Rock Mass Classification Systems and Seismic Velocities

Abstract

According to their case study the authors recommend to use seismic velocities especially shear wave velocity to characterize the rock mass instead of classical rock mass classification systems. Their experimental work includes a case study comparing the RQD, RMR and Q-value with seismic velocities in a tunnel excavated in granitic rock. The best correlation of shear-wave velocity with RQD was about 90%. It means that using seismic transmission the rock properties are predictable by a nondestructive method. By sophisticated multivariant analyzis the connection between parameters were investigated in details.