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Corrected Rock Fracture Parameters and Other Empirical Considerations for the Rock Mechanics of Rock Masses of Doha, Qatar

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Abstract

The objective of this paper is to provide insights into the intact rock and rock mass properties of the rock formations under the city of Doha, State of Qatar. We also intend to scientifically clarify these properties by presenting and statistically characterizing the ranges of the parameters, and by discussing the correlations between the parameters with respect to their usage and research potential. The rock quality designation corrected (RQDC) parameter is validated and a new parameter, the fracture index corrected (FIC), is proposed. The significantly improved correlation between RQDC and FIC is demonstrated and their derivation is explained. The paper demonstrates the correlation between the rock mass estimation parameters obtained through rock face mapping and discusses the applicability of the Hoek–Brown criterion to the studied rock masses, which is found to be relevant. A discussion about how properly performed triaxial tests can directly provide the rock constant mi values for all geological members is presented. Other estimation approaches for mi are also validated and compared with the existing knowledge base. Data for laboratory and field intact rock and rock mass parameters are combined using equations from various authors to obtain narrow ranges for rock mass strength and rock mass elasticity modulus values. Finally, within the framework of previous studies by other authors on the low-end transition range of rocks toward soils, it is shown that only the Rus formation member is sufficiently soft and can be included in the range.

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Availability of Data and Materials

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to proprietary confidentiality but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

\(\overline{x}\) :

Mean value

\(\mu_{1/2}\) :

Median value

n :

Number of data points

σ :

Standard deviation

CV :

Coefficient of variance

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to express their gratitude to the corresponding author’s work organization, which supported him in performing part-time research work and surrounded him with people who helped and inspired him, and provided the impetus for the research subject.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Qatar Trading and Contracting Group, Doha, Qatar

    Hrvoje Vučemilović

  2. Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of J.J. Strossmayer in Osijek, Osijek, Croatia

    Hrvoje Vučemilović & Mensur Mulabdić

  3. Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Geodesy, University of Split, Split, Croatia

    Predrag Miščević

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  1. Hrvoje Vučemilović
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  2. Mensur Mulabdić
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Correspondence to Hrvoje Vučemilović.

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Appendices

Appendix A

Figures 

Fig. 29
figure 29

Incorrect determination of FI

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29 and

Fig. 30
figure 30

Correct determination of FI

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30 show the rules for the correct determination of the rock fracture parameters FI and FIC. The determination should follow the limits of the existing core runs, as shown in Fig. 30, as opposed to overlapping two adjacent core runs (Fig. 29). It is important to achieve parameter congruence when determining the RQDC via SCR (pr) from core logs or core photos, or when determining the FIC. Otherwise, the transformation from one parameter to the other will not be consistent and may not produce the same number of data points.

Appendix B

See Figs. 

Fig. 31
figure 31

UCS versus depth

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31,

Fig. 32
figure 32

IS50 versus depth

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32,

Fig. 33
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ES versus depth

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33,

Fig. 34
figure 34

RQD versus depth

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34,

Fig. 35
figure 35

RQDC versus depth

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35, 36 and 37.

Fig. 36
figure 36

FIC versus depth

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Fig. 37
figure 37

FI versus depth

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Vučemilović, H., Mulabdić, M. & Miščević, P. Corrected Rock Fracture Parameters and Other Empirical Considerations for the Rock Mechanics of Rock Masses of Doha, Qatar. Geotech Geol Eng 39, 2823–2847 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-020-01658-y

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