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The Rock Mass Rating (RMR) system is a method for assessing the stability and quality of rock masses, using five parameters: Rock Strength, Rock Quality Designation, Joint Spacing, Joint Conditions, and Groundwater Conditions. Each parameter is scored numerically and contributes to an overall RMR score, which classifies the rock from very good to very poor. This classification aids in engineering applications such as estimating bearing pressure and predicting excavation stability.

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12 views3 pages

explain these slides (everything mentioned in slid

The Rock Mass Rating (RMR) system is a method for assessing the stability and quality of rock masses, using five parameters: Rock Strength, Rock Quality Designation, Joint Spacing, Joint Conditions, and Groundwater Conditions. Each parameter is scored numerically and contributes to an overall RMR score, which classifies the rock from very good to very poor. This classification aids in engineering applications such as estimating bearing pressure and predicting excavation stability.

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sachindhandhan88
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explain these slides (everything mentioned in

slides) in easy to understand way


The Rock Mass Rating (RMR) system is a comprehensive method for evaluating the stability and
quality of rock masses in engineering projects. Let me break down what these slides show:

What is Rock Mass Rating (RMR)?


RMR is a numerical scoring system calculated by adding ratings from five key parameters:
RMR = RRS + RRQD + RJS + RJC + RGC [1]
Where:
RRS: Rating of Rock Strength
RRQD: Rating of Rock Quality Designation
RJS: Rating of Joint Spacing
RJC: Rating of Joint Conditions
RGC: Rating of Groundwater Condition [1]
The first slide illustrates how these parameters can be observed in both boreholes and tunnels
during geological investigations.

The Five RMR Parameters Explained


1. Rock Strength (RRS)
This measures how strong the intact rock is, determined by either:
Uniaxial Compressive Strength (UCS) tested in a laboratory
Point Load Strength Index (PLSI) [2]
The rating ranges from 0-15 points:
Extremely strong rock (>250 MPa): 15 points
Very weak rock (<1 MPa): 0 points [2]
2. Rock Quality Designation (RQD)
This evaluates the degree of fracturing in the rock mass, determined by:
Direct method: Percentage of intact core pieces longer than 10 cm in a drill run
Indirect method: Using an empirical formula based on Jv (number of joints per cubic meter):
RQD = 115-3.3*Jv [2]
The rating ranges from 3-20 points:
Excellent (90-100%): 20 points
Very poor (<25%): 3 points [2]
3. Joint Spacing
This measures the perpendicular distance between neighboring discontinuities in the rock:
Very wide spacing (>2m): 20 points
Very close spacing (<0.06m): 5 points [2]
The closer the joints are spaced, the higher the vulnerability to slope failure.
4. Joint Conditions
This parameter evaluates five aspects of the discontinuities:
Persistence (length of discontinuity): 0-6 points
Aperture (width of opening): 0-6 points
Roughness of surfaces: 0-6 points
Weathering of rock surface: 0-6 points
Infilling material: 0-6 points [2]
Each aspect receives its own rating, with higher scores for more favorable conditions.
5. Groundwater Conditions
This assesses how water affects the rock mass:
Completely dry: 15 points
Flowing water: 0 points [2]
Ratings are based on water inflow per 10m of tunnel, ratio of water pressure to stress, or general
descriptions (dry, damp, wet, dripping, flowing).

Example Application
The slides include an example with specific measurements:
UCS: 41 MPa (Rating: 4)
RQD: 92% (Rating: 20)
Joint Spacing: 0.256m (Rating: 10)
Joint Conditions: Various aspects totaling 8 points
Groundwater: Dry (Rating: 15) [3]
This gives a total RMR of 63, which falls into Class II (Good Rock) [3] .
Practical Applications of RMR
The RMR value has important engineering applications:
Rock classification (Classes I-V: Very Good to Very Poor)
Estimation of cohesion and friction angle
Determination of allowable bearing pressure
Prediction of stand-up time (how long a rock excavation can remain unsupported) [3]
For example, an RMR of 80-100 (Class I) indicates:
Very good rock quality
Cohesion >0.4 MPa
Friction angle >45°
Stand-up time of 20 years for a 15m span
Allowable bearing pressure of 600-440 t/m²
Safe cut slope angle >70° [3]

Stand-Up Time for Tunnels


The final slides explain how RMR relates to excavation stability:
Stand-up time depends on the unsupported span of the opening
Arched roofs have significantly better stand-up time than flat roofs
Higher RMR values allow for longer stand-up times
The graph shows the relationship between RMR, unsupported span, and how long the
excavation will remain stable [3]
This relationship helps engineers determine whether and what type of support is needed for
underground excavations.
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1. https://pplx-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/user_uploads/umgeVOKquRBNhXk/image.jpg
2. https://pplx-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/user_uploads/BLoyYeyocOHXnSX/image.jpg
3. https://pplx-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/user_uploads/zgHvYljFOMEwPCb/image.jpg

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