Abstract
The pivotal aim of this study is to evaluate the rock mass characterization and deformation modulus. It is vital for rock mass classification to investigate important parameters of discontinuities. Therefore, Rock Mass Rating (RMR) and Tunneling quality index (Q) classification systems are applied to analyze 22 segments along proposed tunnel routes for hydropower in Kandiah valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. RMR revealed the range of fair to good quality rocks, whereas Q yielded poor to fair quality rocks for investigated segments of the rock mass. Besides, Em values were acquired by empirical equations and computer-aided program RocLab, and both methods presented almost similar variation trend of their results. Hence, the correlations of Em with Q and RMR were carried out with higher values of the regression coefficient. This study has scientific significance to initially understand the rock mass conditions of Kandiah valley.
Highlights
Geomechanical investigation of the rock mass is an essential part of the feasibility phase of hydropower projects when very little information is available, to ascertain the response of rock behavior under disturbance or excavation
This paper highlights the characterization of rock mass by Rock Mass Rating (RMR) and Q schemes
Rock mass classification and deformation modulus were studied by RMR and Q schemes on the basis of field studies, laboratory studies, computation work, and graphical representation
Summary
Geomechanical investigation of the rock mass is an essential part of the feasibility phase of hydropower projects when very little information is available, to ascertain the response of rock behavior under disturbance or excavation. Rock mass characteristics are determined by empirical classification systems to classify the rock mass [1]. Rock Mass Rating (RMR) and Tunneling quality index (Q) classification systems are pivotal to classify the rock mass. Among the rock mass parameters, deformation modulus (Em) has very significance in rock mechanics because it provides the initial idea about mechanical behavior of rock mass before failure. In this regard, there are several direct procedures to determine the deformation modulus in the laboratory, but these methods are costly and time consuming. Various researchers [7] [15]-[25] have been proposed different empirical relations for estimation of deformation modulus
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