Abstract
The geological strength index (GSI) is one of the most exceptional rock mass classification system which is used to evaluate very weak and highly jointed rock mass by different approaches and related to rock mass geomechanical properties including generalized Hoek & Brown constants, deformation modulus, strength properties, and Poisson’s ratio for an appropriate design of tunnels, caverns, and other engineering structures. The distinctiveness of this system over the rock mass rating (RMR), Q‐system, and other empirical methods is as follows: it utilized field observations, blockiness of rock mass, and surface joint characteristics during the evaluation process of rock mass and efficiently espoused as an empirical tool for estimation of geomechanical properties of rock mass required for pre‐post stability of engineering structures using numerical modeling. This study presents the review of the 19 years of research studies conducted by different researchers about the GSI in a systematic way, i.e., origination, modifications, applications, and limitations. Furthermore, this study will provide a better understanding to field professionals (geologists, mining and civil engineers) about the qualitative and quantitative estimation of the GSI and its application as an empirical estimating tool for an appropriate design of engineering structures in rock mass environments.
Highlights
Sajjad Hussian,1 Noor Mohammad,1 Zahid Ur Rehman,1 Naseer Muhammad Khan,2,3 Khan Shahzada,4 Sarfraz Ali,5 Muhammad Tahir,1 Salim Raza,1 and Saira Sherin1
This study will provide a better understanding to field professionals about the qualitative and quantitative estimation of the geological strength index (GSI) and its application as an empirical estimating tool for an appropriate design of engineering structures in rock mass environments
Erefore, to deal with this situation, different rock mass classification systems called empirical methods of design have been developed for completion of the required design at the preliminary stage of the project [7,8,9,10]. e empirical methods of design are considered very helpful in rock mass characterization and classification into different classes having similar characteristics for quickly understanding and Advances in Civil Engineering
Summary
The construction of underground engineering structures [11, 12] based on discontinuities and physiomechanical properties of rock mass for capturing the real image of the in situ conditions at the preliminary stage for effective design of engineering structures [13, 14]. Engineers about the visual impression of the rock structure including block and surface condition of the discontinuities represented by joint characteristics (roughness and alteration) and providing reliable data in the form of rock mass strength properties which are used as input parameters for numerical analysis or closed-form solutions [41, 46, 50, 55, 62]. Inserting these parameters decreased the dependency on field experience required for estimation of GSI value and maintained the simplicity of GSI chart developed by Marinos and Hoek in 2000 and 2001. Applications of the GSI as an Empirical Estimation Tool for Geomechanical Properties of Rock Mass e GSI system is explicitly used in estimations of rock mass strength and deformation properties based on Hoek and Brown failure criterion for numerical modeling and analysis of projects in rock engineering [8, 9, 11, 22, 39,40,41, 43, 47, 49,50,51, 53, 54, 61, 64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73]. e exceptionality of the GSI over other empirical methods (RMR, Q-system, etc.) is that this empirical method determined the rock mass strength and deformation properties of weak to very weak rock mass environment and addressed the rock heterogeneity in the best way. e details of the GSI, as an empirical estimation tool, are discussed in the following
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