Week 9-10 : Geological factors and strength of rocks

Mechanical behavior of rocks are useful to determine the strength of the rocks.

The engineering properties of rocks are those that are important to the behavior or integrity of a structure or an excavation. The function required of the rock should determine the properties that must be investigated and the tests that would be appropriate. For reasons of economy and usefulness, a testing program should be designed to fit specific needs.

Rock properties may be determined in the laboratory from cores or blocks, or they may be determined in the rock mass, usually in boreholes and preferably at the construction site. Experience has shown that test values may depend on the size of the sample and on the equipment used. We know also that many rocks deteriorate when removed from the rock mass through loss or gain of moisture, through strain relief, or from the mechanical disturbance of sampling.

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