ISSN: 2249-9903 Journal of Frontline Research

in Arts and Science Vol. 01 (2011) : 94-99, Research Paper

ESTIMATION OF ROCKS STRENGTH PARAMETERS FOR MIDDLE SIWALIK, WEST KAMENG DISTRICT, ARUNACHAL PRADESH
MANASH PRATIM GOGOI Department of Geology, Sibsagar College, Joysagar-785665, Assam (E-mail: gogoi.manash00@gmail.com) Abstract In the present study, heterogeneous rock masses strength characterization for brittle deformation regime are analyzed from Hoek-Brown Failure criterion by using a simulated model with suitable RMR values. To reduce the material constants ci and mi, for Hoek - Brown system for rock masses is accomplished through the Geological Strength Index (GSI). Using these values failure envelope range for 3max is around 33 MPais estimated for general geotechnical applications, with 2.0341 MPa c (cohesion intercept) and 12.4186 degrees (friction angle for the failure envelope) for Mohr-Coulomb envelope. Other parameters associated with Hoek-Brown Failure criterion like t (-0.00494332MPa), c (0.181273MPa), cm (5.06151MPa) and Erm (917.074MPa) are also determined. Key words: stress, rock strength parameters, GSI.

INTRODUCTION The study area is located in Sub Himalayas in Bhalukpong-Tipi-Pinjoli section West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh, India. It lies between 27o00'- 27o10' N and 92o30'-92o40' E (Figure 1). This fold-thrust belt has uplifted the Neogene[1] sediments deposited in the foreland basin in the southern frontal part of the orogeny. Siwaliks are consisting of sandstone, siltstones, clay and boulder beds of Mio-Pliocene age[2,3] and are considered as thin-skinned tectonic fold-thrust belt sandwiched between Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) and Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT), driving by late HOM (Himalayan Orogenic Movement) activities. The rock groups exposed in this part of the area exhibits brittle deformational regime in massive, hard, bedded sandstones of Middle Siwalik rocks as called Dafla Formation[1] within a lateral distance of about 6km along. Total width of Siwalik group of rock in this part of Arunachal Himalaya is about 9km. Siwalik Group is 10-20km in width in East Bhutan and in Arunachal Pradesh[2]. This fold-thrust belt is featured by many major and sub thrust systems of MBT, Tipi Thrust and HFT. These thrust are sub splays of a major detachment present about 5km[3] below surface and this fold-thrust belt have been shortened at a rate of about 16- 20 mm/yr[3,4]. Middle and Upper Siwalik rocks exist in between these thrust zones. Middle Siwaliks are known as Dafla Formation and Upper Siwaliks are Subansir and Kimin Formation[1]. Lithological constituents of Dafla Formation are mainly hard well bedded
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M. P. Gogoi

sandstones of variable thickness with alternating shale and clay layers. Fracture surfaces and joints are found associated with these rocks throughout the area. Variation of joint spacing and pattern etc. (Figure 2.b) depends on various factors like nature of stress field, types of lithologies, and strength and deformation characteristics of rock masses. The layer competency contrast existing between Dafla sandstones and shale layers exhibiting a differential accommodation of stress and shows brittle and brittle-ductile deformation (Figure 2.a). These rock groups have been deformed into small poorly interlocked seams of angular and irregular fragments in trust zone area. In some places rocks have developed cataclastic flow and shear fabrics due shear parallel slips in rock bodies. However, sheared shale and clay layers with deformed sandstone layers are a common scenario in the vicinity of the study area.

METHODOLOGY Geotechnical analysis is important for many respects in geological constraints that reflected in the geological information about estimates of the strength and deformation characteristics of rock masses. As the regional geological settings of the area are mentioned earlier, hence some applied prospects are also added in the study to take account of the information in civil and general engineering expeditions. In the year 1980, Hoek and Brown proposed a method to estimatestrength of jointed rock mass[5,6]. This criterion is utilized to assess the strength for the
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Figure 1: SRTM-DTEM (Digital Terrain Elevation Model)[12] showing the locations of the study area. Highlighted area showing Middle Siwalik rocks and their distribution marked by two major thrust zones, MBT-Main Boundary Thrust and Tipi Thrust.

