Medley (2006) Bimrocks-Intro

An Introduction to Bimrocks
Dr. Edmund Medley, PE, CEG

June 2006
Copyright: Dr. Edmund Medley http://bimrocks.geoengineer.org 1
HINT: To read Notes
To read Notes: save PowerPoint file; View presentation in Normal View (Slide Edit mode); and expand the Notes pane, OR: View presentation in Notes Page mode.
Prospector in Canada 1969-1973 Education: Geological and Geotechnical Engineering Geological and Geotechnical Engineering Consultant
1978-1991; 1995-current Senior Consultant, Geological Engineering, Geosyntec Consultants, Oakland, California Prof. Registered Geologist and Engineer in USA, Canada, and United Kingdom Contact Details: emedley@geosyntec.com
Copyright: Dr. Edmund Medley http://bimrocks.geoengineer.org
Photo: Michael Lucia, used with permission of GeoSyntec Consultants
About Me
BIG CONCLUSION 1: Remember this picture!!!
Matrix
Blocks, inclusions, lenses, etc
Scale: 1:??????
Matrix
Actual Distribution of Blocks

Medley, 2000
BIG CONCLUSION 2: Remember this picture as well!!!
Matrix
Matrix
Apparent Distribution of Blocks

Willis, 2000
Bimrocks Bimrocks: block-in-matrix rocks

mixtures of rocks composed of geotechnically significant blocks within a bonded matrix of finer texture Often severe spatial variability and mechanical/lithological heterogeneity: cost someone $$$$ e.g.: melanges, fault rocks , weathered rocks, etc.
So What? Who Cares*?
Copyright: Dr. Edmund Medley
http://bimrocks.geoengineer.org
Decomposed Granite: a weathered rock bimrock

Corestones, blocks, boulders
soil
Photo: E. Medley
Mixture of weaker soil and strong blocks (decomposed granite at Hwy 50, California)
Fault Rocks and Shear Rocks

Fault zones and Shear zones may have blocks millimeters to 100s of meters wide:
BLOCK SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS TEND TO BE SCALEINDEPENDENT
5m, 5km,..
5m, 5km,..
Riedmueller et al, 2001
Faulted and Sheared Rock
block
sheared rock
Photo: E. Medley
Mixture of sheared rock and intact blocks within a fault zone

Melange: Hard Blocks in Weaker Sheared Matrix
Photo: E. Medley
Gwna Mlange, Lleyn Peninsula, Anglesey, North Wales

Global distribution of melanges
Medley, 1994
Franciscan Complex melanges

Franciscan Complex in Marin County, California
From Medley, 1994; after Ellen and Wentworth, 1995
13
Melange: Limestone Olistoliths (Blocks) in Sheared Shale
Egnatia Motorway, Greece

Photo by Prof. Gunter Riedmueller

http://bimrocks.geoengineer.org 14
Melange: Sandstone Block in Sheared Shale
photo: E. Medley
Franciscan Complex, Caspar Headlands, Mendocino County, California

Typical Franciscan melange
photo: J. Lindquist;
used with permission of J. and E. Lindquist
Caspar Headlands, Mendocino, California

Typical Franciscan melange
tortuous shear
photo: E. Medley
Another Example
photo: E. Medley
Franciscan Complex melange, Trinidad Beach, Humboldt County, California

block/matrix contacts are weakest
photo: E. Medley
Clues to identification of melange bimrocks can be subtle!!
Vegetation contrasts=blocks
Protruding blocks
photo: E. Medley
20
USEFUL REFERENCES: Melanges and Similar Bimrocks

