[...]... with the nature of engineering rock mechanics In all subsequent chapters there are ten questions Q l 1 Define the following terms: rock mechanics; 0 engineering rock mechanics; 6 lntroduction rock engineering; structural geology; engineering geology; soil mechanics; geotechnicalengineering A1.l Rockmechanics is the study of the statics and dynamics of rocks and rock masses Engineering rock mechanics is... between rock mechanics’ and rock engineering When rock mechanics’ is studied in isolation, there is no specific engineering objective The potential collapse of a rock mass is neither good nor bad: it is just a mechanical fact However, if the collapsing rock mass is in the roof of a civil engineering cavern, there is an adverse engineering connotation Conversely, if the collapsing rock mass is part. .. dynamics l Thus, rock mechanics is the study of mechanics applied to rock and rock masses Engineering rock mechanics’ is this study within an engineering context, rather than in the context of natural processes that occur in the Earth‘s crust, such as folding and faulting The term rock engineering refers to the process of engineering with rock, and especially to creating structures on or in rock masses,... rock mass is intended to fail), there is a beneficial engineering connotation In the civil engineering case, the integrity of the cavern is maintained if the rock mass in the roof does not collapse In the mining engineering case, the integrity of the mining operation is maintained if the rock mass does collapse Hence, rock engineering applies a subjective element to rock mechanics, because of the engineering. .. e.g.F Symbols in Latin or Greek should be in italic form, e.g.x Part A: IIIustrat ive worked examples Questions and Answers - 7 Introduction 1.1 The subject of engineering rock mechanics The term engineering rock mechanics is used to describe the engineering application of rock mechanics to civil, mining, petroleum and environmental engineering circumstances The term mechanics, means the study of... applied to engineering Soil mechanics is the study of the statics and dynamics of soils Geutechnicul engineering is the process of engineering with rocks and/or soils’ 41.2 Explain the fundamental purposes of excavation in civil engineering, mining engineering, and petroleum engineering C v l engineering It is the rock opening, the space resulting from ii excavation, that is required in civil engineering. .. The distinction between rock mechanics’ itself (a) and engineering applications of rock mechanics (b) In (a), F1 Fnare the boundary forces caused by rock weight and current tectonic activity In (b) a tunnel is being constructed in a rock mass The distinction between rock mechanics’ and rock engineering illustrated in Fig 1.1is highlighted further in Fig 1.2 which shows part of the concrete foundation... are in the realm of ’engineeringrock mechanics’ This is analogous to the term engineering geology in which geology is studied, not in its entirety but those aspects which are relevant to engineering Rock engineering is concerned with specific engineering circumstances: in this case (Fig 1.2), the consequences of loading the rock mass via the concrete support How much load will the rock foundation support... Additional points 215 215 14 Rock mechanics interactions and rock engineering systems 14.1 Interactions 14.2 Questions and answers: rock mechanics interactions and rock engineering systems 14.3 Additional points 231 231 15 Excavation principles 15.1 Rock excavation 15.2 Questions and answers: excavation principles 15.3 Additional points 247 247 250 262 16 Rock reinforcement and rock support 265 265 16.1... mechanics is the study of the statics and dynamics of rocks and rock masses in anticipation of the results being applied to engineering Rock engineering involves engineering with rocks, especially the construction of structures on or in rock masses, and includes the design process Structural geology deals with the description and analysis of the structure of rock masses EngineePing geology is the study of .