation is studied using theoretical,numerical,and experimental methods.First,the dynamic unloading process of rock is analyzed through adopting the wave equation,and the equivalent viscous damping coefficient of the material is taken into consideration.Calculations show that there is significant tensile strain in the rock bar when the strain rate is above 10^-1 s^-1.With an increase in the length or damping coefficient,the wave state will change from an underdamped to an overdamped state.Second,implicit and explicit solvers of the finite element method are employed to simulate rock unloading processes,which can be used to verify the theoretical results from one-dimensional to three-dimensional stress states.Finally,the dynamic unloading experiment of a onedimensional bar is used to further verify the validity and accuracy of the theoretical analysis.

Assessment of Rock Mass Quality and Support Estimation along Headrace Tunnel of a Small Hydropower in District Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

The main purpose of this study is to classify the rock mass quality by using rock mass quality (Q) and Rock Mass Rating (RMR) systems along headrace tunnel of small hydropower in Mansehra District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Geological field work was carried out to determine the orientation, spacing, aperture, roughness and alteration of discontinuities of rock mass. The quality of rock mass along the tunnel route is classified as good to very poor quality by Q system, while very good to very poor by RMR classification system. The relatively good rock conditions are acquired via RMR values that are attributed to ground water conditions, joint spacing, RQD and favorable orientation of discontinuities with respect to the tunnel drive. The petrographic studies revealed that study area is mainly comprised of five major geological rock units namely quartz mica schist (QMS), garnet mica schist (GMS), garnet bearing quartz mica schist (G-QMS), calcareous schist (CS), marble (M). The collected samples of quartz mica schist, marble and garnet bearing quartz mica schist are fine to medium grained, compact and are cross cut by few discontinuities having greater spacing. Therefore, these rocks have greater average RQD, Q values, RMR ratings as compared to garnet mica schist and calcareous schist.

基于N阶多项式回归方程的RMR分级方法优化

为解决RMR岩体质量分级方法单一评价因素在某一特定强度值或完整性指标附近评分结果会呈现阶梯状突变的问题。利用N阶多项式回归方程,对RMR岩体质量分级体系中单轴抗压强度、点载荷强度、钻孔RQD指标和节理间距与评分体系之间的关系进行了非线性连续拟合,在此基础上优化了原评价体系。结果表明:优化后的RMR岩体质量分级方法消除了原评价体系中的局部突变,使评价结果具有连续性、客观性和现场适用性,该方法已为多个矿山的岩体质量工作评价提供了更为科学、准确的技术支撑和依据。

基于能量原理不同含水率下煤岩体变形破坏能量损伤演化机制

为探究不同含水率下煤岩体在变形破坏过程中的能量演化规律与损伤演化特征,对双马一矿煤岩体开展了在不同含水率条件下单轴压缩试验,基于能量计算及最小耗能原理,分析不同含水率下煤岩体能量耗散特征及损伤演化机制,结果表明:不同含水率下煤岩体力学性质不同,峰值应变与含水率呈正相关,抗压强度、弹性模量与含水率呈负相关;煤岩体含水率越高,其在峰值处弹性应变能及破坏吸收总应变能越小,耗散能占总应变能比例越高;基于最小耗能原理建立的损伤本构模型表明:随着煤岩体含水率增加,损伤门槛值逐渐降低;干燥状态下,煤岩体在应力峰值处损伤变量分别为0.36、0.28,当含水率增至自然状态时,煤岩体在应力峰值处损伤变量值分别下降0.09、0.18,但当含水率增至饱水状态时,煤岩体在应力峰值处损伤变量值反而分别大幅度上升0.102、0.49,总体呈先减后增的发展趋势;进一步建立了不同含水率煤岩损伤应变能释放率演化模型,低含水率煤岩较干燥煤岩的最大损伤应变能释放率大幅度下降,降幅分别为45.61%、31.29%,而随着含水率增加至饱水状态,其最大损伤应变能释放率增大幅度较平缓,分别为3.08%、8.80%,表明煤岩破坏剧烈程度并未大幅度增加。研究成果对煤岩矿柱水害预测评价与岩石损伤评估具有一定参考意义。

