Limitations of rock mass classification systems

摘要

The publications of the RMR classification system by Bieniawski in 1973 and the Q-system by Barton, Lien and Lunde in 1974 were greeted with great enthusiasm by a large portion of the international rock mechanics fraternity, particularly those involved in support design for rock tunnels. Here appeared to be systematic, if not truly scientific, procedures for designing primary support.