Volume- 3
Issue- 1
Year- 2016
Abdul-Aleam Ahmed Al-Qadhi , Dr.M.R. Janardhana
Engineering properties of the rocks play an important role for designing urban infrastructures in natural hazard prone areas. The entire Taiz city in Yemen is built on volcanic flows and their variants. This paper presents the first report on the description and the engineering characteristics of the Tertiary basaltic lava rock masses in and around Taiz city, Yemen. Geoengineering assessment was made by well established direct and indirect approaches. The direct approach involved the evaluation of physical and mechanical characteristics as well as discontinuity measurements of 23 representative outcrops and field tests. The indirect approach is comprised of characterization of rock masses using Rock Mass Rating (RMR) system and determination of Geological Strength Index (GSI), shear strength parameters (c, φ), compressive strength (σcm), tensile strength (σtm) and deformation modulus (Erm) of the jointed basaltic lava flow rock masses using the generalized Hoek–Brown criterion employing RocLab software program. The basaltic lava flow rocks unit is subdivided into two geotechnical subunits based on field observations viz., (1) jointed basaltic lava flow rocks (JBLTb1/Tb2) and (2) massive basaltic lava flow rocks (MBLTb1/Tb2). Each subunit was further subdivided into zones based on lithology and rock mass structural properties. The attitude of discontinuities was found varying from one location to another. Stereographically, at each investigated site three or four joint sets are identified in addition to other joints orientated randomly. Most of discontinuities strike in NE-SW and NW-SE directions following the trends of the regional faults. According to Jv j/m3, the jointed lava rock masses show moderate to very high degree of jointing while the massive lava rock masses posses low degree of jointing. The jointed basaltic lava flow rocks in the investigated sites also show wide variations in the range of geo-engineering characteristics. For example, values of the shear strength parameters (c and φ) and the other rock mass parameters (σtm, σc, σcm and Erm) increase with increase in the quality of rock mass and with increasing values of the intact rock properties.
[1] Hudson, J .A., Cosgrove, J. W. 1997. Integrated structural geology and engineering rock mechanics approach to site characterization. Int. J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abs 34 (3/4): 136.1-136.5.
[2] Beydoun, Z. R., As-Saruri, M. A. L, El-Nakhal, H., AlGanad, I. N., Baraba, R. S., Nani, A. O., and Al-Awah, M. H. 1998. International lexicon of, Rebublic of Yemen (Second Edition): IUGS, Republic of Yemen Publication, 34: 245p.
[3] Kruck, W., and Schaffer, U. 1991. Geological map of Republic of Yemen (ROY). Scale 1:250,000 Taiz sheet. Minestry of Oil and Mineral Resources, Sanaa, Yemen, Fedral Institute of Geosciences and Natural Resources, Hanover (FRG).
[4] DEY and UN/DDSMS, 1997. Geological map. Hydrological and land-use studies in the upper Wadi Rasyan catchment. (TCD CONTARCT NO: YEM/93/010-3) map300. Scale 1:50,000.
[5] Malek, Abdul-Hamid, M., Janardhana, Mysore. R., AlQadhi, Abdul-Aleam, A. 2014. Cenozoic eruptive stratigraphy and structure in Taiz area of Yemen. Earth Sciences, Science publishing group, USA, Vol.3 (3), pp.85- 96.
[6] Al-Qadhi, Abdul-Aleam, Janardhana, M.R., Prakash, K.N. 2015. Field Occurrence and Petrographic Characteristics of Tertiary Volcanic Rocks and Associated Intrusions in and around Taiz City, Yemen. (International Research Journal of Earth Sciences, ISCA-IRJES-2015-062 -under consideration)
[7] Bieniawski, Z.T. 1989. Engineering rock mass classification. John Wiley, New York.
[8] Brady B. H. G. and Brown E. T. 1985. Rock Mechanics for Underground Mining. George Allen & Unwin, London, 527pp.
[9] ISRM, Commission on Standardization of Laboratory and Field Test 1981. Suggested Methods for the Rock Characterization, Testing and Monitoring, E.T. Brown (editor), Pergamon Press, Oxford, UK, 211p.
[10] Anon 1977. The description of rock masses for engineering purposes. Geological Society Engineering Group, Working Party Report, Q. J. Engng. Geol., 10, 355-388. [11] RockWare, 2008. RockWorks/14. RockWare Incorporated, Golden, CO.
