Prof Course 1 – Rock Mechanics

Rock Mechanics Relevance of Geology in CE

 study of the mechanical behavior of subsurface The feasibility, the planning and design, the construction
sedimentary strata and rocks that are formed. and costing, and the safety of a project may depend
 The basic principle is that rock simply responds critically on the geological conditions where the
to stress by changing in volume or form. The construction will take place. As every structure is related
change in the rock volume or form due to the to rock beneath, proper geological investigations are of
applied stress is called strain. utmost importance.
 theoretical and applied science of the mechanical
Importance of Engineering Geology
behavior of rocks and rock masses.
 Engineering geology provides a systematic
 Compared to geology, it is the branch of
knowledge of construction material, its occurrence,
mechanics concerned with the response of rock
composition, durability, and other properties.
and rock masses to the force fields of their
physical environment\  The foundation problems of dams, bridges, and
Geology (Geo – earth, logos – study of) buildings are directly concerned with the geology of
the area where they are to be built. In these works,
 branch of science dealing with the study of the
drilling is commonly undertaken to explore the
Earth. aka Earth Science
ground conditions. Geology helps greatly in
 The study of the earth comprises of the whole
interpreting the drilling data.
earth, its origin, structure, composition and
 The cost of engineering works will considerably be
history (including the development of life) and
reduced if the geological survey of the area
the nature of the processes.
concerned is done before hand.
 The study of the earth comprises of the whole earth,
Engineering Geologist Vs Civil Engineer
its origin, structure, composition and history
 engineering geologist presents geological data and
(including the development of life) and the nature of
interpretations for use by the civil engineer
the processes.
 civil engineers have to deal mostly with soil and
 When the St. Francis Dam in Southern California
rocks, timbers, steel, and concrete.
failed in 1928, the civil engineering profession
In a great majority of civil engineering, projects and the
awoke to the idea that the careful design of a
designs, involve the soils and rocks almost directly.
structure itself is not all that is required for the safety
of structures.
Histories of Failure of Some Civil Engineering
 After the failure of St. Francis Dam, the need of
Constructions due to Geological Draw Backs
environment exploration with proper interpretation
1. St. Francis dam (California, 1928)
of the results was understood by all.

Branches of Geology
A. Physical Geology - physical matter and energy that
constitute the earth
B. Crystallography - structure and properties of crystal
C. Mining Geology - application of Geology to mining
D. Minerology – minerals 2. Austin dam
E. Petrology - origin, structure and composition of
rocks
F. Paleontology – fossil animals and plants
G. Hydrology - properties of earths water especially its
movement in relation to the land
H. Structural Geology – three-dimensional distribution
of rock units with respect to their deformational
histories
I. Stratigraphy - order and relative position of strata 3. Jerome Park Reservoir (Idaho, 1910)
and their relationship to the geological time scale
J. Engineering Geology - application of geologic
sciences to engineering practice
K. Photo Geology - Interpretation of geological and
geomorphological features on aerial photograph
L. Economic Geology - economically valuable
geological materials  intense weathering in the rock upstream causes
M. Historical Geology - used of the principles of silting problem
geology to reconstruct and understand the history of  Porosity and permeability of rocks, occurrence of
the Earth faults, joints and other weak planes cause leakage
N. Geo Physics - Physics of the Earth problems.
Importance of Physical Geology Components of Molten Material
 color, appearance, strength and durability of rocks  Solid: Silicate materials
are adversely affected by weathering  Liquid: Magma or Lava
 Proper understanding of the geological work of a  Gas: Volatiles
river and its features will lead to their better
utilization for engineering applications

Importance of Petrology
 The composition and textural characters of rocks
primarily contribute to their inherent strength and
durability
 Rocks based on their suitability can be used as
Plutonic Rocks
foundation for dams, for tunneling and materials of
 Intrusive Igneous Rocks
construction
 Mineral grains are coarse-grained – Phaneritic
texture
Importance of Structural Geology
Volcanic Rocks
Geological structures (folds, faults, joints and
 Extrusive Igneous Rocks
unconformities in rocks) modify the inherent physical
 Mineral grains are fine-grained – Aphanitic texture
characters of rocks rendering them more suitable or
unsuitable for civil engineering purposes.
Composition of Igneous Rocks
a) Oxygen – 46.6%
Spherical Representation of Geological Data
b) Silicon – 27.7%
Discontinuities: Including bedding planes, faults and
c) Aluminum – 8.1%
joints
d) Iron – 5%
It is important for us to define this orientation without
e) Calcium – 3.6%
any ambiguity.
f) Potassium – 2.6%
g) Sodium – 2.8%
____________________________________________
h) Magnesium – 2.1%
i) Other elements – 1.5%
Petrology - branch of Geology that studies the
classification, texture, structure, composition, and
Mineral Composition of Igneous Rocks
genesis or mode of formation of different types of
Dark Silicates
rocks.
 Ferromagnesian silicates
 Rich in iron and magnesium but low in silica
Rock Cycle
Light Silicates
Non-ferromagnesian silicates
Rich on potassium, calcium, sodium and silica
Ultramafic – almost all minerals are rich in iron and
magnesium
Mafic (Basaltic) – minerals with high
concentrations of iron, magnesium, and calcium
Intermediate (Andesitic) – 25% of the minerals are
dark silicates, 75% are lights silicates (plagioclase
feldspar)
Felsic (Granitic) – almost all minerals are rich in
potassium and aluminum