Est. of Roc. Stre. Para. for Middle Siwalik, West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh

Dafla formation under differential stress field in a computer simulated model whose input requirements were selected accordingly as per the laboratory analysis. The relationship between Mohr envelope for Hoek Brown Criterion[5] and fitted linear relationship (Equation 2) trends were graphically reproduced (Figure 4). The static equilibrium state under confining overburden stress P, is the state of non-deviatoric

(i.e. P = 1= 2=3=0) [7] should be overcome. P = gz[8] (1) Where, is the mean density, g is the acceleration due to gravity and z is the depth of burial. However, approximate relationship can be determined by a RocScience (www.rocscience.com) module RockLab v1.0, which works on principles of Hoek-Brown Failure Criterion[5] and Empirical estimation of rock mass modulus[6]. The programme is used for understanding the the Generalized Hoek-Brown[5] strength parameters of a rock mass (mb, s and a)[5] practiced for geotechnical, mining and civil engineering applications. It is a simple and intuitive implementation of criterions. There is an uncertainty in determining rock strength of in situ condition, hence we applied this simulated approach as it is applicable considering required input data for the lithology and extent of deformation exhibiting by the Dafla sandstones successively accomplishes the considerations. Mohr-Coulomb criterion[5] is a two-parametric criterion, assumes that a shear failure plane is developed in the rock material. It takes shearing into account. It considers the major and minor principal stresses only (the two principal stresses making the largest difference). Plot the HoekBrown failure envelope in principal and/or shear-normal stress space requires consideration of change ci, GSI, mi, D, to see how the failure envelope changes with each parameter. However, 5 input parameters[5] ( ci, mi, GSI, D and Ei), can be conveniently estimated from built-in charts (Figure 3), based on rock type, geological conditions. The shear strength can be defined as[5] : (2) s =c+tan Where, c and = cohesion intercept and friction angle for the failure envelope and = total normal stress on the failure plane. The Hoek-Brown criterion is introduced to provide input data for the software base rock strength analyses, derived for brittle failure of rock mass. Although the criterion initiated from intact rock but implemented for deformed rock mass by introducing appropriate reducing values of properties (Figure 3). Selection of input data depends on the geological observations by means of one of the available RMR classification[8]. Generalised equation of the Hork-Brown criterion is[5] :

1` = 3` + ci (mb

+ s)0.5

(3)

Where ?1` and ?3` are the major and minor effective principal stress at failure. Determination is mb is defined by formula[5] -

mb = miexp (

(4)

Where, GSI is Geological Strength Index[9], s and a are constants.

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Figure 2: Dafla Formation consisting of alternating bedded sandstones with shale/clay layers. Rock strenght of sandstone decreases due to presence of incompitent layers (shales), however, extend of deformation in the rocks severely affects the rock properties: (a) development of flexlural folds with numerous orthogonal joint sets due to layer parallel slips and extension in alternating sandstone and shale bands, (b) variation in joint spacing is clearing observablefor different thickness of sandstone beds.

Figure 3: RocScience module RockLab v1.0[13], built-in charts for Geological Strenght Index (GSI) values[9] have distinction from Intact rock strength (IRS) values. These reduced value of GSI capable of analyzing rock strength from brittle deformation regime.

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Est. of Roc. Stre. Para. for Middle Siwalik, West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh

Figure 4: Graphical relationship between 1 - 3 (Max-Min Principal Stress) and s - n (Shear and Normal Stress). MC envelope for Hoek-Brown criterion of brittle failure is over lined with fitted linear equation. ci is the tensile strength of the material also called the instantaneous cohesion.

The modulus of deformation[5] Em is expressed as (5) The relationship between determination of `max and Mohr-Coulomb parameters varies upon the specific applications and geotechnical approach. Rock mass strength is also depends upon the "Disturbance Factor"[5] varies for lateral confinement for slop plan w.r.t. their height for which frictional angle () and cohesive strength (c`) is considered. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The confining pressure of sediments deposited in this foredeep at a depth range of 2km to 5km, i.e. the probable location of MFT detachment[3] may indicate a range from 0.52 to 1.32GPa. Considering standard geological strength index (GSI)[9], disturbance factor (D)[5]; deformation modulus (Ei)[5], and other material constants ci and mi shows that the cohesion intercept (c) for fitted linear relationship (equation 2) is 2.0341 MPa and the angle of friction () for the failure envelope12.4186 degrees. However the value may increase to 19.36 degrees if GSI (of about 66) value for 'blocky' well interlocked undisturbed rock mass is considered. Lower value of is because of lithological contrast and selection of reduced GSI value. The best-fit Mohr-Coulomb strength envelope is related with the cohesion and friction angle. Depending upon lithology of the study area, cohesive strength is variable of layer parallel friction. Mohr-Coulomb strength and it fitted
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Em (GPa) = (1 -