[12] del Potro, R., Hürlimann, M. 2008. Geotechnical classification and characterisation of materials for stability analyses of large volcanic slopes". Engineering Geology, 98, pp.1–17.
[13] Edelbro, C. 2003. Rock mass strength- a review. Technical Report, Lulea University of Technology, 132p.
[14] Palmstrom, A. 1982. The volumetric joint count – a useful and simple measure of the degree of jointing. Proc. 4th Int. Congr. IAEG, New Delhi, 1982, pp.v.221-v.228.
[15] Palmstrom, A. 1985. Application of the Volumetric Joint Count as a Measure of Rock Mass Jointing. Proc.Int. SVmp. On Fundamentals of Rock Joints, Bjorkliden, Sweden, pp.103-110.
[16] Palmstrom, A. 1986. A General Practical Method for Identification of Rock Masses to be Applied in Evaluation of Rock Mass Stability Conditions and TBM Boring Progress. Proc. Conf. on Fjellsprengingsteknikk, Bergmekanikk. Geoteknikk, Oslo, Norway, pp.31.1-31.31.
[17] Sen Z., Eissa E., A. 1991. Volumetric rock quality designation. J. Geotech. Engn., Vol 117, No 9, 1991, pp 1331 - 1346.
[18] Sen Z. and Eissa E., A. 1992. Rock quality charts for lognormally distributed block sizes. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. & Geomech. Abstr., Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 1-12.
[19] Grenon, M. and Hadjigeorgiou, J. 2003. Evaluating discontinuity network characterization tools through mining case studies. Soil Rock America, Boston. Vol.1, pp.137-142.
[20] Palmstrom, A. 2005. Measurements of and correlations between block size and Rock Quality Designation (RQD). Journal of Tunneling and Underground space Technology, Vol.20, pp.362-377.
[21] Bieniawski, Z.,T. 1976. Rock mass classification in rock engineenig. In Exploration for rock engineering, Proc. of the Symp., (ed. Z.T. Bieniawski). Vol.1, pp.97-106. Cape Town: Balkema.
[22] Hamasur G. A. 2009. Rock Mass Engineering of the Proposed Basara Dam Site, Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, NE-Iraq. Ph. D. thesis, College of Science, University of Sulaimani / Sulaimani – Iraq, 202p.
[23] Hoek, E., Kaiser, P., K. and Bawden, W., F. 1995. Support of underground excavation in hard rock. Rotterdam: Balkema.
[24] Hoek, E. 1999. Putting numbers to geology – an engineer’s viewpoint. The 2nd Glossop Lecture. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology, 32, 1–20.
[25] Marinos, P. and Hoek, E. 2000. GSI: A geologically friendly tool for rock mass strength estimation. Proc. GeoEng. Conference, Melbourne. pp.1422-1442.
[26] Sonmez, H., and Ulusay, R. 2002. A discussion on the HoekBrown failure criterion and suggested modifications to the criterion verified by slope stability case studies. Bulletin of Earth Sciences Application and Research Center of Hacettepe University, Turkey, Yerbilimleri, Vol.26, pp.77- 99.
[27] ISRM, 1979c. Suggested methods for determining water content, porosity, density, absorption and related properties and swelling and slake-durability index properties. International Society for Rock Mechanics, Commission on Standardization of Laboratory and Field Tests. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci & Geomech. Abstr., 16, 141-156.
[28] UNIEN 1926: 2006. Natural stone methods, Determination of uniaxial compressive strength, European Committee for Standardization, Brussels.
[29] Brook, N. 1985.The equivalent core diameter method of size and shape correction in point load testing. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. & Geomech. Abstr. Vol.22, pp.61-70.
[30] ISRM, 1985.Suggested methods for determining point load strength ISRM commission on testing methods, working group on revision of the point load test method. Int.jrn. of rock min Sci. and geomech. Abst22: 51-60.
[31] Barton, N. and Choubey, V. 1977. The shear strength of rock joints in theory and practice, Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, Vol.10, issue 1-2, pp 1-54.
[32] Rusnak, J. and Mark, C. 2000. Using the point load test to determine the uniaxial compressive strength of coal measure rock. 19th Int. Conf. on ground control in mining, Morgantown, WV, pp.362-371.
