Publisher's Synopsis
With the ever-increasing developmental activities as diverse as the construction of dams, roads, tunnels, underground powerhouses and storage facilities, petroleum exploration and nuclear repositories, a more comprehensive and updated understanding of rock mass is essential for civil engineers, engineering geologists, geophysicists, and petroleum and mining engineers. Though some contents of this vast subject are included in undergraduate curriculum, there are full-fledged courses on Rock Mechanics/Rock Engineer-ing in postgraduate programmes in civil engineering and mining engineering. Much of the material presented in this book is also taught to geology and geophysics students. In addition, the book is suitable for short courses conducted for teachers, practising engineers and engineering geologists. This book, with contributions from a number of authors with expertise and vast experience in various areas of rock engineering, gives an in-depth analysis of the multidimensional aspects of the subject. The text covers a wide range of topics related to engineering behaviour of rocks and rock masses, their classifications, interpretation of geological mapping of joints through stereographic projection, in situ stress measurements, laboratory and field tests, stability of rock slopes, foundations of structures, including dams and support systems for underground excavations. The Second Edition has been enriched with new topics such as minimum overburden on pressure tunnels, pressure around vertical cylindrical shaft, thickness of steel lining, and penetration rate from joint factor. What distinguishes the text is the application of numerical methods to solve various problems by discrete element and equivalent material concepts, interpretations of geomechanics modelling test data, excavation methods, ground improving methods, and use of roadheaders and TBMs. The book provides an excellent understanding of how to solve problems in rock engineering and should immensely benefit students, teachers, professionals and designers alike.
