ROCKMASS

CLASSIFICATION
SYSTEM
Rock Mass Rating (RMR)
RMR based on five parameters:
Uniaxial strength,

Rock Quality Designation, RQD
Spacing of Discontinuities
Condition of the Discontinuities
Groundwater Conditions
RMR = R
1
+R
2
+R
3
+R
4
+R
5

Adjustment for Joint Orientation
relative to construction

Bieniawski, RMR
Total Rating = 67
Adjusted RMR = 67 10 = 57
Unfavourable Favourable
Slopes Bedding Planes
Bieniawski,
RMR
Bieniawski, RMR
NGI- Q Rating of Rock Masses
Q-Rating based on 6 parameters:
Rock Quality Designation, RQD
Number of Joint Sets, J
n
Roughness of Discontinuities, J
r
Discontinuity Condition/Filling, J
a

Groundwater Conditions, J
w
Stress Reduction Factor, SRF

Rating of Rock Formation:

SRF
J
J
J
J
RQD
Q
w
a
r
n
NGI Q-System Rating for Rock Masses
(Barton, Lien, & Lunde, 1974)
Norwegian Classif ication f or Rock Masses
Q - Value Quality of Rock Mass
< 0.01 Exceptionally Poor 4. Discontinuity Condition & Infilling = J
a
0.01 to 0.1 Extremely Poor 4.1 Unfilled Cases
0.1 to 1 Very Poor Healed 0.75
1 to 4 Poor Stained, no alteration 1
4 to 10 Fair Silty or Sandy Coating 3
10 to 40 Good Clay coating 4
40 to 100 Very Good 4.2 Filled Discontinuities
100 to 400 Extremely Good Sand or crushed rock inf ill 4
< 400 Exceptionally Good Stif f clay inf illing <5 mm 6
Sof t clay inf ill <5 mm thick 8
PARAMETERS FOR THE Q-Rating of Rock Masses Swelling clay <5 mm 12
Stif f clay inf ill >5 mm thick 10
1. RQD = Rock Quality Designation = sum of cored pieces Sof t clay inf ill >5 mm thick 15
> 100 mm long, divided by total core run length Swelling clay >5 mm 20
2. Number of Sets of Discontinuities (joint sets) = J
n
5. Water Conditions
Massive 0.5 Dry 1
One set 2 Medium Water Inf low 0.66
Two sets 4 Large inf low in unf illed j oints 0.5
Three sets 9 Large inf low with f illed j oints
Four or more sets 15 that wash out 0.33
Crushed rock 20 High transient f low 0.2 to 0.1
High continuous f low 0.1 to 0.05
3. Roughness of Discontinuities* = J
r
Noncontinuous j oints 4 6. Stress Reduction Factor** = SRF
Rough, wavy 3 Loose rock with clay inf ill 10
Smooth, wavy 2 Loose rock with open j oints 5
Rough, planar 1.5 Shallow rock with clay inf ill 2.5
Smooth, planar 1 Rock with unf illed j oints 1
Slick and planar 0.5
Filled discontinuities 1 **Note: Additional SRF values given
*Note: add +1 if mean joint spacing > 3 m for rocks prone to bursting, squeezing
and swelling by Barton et al. (1974)

SRF
J
J
J
J
RQD
Q
w
a
r
n
NGIs Q
Let RQD is 60
Q = 1.98 => poor category
Excavation category ESR
A Temporary mine openings 3-5

B
Permanent mine openings, water tunnels
for hydro power (excluding high pressure
penstocks), pilot tunnels, drifts and
headings for large excavations
1.6
C
Storage rooms, water treatment plants,
minor road and railway tunnels, surge
chambers, access tunnels
1.3
D
Power stations, major road and railway
tunnels, civil defence chambers, portal
intersections
1.0
E
Underground nuclear power stations,
railway stations, sports and public facilities,
factories
0.8
NGIs Q
D
e
= 3.125 for 5 m opening
NGIs Q
Bolt spacing = 1.35 m
NGIs Q
The length L of rockbolts can be estimated from the excavation
width B and the Excavation Support Ratio ESR:
L= (2 + 0.15 B)/ESR
The maximum unsupported span can be estimated from:
Maximum span (unsupported) = 2 ESRQ
0.4

The relationship between the value of Q and the permanent roof
support pressure Proof is estimated from:
P
roof
= 2/3 x (Jn
0.5
/Jr) x Q
1/3

L = (2 + 0.15*5)/1.6 = 1.7