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Module Catalogue

ES95C-15 Rock Mechanics

Department
School of Engineering
Level
Taught Postgraduate Level
Module leader
Xueyu Geng
Credit value
15
Assessment
30% coursework, 70% exam
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

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Introductory description

ES95C-15 Rock Mechanics

Module web page

Module aims

To provide a theoretical and empirical framework for understanding and predicting the behaviour of rock around excavations and under foundations associated with tunnelling projects.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

  • Behaviour of jointed rock mass (structure): Shear behaviour of discontinuities. Shear testing techniques. Compressibility of rock masses. In situ testing of rocks.
  • Rock excavation design and assessment: Behaviour of rock around underground openings: ground condition, index properties, in situ measurement of stress and strain, elastic and elasto-plastic behaviour, rock bursts and stress problems, effects of groundwater.
  • Rock mass classification systems and Rock Engineering System (RES).
  • Use of stereographic techniques for underground excavation modelling.
  • Design and use of rock bolts as support for underground excavation.
  • Industrial case studies.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Apply knowledge of rock mechanics to a range of rock engineering problems associated with tunnels and underground excavations.
  • Predict the behaviour of the rock mass in response to excavation.
  • Interpret rock mass classification data to formulate support strategies.

Indicative reading list

  • Feng, X-T. Rock Mechanics and Engineering, CRC Press, 5 volumes, pp. 3796, 2017 (ISBN 9781138027640)
  • Hoek, E., 2007. Practical Rock Engineering, published free online at:
    www.rocscience.com/hoek/corner/Practical_Rock_Engineering.pdf
  • Hudson, J.A. & Harrison, J.P., Engineering Rock Mechanics: An Introduction to the Principles, Elsevier Science, pp.456, 1997 & 2005 (ISBN 0080438644) QC 137.8.H8 (also available as e‐book)
  • Hudson, J.A. & Harrison, J.P., Engineering Rock Mechanics: Part 2: Illustrative Worked Examples, Elsevier Science, pp.506, 2000 (ISBN 0080430104) (available as e‐book)
  • Priest, S.D., Hemispherical Projection Methods in Rock Mechanics, London: Allen & Unwin, pp.124, 1985. (ISBN 0046220070) QC 137.8.P7
  • Wyllie, D.C., Foundations on Rock, New York: E & FN Spon, 2nd ed., pp.401, 1999. (ISBN
    0419232109) TA775.W95

In addition students are provided with an extensive list of relevant papers principally drawn from the following journals and updated annually:

  • Engineering Geology
  • International Journal of Rock Mechanics & Mining Science
  • Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering
  • Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology

Subject specific skills

  1. Ability to conceive, make and realise a component, product, system or process
  2. Ability to develop economically viable and ethically sound sustainable solutions
  3. Ability to be pragmatic, taking a systematic approach and the logical and practical steps necessary for, often complex, concepts to become reality
  4. Ability to seek to achieve sustainable solutions to problems and have strategies for being creative and innovative
  5. Ability to be risk, cost and value-conscious, and aware of their ethical, social, cultural, environmental, health and safety, and wider professional engineering responsibilities

Transferable skills

  1. Numeracy: apply mathematical and computational methods to communicate parameters, model and optimize solutions
  2. Apply problem solving skills, information retrieval, and the effective use of general IT facilities
  3. Communicate (written and oral; to technical and non-technical audiences) and work with others
  4. Awareness of the nature of business and enterprise in the creation of economic and social value
  5. Overcome difficulties by employing skills, knowledge and understanding in a flexible manner
  6. Ability to formulate and operate within appropriate codes of conduct, when faced with an ethical issue

Study time

Type Required
Lectures 30 sessions of 1 hour (83%)
Tutorials 2 sessions of 1 hour (6%)
Practical classes 4 sessions of 1 hour (11%)
Total 36 hours

Private study description

114 hours of guided independent learning

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group D3
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Assessment component
Practical Test 30% No

A 2-hour practical test.
Reassessment component is the same
Assessment component
Written Examination 70% No

Written Examination 3-hour examination, locally held.

  • Answerbook Gold (24 page)
  • Students may use a calculator
  • Graph paper
Reassessment component is the same
Feedback on assessment

Practical Test: Individual written feedback.
Examination: publication of recent past examination papers and model solutions or mock paper and solutions where past papers do not exist. Cohort level feedback on examinations.

Past exam papers for ES95C

Courses

This module is Core for:

  • Year 1 of TESS-H214 Postgraduate Taught Tunnelling and Underground Space

This module is Core optional for:

  • TESS-H214 Postgraduate Taught Tunnelling and Underground Space
    • Year 1 of H214 Tunnelling and Underground Space
    • Year 1 of H214 Tunnelling and Underground Space
    • Year 2 of H214 Tunnelling and Underground Space