基于优化组合赋权的可拓学磷矿山岩体质量评价

为解决岩体质量评价相邻等级之间指标参数模糊不确定性问题,引入可拓学理论,提出基于优化组合赋权的可拓学岩体质量分级模型,对昆阳二矿磷矿山地下开采的岩石进行质量评价。首先,根据矿山地质特征选取岩石单轴饱和抗压强度(Rc)、岩石质量指标(RQD)、节理间距(Jd)、结构面条件(Jf)、地下水状态(W)和地应力影响系数(Z)6个影响指标,将每个指标划分为5个等级;然后通过改进的层次分析法和熵权法分别确定指标的主观和客观权重,引入矩估计法对主客观权重进行优化组合;最后应用修正的RMR法和Q系统法对岩体质量进行评价,将分级结果与基于优化组合赋权的可拓学岩体质量分级结果进行比较。研究表明:5个待评价岩体中,除上矿体N3的模型分级结果与修正RMR法存在差异之外,其余岩体的分级结果与修正RMR法相同,使用Q系统法的评价结果整体偏低。此外,该模型可得出岩体质量等级偏向于相邻等级的程度,分级结果符合昆阳二矿磷矿山生产勘探地质报告岩体质量范围,比修正RMR法和Q系统法更加准确,验证了本文方法的可靠性,为地下矿山开采提供了技术支撑。

基于地下深部工程岩体特性的RMR系统修正

地下深部工程岩体具有典型的高地应力、高温、高地下水压场特性,地下水、岩石流变、地温和地应力的存在会造成岩体质量下降,因而在对深部工程岩体质量进行评价时,需要根据其特性对传统的浅部岩体质量评价方法即岩体等级(RMR)系统进行修正。通过引入岩体的水弱化修正系数Rw、热弱化修正系数Rθ和岩石流变弱化修正系数Rt对岩石的单轴抗压强度σc进行修正,同时增加地应力修正项P7,并对分类指标P1,P2,P3和P7进行连续性修正,获得符合深部岩体工程围岩质量评价实际状况的修正RMR系统。研究结果表明:随着岩石含水率、温度、荷载历时和地应力的增加,采用修正的RMR系统得到的岩体质量评分值比传统的RMR系统岩体质量评分值低,岩体质量等级略下降,所得结果与深部地下工程岩体状况更吻合。

岩体分级BQ与RMR的关系及其力学参数估计

在国标《工程岩体分级标准》(GB50218—94)岩体质量分级的基础上,提出了岩体基本质量指标BQ的简化计算方法。根据规范中建议的岩体物理力学参数取值范围,编制了各参数与BQ关系曲线图,通过非线性拟合分析,建立了各物理力学参数与BQ之间关系的经验公式。基于内摩擦角等效原则,通过比较已有的分别用RMR和BQ表达的岩体内摩擦角经验公式,推导出1个BQ和RMR之间的关系方程。同样基于变形模量等效原则,通过比较已有的分别用RMR和BQ表达的岩体变形模量经验公式,推导出4个BQ和RMR之间的关系方程。这5个关系方程与实测结果进行了比较分析,得到了上限线和下限线方程;由内摩擦角等效获得的关系方程趋势较好,取上限线和下限线的中间线对其进行修正,得到了本文建议的RMR和BQ之间的关系方程。

深部岩体工程围岩质量评价的IRMR法研究

通过采用连续性细化方法,考虑高压地下水和高地温对岩体力学性质的影响,分别引入地下水和地温弱化系数,对传统RMR法中的岩石单轴抗压强度、岩石质量指标和节理间距这3个评价指标的评分标准进行修正,获得3个评价指标和其对应分值之间的非线性连续回归方程;根据深部岩体工程中地应力与岩石强度特征值之间的关系,定义岩体损伤破坏危险度系数,且建立该系数和岩体质量评分修正值之间的对应关系,由此获得适用于深部岩体工程围岩质量评价实际的IRMR法,并用实例验证了该法评价结果的合理性和有效性。

基于修正RMR法的深部岩体工程围岩质量评价研究

深部岩体工程具有典型的高地应力、高地温和高孔隙水压等特点,传统的RMR法对评价其围岩质量存在不足之处。通过考虑高压地下水和高地温对岩体力学性质的影响分别引入地下水和地温弱化系数,结合连续性细化方法对传统的RMR法中的岩石单轴抗压强度、岩石质量指标和节理间距等三个评价指标的评分标准进行了修正,获得了三个评价指标值与其对应分值之间的非线性连续回归方程。然后,根据岩体中地应力的大小及岩石强度特征定义了岩体损伤破坏危险度系数,建立了该系数与岩体质量评分修正值之间的对应关系。由此获得了比较符合深部岩体工程围岩质量评价实际的修正RMR法,并用实例表明了其评价结果的合理有效性。