Assessment of the Excavatability of Rock Based on Rock Mass Quality: A Case Study from India

During last five decades many attempts have been made to develop a means of assessing the excavatability of rock. These classifications have been used to select appropriate excavation systems and equipment used in civil and mining works. Empirical rating and seismic velocity systems are proposed for the rippability of a rock mass. In this paper rock mass classification systems i.e. rock mass rating system and tunnel quality index and revised excavatability graph are used for assessing the excavatability of rock. The aim of this study was to examine how the intact rock and rock mass properties influence the excavatability of rock surface excavation in granite and gneiss terrain. These methods allow the excavatability of rock to be assessed rapidly. After detailed study it is concluded that rock mass rating system gave a better assessment of rock mass quality than the tunnel quality index and revised excavatability model.

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