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Cowan, D.S., 1978; Origin of blueschist-bearing chaotic rocks in the Franciscan Complex, San Simeon, California: Bull. Geol. Soc. America, v.89, p.1415-1423. --------, 1985; Structural styles in Mesozoic and Cenozoic melanges in the western Cordillera of North America; Bull. Geol. Soc. of America, v.96, p. 451-462. Horton, J. Wright, and Rast, Nicholas, 1989; (editors): Mlanges and Olistostromes of the US Appalachians; Special Paper 228, Geological Society of America, Boulder, Colorado; 276 p. Hs, K., 1985; A basement of melanges: A personal account of the circumstances leading to the breakthrough in Franciscan research; Geol. Soc. America, Centennial Special Vol. 1, p.47-64 Laznicka, P, 1988; Breccias and coarse fragmentites: Petrology, environments, associations, ores; vol. 25 of Developments in Economic Geology; Elsevier, New York, 832 p. McCall, G.J.H., 1983; (editor): Ophiolitic and related mlanges, Benchmark Paper in Geology No. 66, Hutchinson Ross Publishing Company, Stroudsberg, Pennsylvania. Medley, E.W., 1994a; The engineering characterization of melanges and similar block-in-matrix rocks (bimrocks); PhD dissertation, University of California at Berkeley; publ. University Microfilms International, UMI Dissertations Service, Ann Arbor, Michigan; 387 p. Raymond, L.A., 1984, (editor): Melanges: their nature, origin and significance; Special Paper 198, Geological Society of America, Boulder, Colorado; 170 p Riedmller, G., F. J. Brosch, K. Klima & E. Medley, 2001. Engineering geological characterization of brittle fault rocks and classification of fault rocks. Feldsbau, J. of Engineering Geology, Geomechanics and Tunnelling. 19 (4/2001): 13-19. Savina, M. E., 1982: Studies in bedrock lithology and the nature of downslope movement, University of California, Berkeley, California; PhD dissertation, 298 p.) Copyright: Dr. Edmund Medley http://bimrocks.geoengineer.org 21
8.
9.
10.
Significance of Scale Independence in Block Size Distributions of Franciscan Melanges
22
Significance of Scale independence
Cowan, 1985
Q: What is Block Size??

G round surface
Boring
Diameter
maximum observed dimension

dmod
chord
Diameter
Bored core
Buried block explored by a boring Outcropped block
A: Rarely the diameter

size = dmod
Measuring block sizes (and size distributions) in 2-dimensions Outcrop scale of interest A< 1 m2
A
25
Histogram of block sizes
Medley, 1994
Log Histogram of block sizes
D=1.2
Medley, 1994
Block measurements at many scales
after Medley 1994;

original sketch by Chris Alger, CEG; used with permission of Dr. David Rogers, Rogers/Pacific
28
Log Histograms at several scales
Medley, 1994
29
Franciscan Complex blocks in maps

Regional map scale of interest: Franciscan Complex in Marin County, California
A~1000 km2
From Medley, 1994; after Ellen and Wentworth, 1994
Comparing log histograms of Franciscan melanges at different scales
Medley, 1994
31
Scale-independent block size distributions of Franciscan melanges
Medley, 1994
Plotted as a Log-Histogram
Blocks in Franciscan Melange
Blocks range in size between
mountains and sand and will always be found Characterization must take blocks into account Block size distributions are scale independent and fractal (power law) Need a characteristic dimension to scale the rockmass to the scale of engineering interest (Lc)
Use these guidelines at any scale of interest

smallest blocks are: 0.05Lc or 0.05 A or 0.05dmax largest block is: 0.75Lc or 0.75 A or 0.75dmax
34
100 m
When is a block not a block?

