Rock Engineering Design

1. Introduction 
The purpose of this book 
The structure of the book 
The ‘long learning curve’ 
Rock engineering design, related subjects and the future 
Chinese rock mechanics and Chinese rock engineering 
Examples of rock engineering projects in China 
Problems remaining to be solved 
Chapter summaries

2. The ways ahead for rock engineering design methodologies 
Introduction 
Modelling and engineering design approaches 
The integrated design approach 
Modelling approaches which utilise computer networks 
The idea of a Virtual Rock Mechanics Facility (VRMF) 
Development of the method D, level 2, methods: ‘intelligent’ modelling 
The integrated methodology for rock slope design 
Case example using the rock slope integrated design methodology 
Chapter summary

3. Flowcharts for rock engineering modelling and design 
Introduction and summary of earlier work 
The rock engineering modelling and design process 
Use of the procedure in three illustrative case examples 
Chapter summary

4. Specifying the information required for rock mechanics modelling and rock engineering design 
Introduction 
The different types of information required by the different modelling methods 
Obtaining the required information and problems associated with site investigation and in situ monitoring 
Illustrative case examples 
Chapter summary

5. Technical auditing of rock mechanics modelling and rock engineering design 
Introduction 
Demonstration Example 1: The procedure for technically auditing a site investigation measurement—in situ rock stress (soft audit) 
Demonstration Example 2: Technical audit of modelling for the design of hydropower caverns at the Laxiwa Yellow River site in China (semi-hard audit) 
Chapter summary

6. Case example of the design and construction of a rock slope 
Introduction 
Types and features of large rock slopes at hydropower stations 
Flowchart for the design of large rock slopes for hydropower stations 
The features and constraints of the plunge pool slope 
Initial design of the plunge pool slope 
Feedback analysis and final design of the plunge pool slope 
Modelling methods and codes used for the design and stability analysis of the plunge pool slope 
Chapter summary

7. Case example of the design and construction of a large underground hydroelectric powerhouse in a deep valley region 
Introduction 
The underground powerhouse 
The features and constraints of the Jinping II underground powerhouse 
The approach used in the design and stability analysis for the Jinping II underground powerhouse 
Modelling methods and computer codes used in the design and stability analysis for the Jinping II underground powerhouse 
Establishment of the initial design 
Stability appraisal of the underground powerhouse after excavation of Layer II 
Conclusions

8. Protocol Sheets
Protocol Sheet 1: Objective and overall approach to the project 
Protocol Sheets 2: Geological setting and site investigation 
Protocol Sheets 3: Modelling 
Protocol Sheets 4: Design 
Protocol Sheet 5: Auditing evaluation 
Chapter summary

9. Illustrative example of the Protocol Sheets use 
Example completion of Protocol Sheet 1 
Example completion of Protocol Sheets 2
Example completion of Protocol Sheets 3 
Example completion of Protocol Sheets 4 
Example completion of Protocol Sheet 5
Chapter summary

10. Concluding remarks

Appendix A. List of all the ISRM suggested methods (in chronological order)

Appendix B. The Chinese ‘Basic Quality’ (BQ) system for rock mass classification
B1 Introduction
B2 Terminology and symbols
B3 Classification parameters for the rock mass basic quality
B4 Classification of rock mass basic quality
B5 Engineering classification for a rock mass
B6 Establishing the KV and JV indices
B7 Preliminary assessment of the rock stress field
B8 Physical and mechanical parameters of the rock mass and discontinuities
B9 Corrected value of the rock mass basic quality index
B10 Stand-up time for an underground rock mass
B11 Acknowledgements

References and bibliography
Subject index
Colour plates

Biography

Professor Xia-Ting Feng obtained his PhD in Civil Engineering at the Northeastern University, China, where he continued as a Professor. He was admitted by the Hundred Talents Program to the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in 1998 and later permanently joined CAS’s Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics. He later obtained the support of the China National Funds for Distinguished Young Scientists and became a Chair Professor of the Cheung Kong Scholars’ Programme of the Chinese Ministry of Education. Dr Feng is the President of the International Society for Rock Mechanics for the period 2011–2015. He has made original contributions to the subject of ‘intelligent rock mechanics’ and his methods have been applied to large rock engineering projects in China and other countries.

Professor John A. Hudson graduated in 1965 from the Heriot-Watt University, UK, and obtained his PhD at the University of Minnesota, USA. He has spent his professional career in engineering rock mechanics—as it applies to civil, mining and environmental engineering—in consulting, research, teaching and publishing and was awarded the DSc. degree for his contributions to the subject. In addition to authoring many scientific papers and books, he edited the 1993 five-volume Comprehensive Rock Engineering compendium, and the International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences from 1983–2006. Since 1983, he has been affiliated with Imperial College, London as a Reader, Professor, and now Emeritus Professor and was elected as a Fellow of the UK Royal Academy of Engineering in 1998. Prof. Hudson was the President of the International Society for Rock Mechanics between 2007 and 2011. He is also an Honorary Professor at the University of Hong Kong and an Adjunct Professor in the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

This highly original and innovative book is the outcome of the work of the Commission on Rock Engineering Design Methodology of the International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM) in the period 2007–2011. The work of the Commission was managed by the authors, Professor John A Hudson, ISRM President for 2007–2011, and Professor Xiating Feng, ISRM President for 2011–2015, in association with the Chinese Society for Rock Mechanics and Engineering. Recently, this reviewer (2011) has argued that the work of its Commissions has been among the major achievements of the ISRM in the 50 years since its foundation in 1962. This book adds to that impressive record of achievement. 

This superb book has many outstanding features. Its original approach and arguments are set out and developed with the greatest clarity; the writing is clear, fluent and accessible; the structure of the book is logical, guiding the reader through a series of stages required to develop a good, or even deep, understanding of the subject matter; the chapter summaries are succinct and informative, as are the summaries of some topics presented in tables and figures; and the detailed technical auditing approach developed is especially valuable. Perhaps most importantly, the several detailed practical examples given in each chapter illustrate just how the approaches developed and described have been applied in practice to the most challenging rock engineering design projects. These examples, together with a summary given in Chapter 1, provide compelling evidence of the monumental achievements of rock mechanics and rock engineering in China in recent years. Through this book and in other ways, the authors have contributed significantly to those achievements.

E. T. Brown
Senior Consultant, Golder Associates Pty Ltd.

Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 2012, 4 (1): III–IV