Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
2
Structure of Rock
2.1
Introduction
Rock mass is a compound material including the intact rock and discontinuities such
as joints, bedding-parallel discontinuities, faults and other planes of weakness forming
a more or less complex structure. The objective of this chapter is to show how different
types of rock masses can be characterized by means of structural models. These struc-
tural models form the basis for the description of the mechanical and hydraulic behav-
ior of rock masses which will be considered in the subsequent chapters.
2.2
Rock Groups
It is convenient to classify the rocks in the earth's crust into three different groups accord-
ing to their geological origin: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks (Fig. 2.1).
Figure 2.1
Formation of rocks (Wittke 1990)
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