R. of W. 20m
100 m
pipeline trench
1 m block
Depends on scale of interest!

35
Another reason to select the 5% block/matrix threshold

Medley, 1994
Number of blocks
Volume
95% of number of blocks are smaller than 0.05dmax but represent
dmod/dmax
< 1% of total volume of blocks

36
USEFUL REFERENCES: Scale Independence

1. 2. 3. Cowan, D.S., 1978; Origin of blueschist-bearing chaotic rocks in the Franciscan Complex, San Simeon, California: Bull. Geol. Soc. America, v.89, p.1415-1423. --------, 1985; Structural styles in Mesozoic and Cenozoic melanges in the western Cordillera of North America; Bull. Geol. Soc. of America, v.96, p. 451-462. Medley, E.W., 1994a; The engineering characterization of melanges and similar block-in-matrix rocks (bimrocks); PhD dissertation, University of California at Berkeley; publ. University Microfilms International, UMI Dissertations Service, Ann Arbor, Michigan; 387 p. Medley, E.W. and Lindquist, E.S., 1995; The engineering significance of the apparent scaleindependence of some melanges of the Franciscan Complex, California, in Proc 35 th US Rock Mechanics Conference, (South Lake Tahoe, California).
4.
37
Strength of Franciscan Melanges
38
So, YES: bimrocks ARE chaotic
But Practitioners should NOT say:

those rocks are too chaotic, lets design for the weak matrix
39
Strength and deformation properties of Melange Bimrocks
Strength and deformation properties of

melanges are independent of block strengths (Lindquist and Goodman,1994) Overall strength is directly related to Dr. Eric Lindquist, 1992 volumetric block proportion Blocks adds friction, stiffen the mixture and reduce cohesion Must perform geotech tests with blocks in specimens
40
Different orientations and volumetric block proportions
Lindquist, 1994
41
Increase in friction angle with volumetric block proportion
Lindquist, 1994
42
Decrease in cohesion with volumetric block proportion
Lindquist, 1994
43
Strength of bimrock depends on volumetric block proportion

30
Scott Dam melange
25
Physical models
Irfan and Tang, 1993
20
Scott Dam melange 15
10
5 0 -5 0 20 40 60 80 100
conservative trend
(Lindquist 1994a)
Volumetric Block Proportion (%) After Lindquist 1994

USEFUL REFERENCES: Strength of Melanges and Similar Bimrocks

1. Goodman, R.E. and Ahlgren, C.S., 2000, Evaluating safety of concrete gravity dam on weak rock: Scott dam: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, v. 126, p. 429-442; with Discussion (by J. H. Hovland, E.W. Medley and R.L. Volpe; and Authors) in Vol 127, October 2000, p. 900-903. Glawe, U. and Upreti, B.N., 2004, B.N. Better understanding the strengths of serpentinite bimrock and homogeneous serpentinite, Felsbau, J. of Engineering Geology, Geomechanics and Tunnelling. v. 22 no. 5 (5/2004) Irfan, T.Y and Tang K.Y., 1992; An engineering geological characterization of colluvium in Hong Kong; Technical Note TN 4/92, Geotechnical Engineering Office, Govt. of Hong Kong (publication is not freely available, except by special request). ---------------, 1993; Effect of the coarse fraction on the shear strength of colluvium; GEO Report No. 23, Geotechnical Engineering Office, Hong Kong; 21p. Lindquist, E.S., 1994a; The strength and deformation properties of melange; PhD dissertation, University of California at Berkeley; publ. University Microfilms International, UMI Dissertation Service, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. --------------, 1994b; The mechanical properties of a physical model melange, in Proc. 7th Congress of the Int. Ass. Eng. Geol. (Lisbon, Portugal); A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam. Lindquist. E.S., and Goodman, R.E., 1994, The strength and deformation properties of a physical model melange, in Proc. First North American Rock Mechanics Symposium (NARMS) (Austin, Texas); ed. Nelson, P.P. and Laubach, S.E., A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam. Snmez, H., Gokceoglu, C., Tuncay, E., Medley, E.W. and Nefeslioglu, H.A, 2004, Relationship Between Volumteric Block Proportions and Overall UCS of a Volcanic Bimrock, Felsbau, J. of Engineering Geology, Geomechanics and Tunnelling. v. 22 no. 5 (5/2004); pp 27-34.
2.
3.
4. 5.
6.
7.
8.
Characterization of Melanges and Similar Bimrocks
46
Matrix
Scale: 1:??????
Matrix

Medley, 2000 47
Matrix
WYTYSINWYG*
Apparent Distribution of Blocks: Matrix *What you think you see is not what you get
Willis, 2000
48
Systematic investigation of chaos

Wakabayashi & Medley, 2004
Matrix strength
49
Right and wrong way to map melanges
WRONG!!
Right!!
Outcrops (blocks)
50
More right way and the wrong way..

