Dept. of Civil and Mining Engineering

ABM006 Fundamentals of Rock Mechanics I 6.0 ECTS credits

DENNA SIDA FINNS OCKSÅ PÅ SVENSKA

General information about studying at Luleå University
TIMEPERIOD: Q IV

LANGUAGE: Swedish

EXAMINER
E Nordlund Univ lekt

PREREQUISITES
Solid mechanics - Two dimensional problems, Basic course in Geology

COURSE AIM
The objective of the course is to give an introduction to rock mechanics. Special interest is focused on stress, deformation, strength and stability.

CONTENTS
Introduction (3%) Rock mechanics preinvestigation (15%) Geological structures in rock and their significance from a rock mechanics perspective. Classification methods. Hemisperical projection. Rock stress (25%) Virgin stresses in the rock mass. Stresses around underground openings. Shallow and deep seated excavations are treated. Stress transformations. Deformation and failure of rock (25%) Constitutive laws. Failure mechanisms and failure criteria. Experimental methods to determine deformation and strength parameters. Design and stability of underground constructions (16%) Design methodology for underground excavations. Local and global stability. Effects of groundwater. Hemispherical projection methods are used to investigate the risk of critical blocks. Design and stability of rock slopes (16%) Theories for plane, wedge, circular and topling failure of slopes. Hemispherical projection methods are used to identify failure modes. Effects of groundwater and drainage. Design criteria for slopes. Laboratory assignment Determination of the deformation and strength parameters of intact rock and rock joints. Field assignment Joint mapping (tunnel mapping and line mapping) and geological mapping (identify rock types). Determination of JRC, JCS, Point load index and RQD. Rock mass classification using the RMR method. Statistical methods are used to find the major joint orientations.

TEACHING
The teaching consists of lectures, home assignments, laboratory assignments and a field assignment. The laboratory lessons, the field trip and the written tests are compulsory.

EXAMINATION
Written tests, home assignments, laboratory assignments and a field assignment. Written examination with graded marks.
COURSE GRADE SCALE:

ITEMS AND CREDITS 
Required Assignment                                         	3.0 ECTS
Written exam                                                	3.0 ECTS

COURSE LITERATURE
Course compendium PM for laboratory assignment and field assignment

REMARKS
Last modified 97-03-05
Further information: Erling Nordlund
Back to departement menu