23

Introductory Rock Mechanics

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS

Index properties of rocks – Classification of rocks – In situ state of stress Mechanical properties of rocks

23.1 INTRODUCTION

Rock mechanics is an inter-disciplinary subject covering various fields, such as engineering geology, mining, petroleum, and civil engineering. The common man believes that rocks are strong materials with reliability and permanence and need no treatment if they are used as foundations. But rocks present in nature have several geological discontinuities, such as faults, joints, fissures, etc. The behaviour of a rock mass subjected to a change in stress is governed by the mechanical properties of the rock material and the geological discontinuities.

Several major failures ...

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