Wrong!!!
Right!!!
NOT interlayered shale and sandstone!!

51
Mischaracterization means misery

outcrop BH
shallow landslide in soil over bedrock
BH
15 m excavation looking for the failure plane
BH
52
For further thoughts
Geo-Strata Sept/Oct 2005

Characterization of Melanges and Similar Bimrocks

1. Medley, E.W., 1994a; The engineering characterization of melanges and similar block-in-matrix rocks (bimrocks); PhD dissertation, University of California at Berkeley; publ. University Microfilms International, UMI Dissertations Service, Ann Arbor, Michigan; 387 p. Medley, E.W., 2001, Orderly characterization of chaotic Franciscan melanges: Felsbau, v. 19, p. 20-33. Medley, E. W., 2005, The Arrogance of Straight Lines, Geo-Strata, Geo-Institute of the ASCE, Sept./Oct edition, 2005 Raymond, L.A., 1984, (editor): Melanges: their nature, origin and significance; Special Paper 198, Geological Society of America, Boulder, Colorado; 170 p Riedmller, G., F. J. Brosch, K. Klima & E. Medley, 2001. Engineering geological characterization of brittle fault rocks and classification of fault rocks. Felsbau, J. of Engineering Geology, Geomechanics and Tunnelling. 19 (4/2001): 13-19. Wakabayashi, J & Medley, E.W. (in press), 2004 Geological characterization of melanges for geopractitioners. Feldsbau, J. of Engineering Geology, Geomechanics and Tunnelling. 22 (5/2004); pp. 10-18.
USEFUL REFERENCES:
2. 3.
4.
5.
6.
54
Estimation of Volumetric Block Proportions
55
Good Time To Ask a Question..

30
Scott Dam melange
25 20
Physical models
Irfan and Tang, 1993
Scott Dam melange 15 10 5 0 -5
Very Nice Plot!! So, Strength depends on Volumetric Block Proportion? BUT How do you get at the latter???
conservative trend
(Lindquist 1994a)
20
40
60
80
100
Volumetric Block Proportion (%)
56
First: drill borings and (with great difficulty and $$) collect core
BORINGS
Medley, 1994
Then measure blocks in core

Matrixrich core Measure core/block intercept (chord) for blocks with lengths 0.05Lc
Scott Dam melange (California)

photo Prof . R Goodman
Measuring Block Linear Proportions

B1
(TD 180m)
B2
(TD 105m)
B3
(TD 32m)
B3
(TD 45m)
20m 26 m blocks (81 %) 0m blocks
(0%)
6 m blocks (10%) total length blocks = 117 m 85m blocks (47%)
Total length borings = 362 m cumul. block linear proportion = 32 %

http://bimrocks.geoengineer.org 59
Estimation of volumetric block proportions

Measure linear proportions from drill core
Apply stereological principle:
linear proportion = volumetric proportion
BE CAREFULL!!!!! Dont believe everything you hear/read!!

BIG Warning!!!!
Although stereology => volumetric % = linear %
It is TRUE ONLY when you have sufficient linear measurements!! (lots of $$$ drilling!!)
61
Kitchen and Garage Experiments
Fabricated 4 physical melange

models with known block size distributions, block proportions Generated 400 model borings
62
Cuisine geotechnique: Fabricating physical bimrocks
Plan dimensions of model A
Photo: E. Medley
Clay, Play-Doh, rice for 2200 to 7350 blocks

63
Fabrication (continued)
Photos: E. Medley
64
Slice from a physical model bimrock with known volumetric block proportion and block size distribution Explored by model boreholes.
(10) model borings per slice

Photo: E. Medley
How wrong can we be in assuming Linear = Volumetric Proportions?

