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CIVE 1105
Introduction to Rock Mechanics
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Assessment:
15% Assignment 1- based on Lab. 1
40% Assignment 2
45% Final Examination (closed-book)
No hurdle marks
Laboratory testing in Week 4
Laboratory demonstration in Week 8
Consultation time: To be arranged
Regularly check your RMIT Email
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Books and learning materials:

Text book:
Hudson, J.A. and Harrison, J.P. (1997) Engineering rock
mechanics: An Introduction to the Principles.

Other learning materials:

Lecture/Tutorial Notes available on “CANVAS”

Evert Hoek
The development of rock engineering
(available on CANVAS)
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ASSESSMENT
Laboratory Sessions and Examination
Lab Session: Point load test
In RMIT Engineering Laboratory 12.2.22
Week 4: - Must attend
(No usual Lecture/tutorial class in Week 4)
Assignment 1 Report due on Monday in Week 8, 15% marks

Assignment 2 ( Major assignment) Report due on Monday

in Week 13 - 40% Marks
Late submission of assignment report will attract penalty of 5% per day.

Final Examination (closed-book) in Week 14/15 - 45% marks

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1. Introduction to Rock Engineering

2. Geological Setting/Geology
3. Rock Mechanics Principles
4. Rock Mass Classification
5. Excavation and Support
6. Foundation on Rocks
7. Rock Slope Stability

Laboratory sessions
Assignment 1 and Assignment 2
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In December 1959, the foundation of the Malpasset concrete arch dam in France
failed and the resulting flood killed about 450 people. Photo shows the remains of
the Malpasset Dam as seen today. Photograph by Mark Diederichs, 2003 (from
Hoek 2006)
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In October 1963 about 2500 people in the Italian town of Longarone were killed as a result of a landslide
generated wave which overtopped the Vajont dam.
In the middle distance, in the centre of the picture, is Mount Toc with the unstable slope visible as a
white scar on the mountain side above the waterline (from Hoek 2006)
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During the filling of the Vajont reservoir the toe of the slope on Mount Toc was submerged and this precipitated a slide.
The mound of debris from the slide is visible in the central part of the photograph. The very rapid descent of the slide
material displaced the water in the reservoir causing a 100 m high wave to overtop the dam wall. The dam itself, visible
in the foreground, was largely undamaged (from Hoek 2006).
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The town of Longarone, located downstream of the Vajont dam, before the Mount Toc failure in October 1963 (from Hoek 2006).
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The remains of the town of Longarone after the flood caused by the overtopping of the Vajont dam as a result of the
Mount Toc failure. More than 2500 people were killed in this flood (from Hoek 2006).
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The remains of the

Vajont dam perched
above the present town
of Longarone.
Photograph by Mark
Diederichs, 2003 (from
Hoek 2006).
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What is Rock Mechanics about?

It is about the discipline, based on mechanics, which is used
to design structures built on or in rock masses.
The subject of rock mechanics has been regarded as a
modern discipline and it was derived from the principles of
engineering mechanics and combined with engineering
geology. The US National committee on Rock Mechanics
offered this widely accepted definition:
“The theoretical and applied science of the mechanical
behaviour of rock and rock masses; it is that branch of
mechanics concerned with the response of rock and rock
masses to the force fields of their physical environment”.
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Rock mechanics itself forms part of the broader subject of

geomechanics which is concerned with the mechanical
responses of all geological materials, including soils.

Rock mechanics, as applied in mining, petroleum, and civil

engineering practice, is concerned with the application of the
principles of engineering mechanics to the design of the rock
structures generated by mining, drilling, reservoir production,
or civil construction activity, e.g. tunnels, mining shafts,
underground excavations, open pit mines, road cuts, and
other structures built in, on or of rock. It also includes the
design of reinforcement systems such as rock bolting patterns.
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Engineering rock mechanics is the study of the statics and dynamics

of rocks and rock masses in anticipation of the results being applied
to engineering.

Rock engineering involves engineering with rocks, especially the

construction of structures on or in rock masses, and includes the
design process.

Soil mechanics is the study of the statics and dynamics of soils.

Geotechnical engineering is the process of engineering with rocks

and/or soils
 Intact Rock and Rock Mass
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Intact rock is defined as rock

containing no significant factures

A Rock Mass consists of intact rock

and discontinuities

History and trends

In the 1960s emphasis on intact

rock;
In the 1970s on discontinuities and
rock masses;
In the 1980s emphasis shifted to
numerical analysis;
In the 1990s up to recent,
combined emphasis on material
property determination, use of
computer and implementation of
engineering principles.
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 Throughout history,
mankind has been working on
and in rocks for materials,
shelter, water, roads…

 Civil engineers build

structures on rocks either
directly or indirectly, and
mining engineers excavate into
rock masses for accessing to
underground minerals.
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Applications

Civil Engineering
Tunnelling
Mining
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The Stockholm Metro,

Sweden

Structures built in rock

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Civil Engineering
Construction
Structures built on rock
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Civil Engineering
Construction

A site formation project for construction of a high-rise

residential building in Hong Kong. Soil nails and rock bolts
were used to stabilize side soldier pile retaining wall to allow
for excavation to competent bearing rock stratum.
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Excavation to proposed founding level.

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Exposed Grade II to III granite as founding base.

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Close up view of the exposed rock Blinding concrete was placed

mass showing fractures and on rock base.
beddings.
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Construction of foundation in progress.

The rock base gradually takes up the gravity loads of many
thousands of tons from the structure.
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Rock Slope

A steep rock slope was formed for the construction of access road.
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Vertical rock face next to a concrete podium.

Rock cut above a school

sport ground in Hong Kong.
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A rock slide on a road caused by the undercutting of sheet joints

in a granite slope. A rise in groundwater levels during a heavy storm
may be sufficient to induce failure (from Hoek 2006)
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Tunnels

The 12 m span 8 m high tunnel

was constructed by full-face drill-and-blast and, because of the excellent
quality of the massive gneiss, was largely unsupported (from Hoek 2006).
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A tunnel near the Mt Alexandra

A Mining Access Tunnel
Reserve, NSW Australia.
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Mining

Open pit mine

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Underground coal mining

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Longwall coal shearer and

hydraulic roof shield supports.
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Rock Caverns

A 25 m span Rio Grande power cavern during excavation

of the lower benches (from Hoek 2006)
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End
Yallourn Power plant