The stresses existing in a ground mass before changes caused by the application of

loads or the formation of a cavity within the mass are referred to as the initial
in-situ state of stress. These stresses are the result of gravitational stress and residual
stresses related to the geological history of the mass.
Data on the initial in-situ state of stress in rock and soil masses before the execution
of works are important in design. The most favourable orientation, shape, execution
sequence and support of large and complex underground cavities, and the
prediction of the final state of stress existing around the completed works, are all
dependent on knowing the initial in-situ state of stress. Measurements of in-situ
stress have shown that in many areas the horizontal stresses exceed the vertical
stress, which in turn often exceeds that calculated, assuming that only gravity is
acting on the ground mass.

45.1 Stress measurements in rock

45.1.1 General
Over-coring should be used for measurement within the rock mass, whereas
slotting should be used for surface stress measurements. With the exception of
the static equilibrium method (see 45.2.5), the methods described are based on
stress changes, achieved by over-coring or slotting a previously instrumented
test area. Measurements taken should be adjusted to take account of the
redistribution of stresses as a result of formation of the borehole or slot and
when the measurement is made in the zone of influence of the main access,
such as an adit. Stress measurements may also be determined from the
measurement of displacements of the walls of a tunnel, or of an exploratory
adit, close to the working face.
NOTE The techniques often require that the material in which the measurements
are made behaves in a near elastic, homogeneous and isotropic manner and that it
is not prone to swelling as a result of drilling water, or excessively fractured.
Analyses are available that evaluate measurements made in anisotropic material but
these are not widely used. For the over-coring methods, the elastic behaviour is
assumed to be reversible, the elastic constants being obtained from field or
laboratory tests.
Stress measurements may be made using electrical strain gauges, photoelastic
discs, solid inclusions and systems for measuring the diametrical change of a
borehole. Some equipment is designed to measure stress change with time, or
stress change due to an advancing excavation, whereas other equipment is
designed to obtain an instantaneous measurement of stress. The technique
selected should be chosen in relation to the rock material, mass quality and
water conditions.
To determine the triaxial state of stress at a given point, measurement should be
made in at least six independent directions. It is, however, desirable to have the
extra data for better evaluation by statistical methods of error distribution.
The report on the results of in-situ stress measurement should include the
following:
a) location of test and direction and depth of the drill holes, method of
drilling and diameters of cores;
b) depth below ground level of the point of measurement;
c) geological description of the rock mass;
d) strain readings to the nearest 10 micro strain;
e) the modulus of elasticity, E, and Poisson's ratio, v, of the rock determined
from static laboratory testing of core preserved at in-situ water content,
over the appropriate stress path, from each stress measurement area;