After Medley, 1997
Tunnel, pipeline, road
Actual volumetric proportion http://bimrocks.geoengineer.org
is 32%
66
Linear proportions assumed to be same as volumetric proportions
ratio of total length drilling/length of dmax, (length of estimated largest block)
0.15
Medley, 1997 e.g.: 0.15x40% = 6%: use 34% block proportion for strength; 46% for earthwork estimates
USEFUL REFERENCES: Estimates of Volumetric Block Proportions

1. 2. Medley, E.W., 1994a; The engineering characterization of melanges and similar block-in-matrix rocks (bimrocks); PhD dissertation, University of California at Berkeley; publ. University Microfilms International, UMI Dissertations Service, Ann Arbor, Michigan; 387 p. Medley, E.W., 1994b; Using stereologic methods to estimate the volumetric proportion of blocks in melanges and similar block-in-matrix rocks (bimrocks); in Proc. 7th . Cong. Int. Ass. Eng. Geologists (Lisbon, Portugal); A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam. Medley, E.W., 1997, Uncertainty in estimates of block volumetric proportion in melange bimrocks, Proc Int. Symp. On Engineering Geology and the Environment, ed. Marinos, P.G., Kpukis, G., Tsiambous, G., and Stournaras, G., Rotterdam, Balkema, p. 267-272 Medley, E.W., and Goodman, R.E., 1994; Estimating the block volumetric proportion of melanges and similar block-in-matrix rocks (bimrocks); in Proc. First North American Rock Mechanics Symposium (NARMS) (Austin, Texas), ed. Nelson, P.P. and Laubach, S.E.; A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, p. 851-858 Russ, J. C., 1986; Practical Stereology; Plenum Press, New York, 185 p. Underwood, E. E., 1970; Quantitative stereology; Addison -Wesley Publ. Co. (Copyright owned by E. E.Underwood, 1981); 273 p
3.
4.
5. 6.
68
Example Case History: Scott Dam, California
69
Example: SCOTT DAM, CA
Photo: E. Medley
70
Foundation of dam is melange
Photo: E. Medley
Melange blocks observed to be oriented at high angles in local outcrops
This situation would have been worse
Lindquist, 1994
72
Assumed Characteristic Engineering dimension was thickness of a sliding shear below dam (3m thick)
Dam height: heel to crest ~ 150 feet
Assumed 3 m thick shear zone

After Medley, 1994; after PG&E.
Estimating volumetric block proportion

Since characteristic engineering
dimension was 3m, block/matrix threshold selected at 0.05*(3m)=0.15m Drill core photographs and boring logs reviewed Measured all chords (core/block intercepts) >0.10m and used them to calculate linear block proportion
Example: SCOTT DAM, CA

Testing showed matrix = 25 deg. Measured linear proportion = 40% Adjusted vol. block proportion = 32% Rockmass = 39 degrees
60
Effective Friction Angle (deg)
50 40 30 20 10 0 0 20 40 60 80 100
Volumetric Block Proportion (%)
Goodman and Ahlgren, 2000; Medley, 2001

USEFUL REFERENCES: Scott Dam

1. Goodman, R.E. and Ahlgren, C.S., 2000, Evaluating safety of concrete gravity dam on weak rock: Scott dam: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, v. 126, p. 429-442; with Discussion (by J. H. Hovland, E.W. Medley and R.L. Volpe; and Authors) in Vol 127, October 2000, p. 900-903. Medley, E.W., 1994a; The engineering characterization of melanges and similar block-in-matrix rocks (bimrocks); PhD dissertation, University of California at Berkeley; publ. University Microfilms International, UMI Dissertations Service, Ann Arbor, Michigan; 387 p.
2.
76
Estimating 3D Block Size distributions from 1D Borings

