Chapter 1

Rock Mechanics
Introduction
Objectives:
a) To understand of the mechanical behavior of rock materials, Rock fractures and rock
masses;
b) To be able to analysis and to determine mechanical properties of rock for civil ,mining and
petroleum engineering applications.
 What is rock mechanics?
- Rock mechanics is a discipline that uses the principles of mechanics to describe the
behavior of rock of engineering scale.

 Why is rock mechanics special?

o Rock at engineering scale is discontinuous, inhomogeneous, Anisotropic, and non-
linearly elastic.
o Rock mechanics deals with the response of rock when the boundary conditions are
disturbed by engineering.

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Rock formation
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- Origin of rock:
 Rock is a natural solid substance composed of minerals.

Rocks are a formed by three origins:

1) igneous rocks from magma,
2) sedimentary rock from sediments lithification and
3) Metamorphic rocks through metamorphism, as illustrated by the rock cycle.

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Minerals:
 Rocks are composed of minerals, primarily silicates. Important rock-forming silicates are
feldspars, quartz, olivines, pyroxenes, garnets, and micas.
 Minerals have different properties, crystal structure, hardness and cleavage influence rock
properties.
 In rock, mineral crystals are often massive, granular or compact, and only microscopically
visible.

1) Igneous rocks
Igneous rocks are formed when molten rock (magma) cools and solidifies with or without
crystallization.
They can be formed:
 below the surface as intrusive (plutonic) rocks;
 Or, on the surface as extrusive (volcanic) rocks. Intrusive is generally coarse grained
and extrusive fine grained
-T h ey can al s o h av e d i f f er en t mi n e ral con t en t s.

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2) Sedimentary rocks
Sedimentary rock is formed in three main ways:
(i) deposition of the weathered remains of other rocks (known as clastic sedimentary
rocks)
(ii) deposition of the results of biogenic activity ; and
(iii) Precipitation from solution.
Clastic sedimentary rocks are commonly classified by grain size.

3) Metamorphic Rocks
 Metamorphic rock is a new rock transformed from an existing rock, through
Metamorphism – change due to head and pressure.
 Metamorphic rocks can have foliated and non-foliated textures. Foliation is due to the re-
orientation of mica minerals, creating a plane of cleavage or visible mineral alignment
feature.

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-Rock textures
Sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks have different textures due to their
different origin. The two main texture forms are plastics and interlocking.
Rock material strength is structural strength of the composition of the minerals. It is
governed by :
(i) The strength of the minerals, and
(ii) The structural bonding (integration) of the minerals.
The interlocking microstructures of igneous and metamorphic rocks lead to generally
high strength of rock material, while the clastic microstructures of sedimentary rocks often
lead to low rock material strength, particularly when cementation is weak.
Any existing weakness in a rock material matrix (micro cracks, pores, and weak grains
and cementation) also weakens the rock material.

ROCK DISCONTINUITIES
 Joints
- Joints are the most common rock discontinuity .They are normally in parallel sets.
- They are generally considered as part of the rock mass. The spacing of joints is usually
in the order of a few to a few ten centimeters. For engineering, joints are constant features of

the rock mass.

 Faults
- Faults are planar rock fractures which show evidence of relative movement. Faults have
different scale and the largest faults are at tectonic plate boundaries. Faults usually do not
consist of a single, clean fracture, they often form fault zones.
- Large scale fault, fault zone and shear zone, are large and localized feature. They are
often dealt separately from the rock mass.
 Folds
- Fold is the bended originally flat and planar rock strata, as a result of tectonic force or
movement.
- Folds are usually not considered as part of the rock mass. They are often associated with
high degree of fracturing and relatively weak and soft rocks.
 Bedding planes
- Bedding planes is the interface between sedimentary rock layers.

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Bedding planes are isolated geological features to engineering activities. It mainly creates an
interface of two rock materials. However, some bedding planes could also become potential
weathered zones and groundwater pockets.

ROCK MATERIAL AND ROCK MASS

Engineering scale of rock

For civil engineering works, e.g., foundations, slopes and tunnels, the scale of projects is
usually a few tens to a few hundred meters.
Rock in an engineering scale is generally a mass of rock at the site. This mass of rock,
often termed as rock mass, ie. the whole body of the rock in situ, consists of intact rock blocks
and all types of discontinuities (joints, faults etc).

Composition of rock mass

A rock mass contains:
(i) rock material, in the form of intact rock blocks of various sizes, and
(ii) rock discontinuities, joints ,faults , bedding planes, and dykes.

Rock mass = rock materials + rock discontinuities

Roles of rock joints in rock mass behavior

 Cuts rock into slabs and wedges, to be free to fall and move;
 Acts as weak planes for sliding and creates flow networks;
 Gives large deformation;
 Alters stress distribution and orientation;
So, rock mass behavior is largely governed by joints.

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Inhomogeneity and anisotropy
Inhomogeneity of rock material
o Inhomogeneity represents property varying with locations. Many construction
materials have varying degrees of inhomogeneity.
Rock is formed by nature and exhibits great inhomogeneity, due to:
(i) different minerals in a rock,
(ii) different bounding between minerals,
(iii) existence of pores,
(iv) Existence of micro cracks.
o Inhomogeneity is the cause of fracture initiation leading to the failure of a rock
material. If some elements in the rock material matrix are very weak, they will start to fail
early and usually lead to low overall strength of the rock material.
Inhomogeneity of rock mass:
o In homogeneity of a rock mass is primarily due to the
existence of the various discontinuities.
o Rock masses are also inhomogeneous due to the mix
of rock types, inter bedding and intrusion

Anisotropy:
o Anisotropy is defined as properties are different in different direction. It occurs in both
rock materials and rock mass.
o Rock with obvious anisotropy is slate. Metamorphic Phyllis and schist and sedimentary
shale also exhibit anisotropy.
o Rock mass anisotropy controlled by
(i) joint set, and
(ii) Sedimentary layer.

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