[33] Ayday, C. and Grktan, R., M. 1992. Correlations between L and N-type Schmidt hammer rebound values obtained during field-testing. Int. ISRM Syrup. on Rock Characterization, Ed: J. A. Hudson, 47-50.
[34] Deere, D. U., and Miller, R., P. 1966. Engineering classification of index properties for intact rock. Technical report No. AFNL-TR-65-116 Air Force weapons laboratory, New Mexico, US.
[35] ISRM, 1978c. Suggested methods for the quantitative description of discontinuities in rock masses. International Society for Rock Mechanics, Commission on Standardization of Laboratory and Field Tests. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. & Geomech. Abstr., 15, 319-368.
[36] CGS, 1985. Canadian Foundation Engineering Manual. Part 2, (2nd eck), Canadian Geotechnical Society, Vancouver, Canada.
[37] Marinos, P., and Hock, E. 2001. Estimating the geotechnical properties of heterogeneous rock masses such as flysck Bull. Engrg. Geol. Env., 60, 85-92.
[38] Hoek, E., Caranza-Torres, C., Corkum, B. 2002. HoekBrown failure criterion – 2002 edition. In: Bawden HRW, Curran, J. Telsenicki, M. (eds), Proceeding of the North American Rock Mechanics Society (NARMS – TAC 2002). Mining innovation and Technology, Toronto, pp.267-273.
[39] Rocscience Inc. 2013. RocLab Version 1.033 – Rock mass strength analysis using the generalized Hoek-Brown failure criterion. www.rocscience.com, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
[40] Hoek, E., and Brown, E. T. 1997. Practical estimates of rock mass strength. International Journal Rock Mech. and Mining Sci. and Geomechanics Abstracts, Vol. 34(8), 1165-1186.
[41] Hoek, E., 2007. Practical Rock Engineering. Toronto: Rocscience, e-book.
[42] Hoek, E., and Diederichs, M. 2006. Empirical estimates of rock mass modulus. Int. J Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 43, 203– 215.
[43] Deere, D., u. 1968. Geological Considerations Rock Mechanics in Engineering Practice, ed.R.G. Stage and D.C. Zienkiewicz, Wiely. Newyork, pp.1-20.
[44] Palmstrom, A., and Singh, R. 2001. The deformation modulus of rock masses- Comparison between in situ tests and indirect estimates. Journal of Tunneling and Underground Space Technology, Vol.16, No.3, pp.115-131.
[45] Moon, V., Bradshaw, J., Smith, R., de Lange, W. 2005. Geotechnical characterisation of stratocone crater wall sequences, White Island Volcano, New Zealand. Engineering Geology 81 (2), 146–178.
[46] Anon, 1979a.Classification of rocks and soils for engineering geological mapping. Part I-Rock and soil materials', Bull. Int. Ass. Engg Geol., 19, 364-371.
[47] Deere, D., u. 1968, Geological Considerations Rock Mechanics in Engineering Practice, ed.R.G. Stage and D.C. Zienkiewicz, Wiely. Newyork, pp.1-20.
Department of Geology, Yuvaraja’s College, University of Mysore, Mysuru, INDIA abdul.aleam.q@gmail.com
No. of Downloads: 8 | No. of Views: 1258
Pranjit Kumar Sarma, Khagendra Kumar Nath, Md. E.A Huda, Bankim Baruah, Kiranmay Sarmah, Kalyanjit Sarma, Bibhab Kr. Talukdar.
January 2016 - Vol 3, Issue 1
Eng. Tonui Wesley , Prof. Crispus Ndiema , Emmanuel Kinyor Mutai .
November 2015 - Vol 2, Issue 6
Dr. Pascoal José Gaspar Júnior, MsC. Camila de Melo Silva , Dr. Félix Gonçalves de Siqueira , Nilo Sobreira Silva, Dra. Fernanda Silva Torres Dr. Daniel Moreira dos Santos, MsC. Lucas Vieira de Faria , MsC. Géssyca Paula de Alvarenga Soares , Ana Paula Resende Pinto , Juraci Lourenço Teixeira , Dr. Sérgio Marangoni, Dra. Maria Elena de Lima .
November 2015 - Vol 2, Issue 6