Revisiting rock classification to estimate rock mass properties

摘要

This paper presents the results of ongoing research carried out by the author exploring methods to provide a more robust estimate of rock mass properties specifically for use in tunnel design.Data from various large-scale rock mass failures are introduced,including coal pillars.The damage-initiation,spalling-limit approach is compared to the coal pillar database.New comparisons of estimating the geological strength index(GSI)and relationships to estimate the Hoek-Brown failure criterion parameters,mb,s and a,are presented.