Types of Rocks
Igneous - formed from the solidification or cooling
of molten material.
Sedimentary - formed by deposition, compaction, Bowen’s Reaction Series
and cementation of disintegrated rock fragments
Metamorphic - formed from the deformation or
transformation of other rocks

Igneous Rocks
Magma - molten material occurs at various levels
within the lithosphere
Lava - molten material that reaches the surface
 Origin
a) Weathering of rocks
b) Erosion and transport of weathered rock fragments -
sediments
c) Deposition of the sediments
d) Precipitation of the cementing material
e) Lithification (compaction and cementation) of older
sediments due to the deposition of younger
sediments - Diagenesis
Diagenesis – collective term for all the chemical,
physical, and biological changes that take place after
the sediments are deposited
 Compaction: process of adding sediments to the
Igneous Texture
initially deposited sediments
 Cementation: crystallization of minerals among
the individual sediment grains

Types of Sedimentary Rocks

Detrital (Clastic) Sedimentary Rocks: formed
from weathering, erosion, and compaction of
sediments.
Chemical Sedimentary Rocks: formed from the
precipitation of soluble material produced primarily
by chemical weathering.
Organic Sedimentary Rocks: made up of organic
materials from the remains of dead organisms.
Phaneritic (Coarse-Grained) – rocks with the
minerals that can be seen with the naked eye Classification of Clastic Rocks
Porphyritic – rocks with minerals with varying 1. Clasts: Rock fragments, Quartz, Clay minerals,
mineral sizes. phenocryst – large crystals; Feldspars, Micas, Fossils
groundmass – smaller crystals 2. Particle Size: primary basis for distinguishing
Aphanitic (fine-grained) – rocks with minerals that among various detrital sedimentary rocks
are very small to be distinguished by the naked eye
Pyroclastic (fragmental) – rocks that are formed
from the consolidation of rock fragments that are
ejected during a violent volcanic eruption
Glassy – rocks that are ejected during the volcanic
eruption that are solidified in the atmosphere

Udden-Wenworth Scale
3. Sorting: degree of similarity in particle size

Sedimentary Rocks
4. Degree of Roundness: describes the shape of
sediments or fragments Parent rock – rocks subject to metamorphism

Common Clastic Rocks

Conglomerate and Breccia Metamorphic Texture
 Coarse to very coarse-grained sediments Foliation
 Poorly sorted  planar arrangement of mineral grains or structural
 Conglomerate: have more spherical grains features within the rock
 Breccia: have more angular grains  Slaty Cleavage: Exhibits splitting property
 Schistosity: When platy minerals are large
enough to be seen by the naked eye
 Gneissic Texture: Banded appearance

Sandstone Non-Foliation
 Composed of sand-sized particles  rocks that do not exhibit any foliated texture.
 Form in a variety of environments  Porphyroblastic Texture: rocks that exhibit
large grains (porphyroblast) surrounded by fine-
grained matrix.

Shale
 Collective term for fine-grained rocks composed
of silt- and/or clay-sized particles
 Siltstone: silt-sized particles
 Claystone: clay-sized particles Common Metamorphic Rocks
 Mudstone: other names for shale

Metamorphic Rocks
Metamorphism - a process that leads to changes in
the mineral content, texture, and sometimes the
chemical composition of rocks

Drivers of Metamorphism
Heat – the energy needed to drive the chemical
reaction that results in the recrystallization of
minerals. (Source of Heat: Earth’s Interior)
Confining Pressure – force applied in all directions;
increases with depth Metamorphic Environments
Differential Stress – greater force applied in one
direction
Chemically Active Fluids – promotes
recrystallization by enhancing the migration of
mineral matter