23318 - Rock Mechanics

Academic Year 2008/2009

  • Docente: Paolo Berry
  • Credits: 6
  • SSD: ICAR/07
  • Language: Italian
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Environmental and Territory Engineering (cod. 0053)

Learning outcomes

The course deals with the basic concepts pertaining to the mechanical behaviour of rock materials and rock masses and provides the methods and the logical processes for the practical application of this knowledge by means of exercises, in class and in the laboratory, on real data and case histories. It also gives the necessary skills for facing and solving design aspects of civil and mining constructions.

Course contents

1.    Geotechnical description and rock and rock mass classification : Methods, parameters and characteristics for the geotechnical description of the rock materials under a technical point of view. Index properties. Deere Classification System. Discontinuity characteristics (orientation, frequency, roughness, spacing). Methods for representation discontinuity orientation. Rock mass classification: RQD, Q index, RMR index, GSI index.

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2.    Review of continuum mechanics: Concepts of stress and deformation. Mohr's circles. Elasticity, plasticity and viscoplasticity. Plastic and reological models.

3.    Mechanical behaviour of rock and rock masses

Strength : Strength of rock materials. Uniaxial and triaxial compressive tests. Brazilian test. Mohr-Coulomb's criterion. Hoek-Brown's criterion. Strength anisotropy. Shear strength of discontinuities. Shear test on discontinuities. Barton's criterion. Rock mass strength.

Deformability : Rock material deformability. Deformability anisotropy. Discontinuity deformability. Rock masses deformability. In situ measurement of rock mass deformability.

Dynamic properties : Types of dynamic waves. Dynamic properties of rock materials and rock masses . In situ measurement of dynamic properties.

Permeability: Water flow in a single fracture and in a parallel system of fractures. Rock mass permeability. Permeability measurement in bore-holes: Lugeon's test.

4.    Lithostatic stress state : Gravitative force. Horizontal stress to vertical stress. Stress state measurement.

5.    Statics of tunnels in rocks : Circular tunnel in an elastic and elastoplastic medium. Spherical hole. Rock-lining interaction

6.    Rock slope stability : Stability of rock wedges in plane strain and three-dimensional conditions. Influence of hydraulic conditions. Rock fall. Toppling. Stabilization systems.

Readings/Bibliography

Corse notes by Prof. Ribacchi

Hoek (2007) “Practical Rock Engineering” (available for free downloading on the web-site http://www.rocscience.com/hoek/PracticalRockEngineering.asp)

Teaching methods

The teaching activity is done in class, through theoretical lessons and exercises, and in the laboratory

Assessment methods

The final exam consists of a written test in form of exercises and a oral test on theretical and practical aspects.

Teaching tools

Slides, power point, commercial softwares

Office hours

See the website of Paolo Berry