Application of Geological Strength Index (GSI) for the tunnel in

Crocker Formation: a case study in Tenom, Sabah, Malaysia

Lee Kiun You* & Ismail Abd. Rahim
Geology Program, School of Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sabah,
Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
*Email address: klkyou@outlook.com
Keywords: geological strength index (GSI), tunnel, Crocker Formation, limit
equilibrium analysis
Introduction
This study was conducted around 42.69 m tunnel in Tenom, Sabah (Figure
1). The study area is underlain by Crocker Formation of Eocene to Early Miocene
ages (Tongkul, 1991) which consists of thick amalgamated sandstone with thin
shale layers. The objectives of this study are to determine the value of Geological
Strength Index (GSI), rock mass properties, very unfavourable discontinuities
combination and tunnel support pressure for rock bolts or shotcrete.
Methodology
Engineering geological mapping and discontinuity survey were conducted
to obtain quantitative description of discontinuities (ISRM, 1978) as well as rock
sampling based on grain sizes. GSI values (Marinos, 2007) and the disturbance
factor (Hoek et al., 2002) were obtained by field observation on the tunnel face.
Laboratory study was done to determine the Uniaxial Compressive Strength
(UCS) via point load test (ISRM, 1985) and unit weight by dry density test (ISRM,
1977). The final UCS and dry density values of intact rock were obtained via
weighted average method (Marinos, 2011). Intact rock parameter (m i) was based
on the suggested values given by Marinos and Hoek (2000). Rock mass
properties of the tunnel were determined using RocLab software (Rocscience,
2013). Unwedge software (Rocscience, 2004) has been used to determine the
very unfavourable discontinuities combination which form wedge failure and
tunnel support pressure required by rock bolts or shotcrete for design factor of
safety of 2.
Results and discussion
The GSI value from field observation for the study area is 50 after being
reduced from 55 as suggested by Marinos (2014) because the tunnel consists of
thick amalgamated sandstone with thin shale layers (Figure 2). Table 1 shows the
result of laboratory testing, parameters and derived rock mass properties from
related schemes and software. The disturbance factor was obtained based on the
excavation method in example blasting and excavating with conventional
method during that period of time. Friction angle of the bedding plane was
reduced by 5 due to its lower shear strength compare to joints. The result of
limit equilibrium analysis by Unwedge (Rocscience, 2004) was presented in Table
2. There are eight possibilities of discontinuities combinations on tunnel crown
that have F.O.S lower than 2 where all of it are located at the crown of the tunnel

with a maximum wedge volume of 28.37 m 3. The maximum support pressure

needed by rock bolts or shotcrete to achieve F.O.S of 2 at the tunnel crown is
0.04 MN.
Conclusion
1. GSI value is 50.
2. Rock mass properties have been determined.
3. Very unfavourable discontinuities combination is J2J4J6.
4. Support pressure required for rock bolts or shotcrete is 0.04 MN.
References
Hoek, E., Caranza-Torres, CT. & Corcum, B., 2002. HoekBrown failure criterion
2002 edition. In: Bawden HRW, Curran J, Telsenicki M (eds) Proceedings of
the NARMS-TAC 2002. Mining Innovation and Technology, Toronto, pp 267
273
ISRM, 1977. SM for determining water content, porosity, density, absorption and
related properties and swelling and slake-durability index properties. ISRM
Suggest. Methods 2, pp 9294.
ISRM, 1978. Suggested method for quantitative description of discontinuities in
rock masses. Int. Journal of Rock Mech., Mining Sc. and Geomechanics
Abstracts 15, pp 319-368.
ISRM, 1985. Suggested method for determining point load strength. International
Journal of Rock Mechanics, Mining Sciences and Geomechanics Abstracts
22, pp 5160.
Marinos, P., 2014. Personal communication.
Marinos, P. & Hoek, E., 2000. GSI A geologically friendly tool for rock mass
strength estimation. Proc. Geo Eng 2000 Conference. Melbourne.
Marinos, V., 2007. Geotechnical classification and engineering geological
behaviour of weak and complex rock masses in tunnelling. Doctoral thesis.
School of Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering Department,
National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). Athens.
Marinos, V., Fortsakis, P. & Prountzopoulos, G., 2011. Estimation of geotechnical
properties and classification of geotechnical behaviour in tunnelling for
flysch rock masses. Proc. of the 15th European Conference on Soil Mech.
And Geotechnical Eng., Part 1, pp 435-440. Athens.
Rocscience Inc., 2004. UNWEDGE Ver. 3. Toronto, Ontario, www.rocscience.com
Rocscience Inc., 2013. ROCLAB Software for Calculating HoekBrown Rock Mass
Strength. Toronto, Ontario, www.rocscience.com
Tongkul, F., 1991. Tectonic Evolution of Sabah, Malaysia. Journal of Southeast
Asian Earth Sciences. Volume 6: 395-405.

Figure 1: Map of the study area.

Figure 2: GSI chart (Marinos, 2007) and value for rock mass (red dot).

Table 1: Parameters and rock mass properties.

Parameters /
Value
Properties
s
GSI
50
Disturbance factor
0.8
Unit Weight (MN/m3)
0.024
Intact rock parameter
17
UCS (MPa)
94.88
Friction angle for bedding
20.2
()
Friction angle for joint ()
25.2
Tensile strength (MPa)
-0.056
Table 2: Predicted discontinuities combinations which contain F.O.S below 2
including maximum support pressure needed and maximum wedge
volume.
Combinati
Type of
Max. support
Max. wedge
F.O.S
on
wedges
pressure (MN)
volume (m3)
Floor
Stable
0.00
2.071
1183.13
Left
0.00
0.227
4
J1,J2,J6
3024.80
Right
0.00
0.227
1
Roof
0.000
0.02
2.071
Floor
Stable
0.00
0.092
6780.50
Left
0.00
1.944
8
J1,J2,J3
1196.10
Right
0.00
1.944
1
Roof
0.000
0.01
0.092
Floor
Stable
0.00
0.011
Left
812.480
0.00
18.362
J1,J2,J5
1231.02
Right
0.00
18.362
8
Roof
0.000
0.00
0.011
Floor
Stable
0.00
0.125
2874.70
Left
0.00
13.102
0
J1,J3,J4
Right
452.463
0.00
13.102
Roof
0.000
0.01
0.125
Floor
Stable
0.00
0.013
12264.9
Left
0.00
13.469
28
J2,J4,J5
Right
371.609
0.00
13.469
Roof
0.000
0.00
0.013
Floor
Stable
0.00
28.370
Left
574.165
0.00
0.297
J2,J4,J6
3024.80
Right
0.00
0.297
1
Roof
0.000
0.04
28.370
J3,J4,J5
Floor
Stable
0.00
1.288

Left
Right
Roof
Floor
Left
J3,J4,J6

Right
Roof

1105.01
8
371.609
0.000
Stable
544.096
2049.62
5
0.000

0.00

11.379

0.00
0.01
0.00
0.00

11.379
1.288
24.068
0.625

0.00

0.625

0.04

24.068