) (

).10 ((GSI-10)/40)

M. P. Gogoi

linear trend (Figure 4) shows a linear incremental variation between 1 and 3. However the ratio between the shear stress and normal stress also suggest a linear relationship for the material. The intercept ci (also known as instantaneous cohesion) is the transitional-tensile regime required to attain tensile stress necessary to induce tensile failure may be represented by the point, the tensile strength (Figure 4). The envelope is the plane of orientation on which shear fractures can develop within the rock in a state of stress. Instantaneous points on envelope gives c and values for specific 1 and 3 from which the orientations of differently oriented conjugate shear planes can be determined. CONCLUSION Rock strength characterization for determination of specific parameters can be analysed by simulation method. These strength parameters provides the relationship between shear and normal stress field and essential in engineering and geotechnical investigations for the construction of bridge, dam, roads, houses, retaining walls. However, Bhalukpong-Bomdila road section connects Assam and Tawang of Arunachal Pradesh[11]. Habitation practice, construction of roads and small bridges in numerous places etc. in this part required proper geotechnical analysis of the rocks, especially in construction of earthquake retaining buildings. Taking in consideration of intense brittle deformation in sedimentary rock groups of in this part eventually required proper geological mapping, structural and lithological demarcation and determination of rock strengths so that risk of failure of the objects can be estimated. REFERENCES
Kumar G. 1997. Geology of Arunachal Pradesh, Bangalore, Geological Society of India. Pp. 217. Acharyya S.K. 1994. The Cenozoic foreland basin and tectonics of the Eastern Sub-Himalaya: problems and prospects, Himalayan Geology. 15: 3-21. 3. Kelty T.K., Yin A., and Dubey C.S. 2004. Structure and crustal shortening of the Subhimalayan fold and thrust belt, Western Arunachal Pradesh, NE India, Himalayan Journal of Sciences. 2 (4): p. 175. 4. Powers P.M., Lillie R.J. and Yeats R.S. 1998. Structure and shortening of the Kangra and Dehra Dun reentrants, Sub-Himalaya, India, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 110(8): 1010-1027. 5. Hoek E., Carranza-Torres C.T. and Corkum B. 2002. Hoek-Brown failure criterion, Proceeding North American Rock Mechanics Society meeting in Toronto. (http://www.rocscience.com) 6. Hoek E. and Diederichs M.S. 2006. Empirical estimation of rock mass modulus, International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences. 43: 203-215. 7. Ragan D.M. 1973. Structural Geology: An Introduction to Geometrical Techniques, Wiley, New York. Pp. 208. 8. Bieniawski Z.T. 1989. Engineering rock mass classification. Wiley, New York. Pp. 251. 9. Hoek E., Marinos P. and Benissi M. 1998. Applicability of the Geological Strength Index (GSI) classification for very weak and sheared rock masses. The case of the Athens Schist Formation. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and Envionment. 57(2):151-160. 10. Marinos P. and Hoek E. 2001. Estimating the geotechnical properties of heterogeneous rock masses such as flysch. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment. 60: 85-92. 11. Bhattacharjee S. and Nandy S. 2008. Geology of the western Arunachal Himalaya in parts of Tawang and west Kameng districts, Arunachal Pradesh. Journal of Geological society of India. 72: 199-207. 12. Jarvis A., Reuter H.I., Nelson A. and Guevara E. 2008. Hole-filled SRTM for the globe Version4, available from the CGIAR-CSI SRTM 90m Database. (http://srtm.csi.cgiar.org) 13. RocScience module RockLab v1.0. (www.rocscience.com) 1. 2.

Manuscript Accepted : 18 Nov., 2011

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