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Rock Mechanics on a Geological Base

  • 1st Edition, Volume 77 - April 1, 1995
  • Latest edition
  • Author: R. Pusch
  • Language: English

Until a few years ago, hydropower, road tunneling and mining were the main fields interested in rock mechanics. Now, however, rock mechanics is becoming increasingly important in… Read more

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Description

Until a few years ago, hydropower, road tunneling and mining were the main fields interested in rock mechanics. Now, however, rock mechanics is becoming increasingly important in many more branches - the most significant globally being the disposal of hazardous, especially radiaoctive, waste in deeply located repositories. This has raised a number of new aspects on the mechanical behaviour of large rock masses hosting repositories and of smaller rock elements forming the nearfield of tunnels and boreholes with waste containers. The geological background and above all rock structure form the basis of this book. The structural scheme proposed is referred to explain the scale-dependent behaviour of rock. Thus, the reason for differences in strength and strain properties of different types and volumes of rocks is shown in a very clear fasion, using simple material models and very basic numerical models.

The author's academic background in both geology and soil and rock mechanics and his long experience in practical design and construction work has led to an unusually pedagogic way of dealing with the subject. The book is intended for use by consultants in engineering geology and waste disposal and by students of these subjects. However, engineers and geologists with a limited background in stress/strain and fracture theory and computer-based calculation methods will also find the book attractive.

Table of contents

Rock Nature. Geology. Mineralogy. Petrology, rock types. References. Rock Structure. Origin and nature of crystalline rock structure. Scale factors. Categorization. Structural modeling. Identification, determination and recording of structural features. Structural homogeneity. Example of structural characterization. Rock Stresses. Introduction. The concept of principal stresses. Stress conditions. Groundwater (piezometric) pressures. References. Rock Strain. Introduction. Definitions. Viscous and plastic strain. Calculation of strain in rock mechanics. Examples. References. Rock Strength. Introduction. The strength of rock material. The strength of rock masses. What strength criteria shall we use?. Material modelling. Determination of rock strength. References. Rock Stability. The meaning of rock stability. Tectonically and thermally induced strain. Rock displacements by loading or unloading. Rock fall. Clay-weathered rock and clayey sedimentary rock. Examples. References. Rock Excavation. Introduction. Rock Support. General principles. Rock Classification. General aspects. The Q-index. Practical use of Q-data in ordinary projects. Application of the Q-system to HLW repositories. Conclusions. References.

Product details

  • Edition: 1
  • Latest edition
  • Volume: 77
  • Published: April 7, 1995
  • Language: English

About the author

RP

R. Pusch

Affiliations and expertise
IDEON Research Center, Clay Technology AB, Lund, Sweden, Lund University of Technology, Department of Geotechnology, Lund Sweden

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