Principal Conclusion: DONT TRY!!
1D chord length distributions are NOT the same as 3D block size distributions
Measurement of chords from Plaster of Paris models Photo: E. Medley
- 10 scanlines per slice - 100 borings per model - centerline boring to model exploration for tunnel
78
PSD-style plot of chord lengths for all models (~2150 chords)

Medley, 2002
tailing
Despite much data, still cannot duplicate original 3D BSD with chords
Estimation of Block Size Dist. along centerline of tunnel alignment

Generous amount of exploration drilling still insufficient to estimate 3D BSD
Medley, 2002
USEFUL REFERENCES: Estimating Block Size Distributions

1. 2. Haneberg, W.C., 2004. Simulation of 3-d block populations to characterize outcrop sampling bias in block-in-matrix rocks (bimrocks), Felsbau, J. of Engineering Geology, Geomechanics and Tunnelling. 22 (5/2004): 13-19 Medley, E.W., 1994a; The engineering characterization of melanges and similar block-in-matrix rocks (bimrocks); PhD dissertation, University of California at Berkeley; publ. University Microfilms International, UMI Dissertations Service, Ann Arbor, Michigan; 387 p. Medley, E.W., 2002, Estimating blocks size distributions of melanges and similar block-in-matrix rocks (bimrocks), Proc. 5th N. Amer. Rock Mechanics Symp., Toronto, Canada, July 2002. Russ, J. C., 1986; Practical Stereology; Plenum Press, New York, 185 p. Underwood, E. E., 1970; Quantitative stereology; Addison -Wesley Publ. Co. (Copyright owned by E. E. Underwood, 1981); 273 p.
3. 4. 5.
81
a few words on SLOPE STABILITY of bimrocks
82
Buttress effect of blocks
Photo: E. Medley
83
Buttress effect of blocks
Photo: E. Medley; (Exponent, Inc.)

Franciscan Complex melange
shears
Photo: E. Medley
85
weak block/matrix contacts
Photo: E. Medley
86
What are the influences on slope stability in bimrocks?

i.e: really complex problem how then should we analyze slope stability in bimrocks??
Block/matrix vol. proportion; matrix c,??
Block shape, block&shear orientation??
Block size, location, orientation??

Medley & Sanz, 2004
Bimrock weak zones: width? variability??

87
Simple analysis of increases in Factors of Safety for Slope Stability in a bimrock
matrix-only failure surface
FS for matrix only: 1.28

Medley & Sanz, 2004
Simple analysis of increases in Factors of Safety for Slope Stability

matrix-only failure surface
tortuous failure surfaces

Medley & Sanz, 2004
1.760
Abstract failure surfaces, perform slope stability analyses
FS ~ 1.65
Medley & Sanz, 2004
90
Slope stability of Boulder Colluvium
Irfan & Tang, 1993: Hong Kong GEO TN 4/92

Trial tortuous failure surfaces with blocks oriented out-of-slope
After Irfan & Tang, 1993
92
Combine analyses to see that blocks increase slope stability

Medley & Sanz, 2004
93
Q: How do blocks add to slope stability?

A: Tortuosity of failure surfaces negotiating blocks (little to do with block strength)
94
BUT: We cannot even characterize the actual block distribution in bimrocks, so we can never predict the actual trajectories of tortuous failure surfaces in slopes! (as now shown.)
95
Review failed physical model melanges

150 mm diameter Tx specimens (Lindquist, 1994)
Photos: E. Medley
Lindquist, 1994; Medley, 2004
failure surfaces tortuously negotiate blocks

Failure surfaces in sectioned TX Specimens
Lindquist, 1994; Medley, 2004

Measure lengths of failure surfaces at circumference of specimens
trace of matrix-only failure surface
Contact between block and failure surface
actual failure surface

Medley, 2004; after Lindquist 1994
Profiles from many specimens
not joint roughness

