Classification and assessment of rock mass parameters in Choghart iron mine using P-wave velocity

Engineering rock mass classification, based on empirical relations between rock mass parameters and engineering applications, is commonly used in rock engineering and forms the basis for designing rock structures. The basic data required may be obtained from visual observation and laboratory or fiel...

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Main Authors: Mohammadreza Hemmati Nourani, Mohsen Taheri Moghadder, Mohsen Safari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2017-04-01
Series:Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674775516302700
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author Mohammadreza Hemmati Nourani
Mohsen Taheri Moghadder
Mohsen Safari
author_facet Mohammadreza Hemmati Nourani
Mohsen Taheri Moghadder
Mohsen Safari
author_sort Mohammadreza Hemmati Nourani
collection DOAJ
description Engineering rock mass classification, based on empirical relations between rock mass parameters and engineering applications, is commonly used in rock engineering and forms the basis for designing rock structures. The basic data required may be obtained from visual observation and laboratory or field tests. However, owing to the discontinuous and variable nature of rock masses, it is difficult for rock engineers to directly obtain the specific design parameters needed. As an alternative, the use of geophysical methods in geomechanics such as seismography may largely address this problem. In this study, 25 seismic profiles with the total length of 543 m have been scanned to determine the geomechanical properties of the rock mass in blocks I, III and IV-2 of the Choghart iron mine. Moreover, rock joint measurements and sampling for laboratory tests were conducted. The results show that the rock mass rating (RMR) and Q values have a close relation with P-wave velocity parameters, including P-wave velocity in field (VPF), P-wave velocity in the laboratory (VPL) and the ratio of VPF to VPL (i.e. KP = VPF/VPL). However, Q value, totally, has greater correlation coefficient and less error than the RMR. In addition, rock mass parameters including rock quality designation (RQD), uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), joint roughness coefficient (JRC) and Schmidt number (RN) show close relationship with P-wave velocity. An equation based on these parameters was obtained to estimate the P-wave velocity in the rock mass with a correlation coefficient of 91%. The velocities in two orthogonal directions and the results of joint study show that the wave velocity anisotropy in rock mass may be used as an efficient tool to assess the strong and weak directions in rock mass.
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spelling doaj.art-68dbc50de0ae4e37bb079888c95c09eb2022-12-22T01:15:22ZengElsevierJournal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering1674-77552017-04-019231832810.1016/j.jrmge.2016.11.006Classification and assessment of rock mass parameters in Choghart iron mine using P-wave velocityMohammadreza Hemmati Nourani0Mohsen Taheri Moghadder1Mohsen Safari2Department of Mining and Metallurgy, Yazd University, Yazd, IranDepartment of Mining Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, IranDepartment of Mining Engineering, Birjand University of Technology, Birjand, IranEngineering rock mass classification, based on empirical relations between rock mass parameters and engineering applications, is commonly used in rock engineering and forms the basis for designing rock structures. The basic data required may be obtained from visual observation and laboratory or field tests. However, owing to the discontinuous and variable nature of rock masses, it is difficult for rock engineers to directly obtain the specific design parameters needed. As an alternative, the use of geophysical methods in geomechanics such as seismography may largely address this problem. In this study, 25 seismic profiles with the total length of 543 m have been scanned to determine the geomechanical properties of the rock mass in blocks I, III and IV-2 of the Choghart iron mine. Moreover, rock joint measurements and sampling for laboratory tests were conducted. The results show that the rock mass rating (RMR) and Q values have a close relation with P-wave velocity parameters, including P-wave velocity in field (VPF), P-wave velocity in the laboratory (VPL) and the ratio of VPF to VPL (i.e. KP = VPF/VPL). However, Q value, totally, has greater correlation coefficient and less error than the RMR. In addition, rock mass parameters including rock quality designation (RQD), uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), joint roughness coefficient (JRC) and Schmidt number (RN) show close relationship with P-wave velocity. An equation based on these parameters was obtained to estimate the P-wave velocity in the rock mass with a correlation coefficient of 91%. The velocities in two orthogonal directions and the results of joint study show that the wave velocity anisotropy in rock mass may be used as an efficient tool to assess the strong and weak directions in rock mass.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674775516302700Rock mass classificationP-wave velocityQ systemRock mass rating (RMR)Geophysical methods
spellingShingle Mohammadreza Hemmati Nourani
Mohsen Taheri Moghadder
Mohsen Safari
Classification and assessment of rock mass parameters in Choghart iron mine using P-wave velocity
Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering
Rock mass classification
P-wave velocity
Q system
Rock mass rating (RMR)
Geophysical methods
title Classification and assessment of rock mass parameters in Choghart iron mine using P-wave velocity
title_full Classification and assessment of rock mass parameters in Choghart iron mine using P-wave velocity
title_fullStr Classification and assessment of rock mass parameters in Choghart iron mine using P-wave velocity
title_full_unstemmed Classification and assessment of rock mass parameters in Choghart iron mine using P-wave velocity
title_short Classification and assessment of rock mass parameters in Choghart iron mine using P-wave velocity
title_sort classification and assessment of rock mass parameters in choghart iron mine using p wave velocity
topic Rock mass classification
P-wave velocity
Q system
Rock mass rating (RMR)
Geophysical methods
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674775516302700
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AT mohsensafari classificationandassessmentofrockmassparametersinchoghartironmineusingpwavevelocity