Rock
engineering relates to the design, construction
and operation of facilities that have rock excavations
as a fundamental part. These excavations can be
on surface or underground, and can be part of
civil or mining engineering ventures. Designing
safe and stable excavations in rock masses requires
a detailed knowledge of the structural controls
within the rock mass as well as an evaluation
of the stresses that may be applied to the boundaries
of the excavation over its active life.
Fundamental to a good understanding of rock engineering
issues is a clear picture of the engineering geology
of the rock mass. The “engineering materials”
that we have to deal with are the various rock
masses within the project area, including the
different rock types as well as the natural and
induced fractures or breaks in the rock material.
The behaviour of the ground is determined by a
combination of rock mechanics principles and the
inherent nature of the rock mass. Rock engineering
is therefore part of the continuum from geology
to engineering.
|