Medley, 2004
99
Calculate several parameters
One ME measure of tortuosity
Medley, 2004
Lengthening of tortuous failure surfaces
Medley, 2004
Lengthening apparently not much sensitive to block proportion nor block orientation
Tortuosity (as ME measure roughness)
Medley, 2004
Tortuosity ~ 5%-15% of characteristic dimension and more sensitive to block proportion than orientation??
Block contacts along tortuous surfaces

Medley, 2004
Conservative to assume block/shear surface contact (%) is ~ volumetric proportion (%)

USEFUL REFERENCES: Slope Stability Issues in Bimrocks

1. 2. Irfan, T.Y. and Tang, K.Y. Effect of the coarse fraction on the shear strength of colluvium in Hong Kong. TN 4/92. Hong Kong Geotechnical Engineering Office. 1993. Medley, E.W., 1994a; The engineering characterization of melanges and similar block-in-matrix rocks (bimrocks); PhD dissertation, University of California at Berkeley; publ. University Microfilms International, UMI Dissertations Service, Ann Arbor, Michigan; 387 p. Medley, E.W., & Sanz. P.R., 2004, Characterization of Bimrocks (Rock/Soil Mixtures) With Application to Slope Stability Problems, in Schubert, W. (ed), Proc. Eurock 2004 and 53rd Geomechanics Colloquium, Salzburg, Austria, Oct 2004) Medley, E.W., 2004, Observations on Tortuous Failure Surfaces in Bimrocks, Felsbau, J. of Engineering Geology, Geomechanics and Tunnelling. 22 (5/2004): pp. 35-43
3.
4.
104
A little something on TUNNELS

Thanks to: Gruppe Geotechnik Graz: www.3-g.at
Matrix
Tunnel
Scale: 1:??????
Matrix

Medley, 2000106
Matrix
Tunnel
Matrix

Willis, 2000
107
BIMROCK EFFECTS CASE STUDY

Tunnel Spital, Austria Geological overview
108
BIMROCK EFFECTS CASE STUDY

Geological sections at tunnel faces at various tunnel locations
1773
1785
1777
1788
1779
1790
Tunnel Spital, Austria

When tunneling through bimrocks.

Expect possible: mixed face conditions; complexity; abrupt groundwater flows at penetration of large blocks; squeezing ground at highstressed matrix; variable geomechanical properties; contractor DSC claims; safety issues
110
USEFUL REFERENCES: Tunnel Issues in Bimrocks

1. 2. Button, E.A., Schubert, W. and Riedmueller, G, 2002, Shallow Tunneling in a Tectonic Melange: Rock Mass Characterization and Data Interpretation, Proc. 5th N. Amer. Rock Mechanics Symp., Toronto, Canada, July 2002 Button, E. A., Schubert, W., Riedmueller, G., Klima, K. & Medley, E.W. , 2003, Tunnelling in tectonic melanges accommodating the impacts of geomechanical complexities and anisotropic rock mass fabrics. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment. Medley, E.W., 1994a; The engineering characterization of melanges and similar block-in-matrix rocks (bimrocks); PhD dissertation, University of California at Berkeley; publ. University Microfilms International, UMI Dissertations Service, Ann Arbor, Michigan; 387 p. Medley, E.W., 2002 , Estimating blocks size distributions of melanges and similar block-in-matrix rocks (bimrocks), Proc. 5th N. Amer. Rock Mechanics Symp., Toronto, Canada, July 2002 Riedmueller, G and W. Schubert, 2002, Tunnels through fault rocks and tectonic melanges a Short Course for engineering geologists and geotechnical engineers, (presentations and field trip guide), San Francisco Sections of the Association of Engineering Geologists and American Society for Civil Engineers, May 31-June 1, 2002, Oakland, California Moritz, B., Grossaeur, K., and Schubert, W., 2004, Short Term Prediction of System Behaviour of Shallow Tunnels in Heterogeneous Ground, Felsbau, J. of Engineering Geology, Geomechanics and Tunnelling. 22 (5/2004): pp. 35-43: pp. 44-53 Pstow, H, 2001, Tunneling in a tectonic melange of high structural complexity, M.S. thesis, Aachen/Graz University of Technology
3.
4. 5.
6.
7.
Buy/Read this.
May 31 2002 and June 1 2002

