INPUT PARAMETERS TO RMR1989
(from Bieniawski, 1989)
PARAMETER Range of values // RATINGS
For this low range
Strength Point-load strength
> 10 MPa 4 - 10 MPa 2 - 4 MPa 1 - 2 MPa uniaxial compr. strength
of intact index is preferred
1 rock Uniaxial com- 5 - 25 1-5 <1
material > 250 MPa 100 - 250 MPa 50 - 100 MPa 25 - 50 MPa
pressive strength MPa MPa MPa
RATING 15 12 7 4 2 1 0
Drill core quality RQD 90 - 100% 75 - 90% 50 - 75% 25 - 50% < 25%
2
RATING 20 17 13 8 5
Spacing of discontinuities >2m 0.6 - 2 m 200 - 600 mm 60 - 200 mm < 60 mm
3
RATING 20 15 10 8 5
Length, persistence <1m 1-3m 3 - 10 m 10 - 20 m > 20 m
Rating 6 4 2 1 0
Separation none < 0.1 mm 0.1 - 1 mm 1 - 5 mm > 5 mm
Rating 6 5 4 1 0
Condition Roughness very rough rough slightly rough smooth slickensided
4 of discon- Rating 6 5 3 1 0
tinuities none Hard filling Soft filling
Infilling (gouge)
- < 5 mm > 5 mm < 5 mm > 5 mm
Rating 6 4 2 2 0
Weathering unweathered slightly w. moderately w. highly w. decomposed
Rating 6 5 3 1 0
Inflow per 10 m
none < 10 litres/min 10 - 25 litres/min 25 - 125 litres/min > 125 litres /min
tunnel length
Ground
pw /1 0 0 - 0.1 0.1 - 0.2 0.2 - 0.5 > 0.5
5 water
General conditions completely dry damp wet dripping flowing
RATING 15 10 7 4 0
pw = joint water pressure; 1 = major principal stress
RATING ADJUSTMENT FOR DISCONTINUITY ORIENTATIONS
Very favourable Favourable Fair Unfavourable Very unfavourable
Tunnels 0 -2 -5 -10 -12
RATINGS Foundations 0 -2 -7 -15 -25
Slopes 0 -5 -25 -50 -60
ROCK MASS CLASSES DETERMINED FROM TOTAL RATINGS
Rating 100 - 81 80 - 61 60 - 41 40 - 21 < 20
Class No. I II III IV V
Description VERY GOOD GOOD FAIR POOR VERY POOR
MEANING OF ROCK MASS CLASSES
Class No. I II III IV V
10 years for 6 months for 1 week for 10 hours for 30 minutes for
Average stand-up time
15 m span 8 m span 5 m span 2.5 m span 1 m span
Cohesion of the rock mass > 400 kPa 300 - 400 kPa 200 - 300 kPa 100 - 200 kPa < 100 kPa
Friction angle of the rock mass < 45o 35 - 45o 25 - 35o 15 - 25o < 15o
2011-03-04
RMR classification guide for excavation and support in rock tunnels.
Tunnel shape: horseshoe; width: 10m. Vertical stress: below 25MPa.
(from Bieniawski, 1989)
Rock support (for 10m wide tunnels)
Rock Excavation
mass class by drill & blast Rock bolts Shotcrete Steel sets
(20mm diam., fully bonded)
1.Very good rock Full face:
Generally no support required except for occasional spot bolting
RMR: 81 - 100 3m advance
2. Good rock Full face: Locally bolts in crown, 3m 50mm in crown None
RMR: 61 - 80 1.0 - 1.5m advance; long, spaced 2.5m with where required
Complete support 20m from face occasional wire mesh
3. Fair rock Top heading and bench: Systematic bolts 4m long, 50 - 100mm in None
RMR: 41- 60 1.5 - 3m advance in top heading; spaced 1.5 - 2m in crown crown, and 30mm in
Commence support after each blast; and walls with wire mesh sides
Commence support 10m from face in crown
4. Poor rock Top heading and bench: Systematic bolts 4 - 5m 100-150mm in crown Light ribs spaced 1.5m
RMR: 21- 40 1.0 - 1.5m advance in top heading; long, spaced 1-1.5m in and 100mm in sides where required
Install support concurrently with crown and walls with wire
excavation - 10m from face mesh
5. Very poor rock Multiple drifts: Systematic bolts 5 - 6m 150 - 200mm in Medium to heavy ribs
RMR < 21 0.5 - 1.5m advance in top heading; long, spaced 1 - 1.5m in crown, 150mm in spaced 0.75m with steel
Install support concurrently with crown and walls with wire sides, and 50mm on lagging and forepoling if
excavation; shotcrete as soon as mesh. Bolt the invert face required. Close invert
possible after blasting
2011-03-04