Prof Wulf Schubert and Prof Gunter Riedmueller
San Francisco Sections of the Association of Engineering Geologists and American Society of Civil Engineers
Matrix
Scale: 1:??????
Matrix

Matrix
Matrix

Willis, 2000
114
Other CONCLUSIONS
Melange bimrocks and other

bimrocks mixtures are chaotic but can be characterized in a disciplined fashion Strength and deformation properties of bimrocks are determinable Uncertainties in estimates must be considered
115
Conclusions continued:
Bimrocks are NOT:
soil with boulders interlayered shale and sandstone miscellaneous soils Block volumes, sizes and lithologies are $important$ to Contractors/Owners and some effort should be made to determine them Block sizes should be estimated very conservatively for construction
Contact:
emedley@geosyntec.com
117

Medley (2006) Bimrocks-Intro

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An Introduction to Bimrocks

Dr. Edmund Medley, PE, CEG

HINT: To read Notes

Photo: Michael Lucia, used with permission of GeoSyntec Consultants

BIG CONCLUSION 1: Remember this picture!!!

Blocks, inclusions, lenses, etc

Actual Distribution of Blocks

BIG CONCLUSION 2: Remember this picture as well!!!

Apparent Distribution of Blocks

Bimrocks Bimrocks: block-in-matrix rocks

So What? Who Cares*?

Copyright: Dr. Edmund Medley

Decomposed Granite: a weathered rock bimrock

Fault Rocks and Shear Rocks

Copyright: Dr. Edmund Medley

Riedmueller et al, 2001

Faulted and Sheared Rock

Mixture of sheared rock and intact blocks within a fault zone

Melange: Hard Blocks in Weaker Sheared Matrix

Gwna Mlange, Lleyn Peninsula, Anglesey, North Wales

Global distribution of melanges

Franciscan Complex melanges

From Medley, 1994; after Ellen and Wentworth, 1995

Copyright: Dr. Edmund Medley

Melange: Limestone Olistoliths (Blocks) in Sheared Shale

Egnatia Motorway, Greece

Photo by Prof. Gunter Riedmueller

Melange: Sandstone Block in Sheared Shale

Franciscan Complex, Caspar Headlands, Mendocino County, California

Typical Franciscan melange

Caspar Headlands, Mendocino, California

Typical Franciscan melange

Franciscan Complex melange, Trinidad Beach, Humboldt County, California

block/matrix contacts are weakest

Clues to identification of melange bimrocks can be subtle!!

Copyright: Dr. Edmund Medley

USEFUL REFERENCES: Melanges and Similar Bimrocks

Significance of Scale Independence in Block Size Distributions of Franciscan Melanges

Copyright: Dr. Edmund Medley

Significance of Scale independence

Q: What is Block Size??

maximum observed dimension

Buried block explored by a boring Outcropped block

A: Rarely the diameter

Histogram of block sizes

Log Histogram of block sizes

Block measurements at many scales

after Medley 1994;

Copyright: Dr. Edmund Medley

Log Histograms at several scales

Copyright: Dr. Edmund Medley

Franciscan Complex blocks in maps

Comparing log histograms of Franciscan melanges at different scales

Copyright: Dr. Edmund Medley

Scale-independent block size distributions of Franciscan melanges

Blocks in Franciscan Melange

Blocks range in size between

Use these guidelines at any scale of interest

Copyright: Dr. Edmund Medley

When is a block not a block?

Depends on scale of interest!

Copyright: Dr. Edmund Medley

Another reason to select the 5% block/matrix threshold