CURRENT LUGEON INTERPRETATION PRACTICE

The current Lugeon interpretation practice is mainly derived from the work performed by Houlsby
(1976). On his work, geared towards establishing grouting requirements, Houlsby proposed that
representative hydraulic conductivity values should be selected based on the behavior observed in
the Lugeon values computed for the different pressure stages.

Houlsby (1976) classified the typical behaviors observed in practice into five different groups,
as follows:

- Laminar Flow: The hydraulic conductivity of the rock mass is independent of the water pressure
employed. This behavior is characteristic of rock masses observing low hydraulic conductivities,
where seepage velocities are relatively small (i.e., less than four Lugeons).

- Turbulent Flow: The hydraulic conductivity of the rock mass decreases as the water pressure
increases. This behavior is characteristic of rock masses exhibiting partly open to moderately wide
cracks.

- Dilation: Similar hydraulic conductivities are observed at low and medium pressures; however, a
much greater value is recorded at the maximum pressure. This behavior which is sometimes also
observed at medium pressures occurs when the water pressure applied is greater than the
minimum principal stress of the rock mass, thus causing a temporary dilatancy (hydro-jacking) of
the fissures within the rock mass. Dilatancy causes an increase in the cross sectional area available
for water to flow, and thereby increases the hydraulic conductivity.

- Wash-Out: Hydraulic conductivities increase as the test proceeds, regardless of the changes
observed in water pressure. This behavior indicates that seepage induces permanent and
irrecoverable damage on the rock mass, usually due to infillings wash out and/or permanent rock
movements.

- Void Filling: Hydraulic conductivities decrease as the test proceeds, regardless of the changes
observed in water pressure. This behavior indicates that either: (1) water progressively fills
isolated/non-persistent discontinuities, (2) swelling occurs in the discontinuities, or (3) fines flow
slowly into the discontinuities building up a cake layer that clogs them.

Condition of rock mass discontinuities associated with different Lugeon values (Fell et al., 2005)
Hydraulic Reporting
Lugeon Condition of Rock Mass
Classification Conductivity Precision
Range Range (cm/sec) Discontinuities (Lugeons)
<1 Very Low < 1 x 10-5 Very tight <1
1-5 Low 1 x 10-5 - 6 x 10-5 Tight 0
5-15 Moderate 6 x 10-5 - 2 x 10-4 Few partly open 1
15-50 Medium 2 x 10-4 - 6 x 10-4 Some open 5
50-100 High 6 x 10-4 - 1 x 10-3 Many open 10
>100 Very High > 1 x 10-3 Open closely spaced or voids >100
 Table . Summary of current Lugeon interpretation practice (Houlsby, 1976)

REPRESENTATIVE
PRESSURE STAGES LUGEON PATTERN DESCRIPTION
LUGEON VALUE

1st Stage
All Lugeon values
Water Average of Lugeon
Pressure 2nd Stage about equal regardless
1st Stage
,P L values for all stages
rd
3 Stage
u of the water pressure
2nd Stage 4th Stage g
3rd Stage P 5th Stage e
0.75 MAX
o
4th Stage
P n
0.50 PMAX 1.00 MAX
5th Stage s

Lugeon values
decrease as the water
pressures Lugeon value
1 st Stage increase. The minimum
Water corresponding to the
Pressure
2 nd Stage
Lugeon value is
1st Stage
,P 3 rd Stage
L observed at the stage highest water
4 th Stage
nd
2 Stage u pressure (3rd stage)
rd
3 Stage P
5 th Stage
g with the maximum
0.75 MAX e
th
4 Stage o
n
water pressure
0.50 PMAX P
5th Stage 1.00 MAX s

Lugeon values vary

proportionally to the Lowest Lugeon value
water pressures. The recorded,
1 st Stage maximum corresponding either
Water
Pressure
2 nd Stage
Lugeon value is to low or medium
3 rd Stage
1st Stage
,P
4 th Stage
L observed at the stage water pressures (1st,
2nd Stage
5 th Stage
u
g with the maximum 2nd, 4th, 5th stage)
rd
3 Stage P
0.75 MAX e
th
4 Stage o water pressure
P n
0.50 PMAX 1.00 MAX
5th Stage s

Lugeon values
increase as the test
proceeds.
1 st Stage
Discontinuities Highest Lugeon
Water 2 nd Stage
Pressure
3 rd Stage infillings are value recorded
,P
1st Stage L (5th stage)
2nd Stage
4 th Stage
u
progressively
5 th Stage
g
3rd Stage P
0.75 MAX e washedout by the
4th Stage o
0.50 PMAX P
1.00 MAX
n water
5th Stage s

1st Stage Lugeon values

2nd Stage decrease as the test
3rd Stage proceeds.
4th Stage Either non-persistent
Water 5th Stage
discontinuities are Final Lugeon value
Pressure
1st Stage
,P L
progressively being (5th stage)
u
2nd Stage
g filled or swelling is
3rd Stage P e
0.75 MAX
4th Stage
o taking place
P n
0.50 PMAX 1.00 MAX
5th Stage s

Penentuan tekanan maksimum Packer Test

Tekanan maksimum yang diijinkan terbaca pada manometer dalam pengujian kelulusan air
bertekanan tergantung pada kedalaman lubang bor, yaitu sebesar 0,23 dari tekanan akibat
berat tanah di atas elevasi alat penyekat. Tekanan total yang digunakan dalam perhitungan
adalah tekanan maksimum ditambah dengan tekanan akibat tekanan tinggi muka air tanah
yang berada di atas alat penyekat tersebut
 Proposed Lugeon interpretation procedure using the flow loss vs. Pressure space
WATER LOSS VS PRESSURE PATTERN REPRESENTATIVE
BEHAVIOR DESCRIPTION
LUGEON VALUE

All Lugeon values

about equal
Average of Lugeon
regardless of the
water values for all stages
pressure

Range of Lugeon values

Lugeon values observed at water
decrease as the pressures
water pressures expected during
3
increase. The operation. If water
minimum Lugeon pressure expected
during operation is
value is observed at
unknown use the value
the stage with the
corresponding to the
maximum water
medium water pressure
pressure
(2nd or 4th stage)

Range of Lugeon values

3 observed at water
pressures
Lugeon values vary expected during
proportionally to the operation. If water
water pressures. The pressure expected
maximum Lugeon during operation is
value is observed at unknown use the value
the stage with the corresponding to either
maximum low or medium
water pressure water pressures (1st, 2nd,
4th,
or 5th stage)

Lugeon values
3
increase as the test
proceeds.
Discontinuities Highest Lugeon value
infillings are recorded (5th stage)
progressively
washed-out by
the water

Lugeon values Use final Lugeon value

3 decrease as the test (5th stage), provided that
proceeds. Either presence of non-
nonpersistent persistent discontinuities
discontinuities are and/or
progressively being occurrence of swelling is
filled or swelling is confirmed by observation
taking place of rock core.
 Current Lugeon interpretation practice (Houlsby, 1976)

REPRESENTATIVE LUGEON
LUGEON PATTERN DESCRIPTION
VALUE

1s Stage
2n Stage All Lugeon values about equal Average of Lugeon values
3r Stage
4t Stage
L
regardless of the water pressure for all stages
u
g
5t Stage
e
o
ns

1s Stage
2n Stage Lugeon values decrease as the Lugeon value
3r Stage water pressures increase. The corresponding to the
4t Stage minimum Lugeon value is
5t Stage observed at the stage with the highest water pressure
Lu
maximum water pressure (3rd stage)
ge
on
s

1s Stage Lugeon values vary Lowest Lugeon value

2n Stage proportionally to the water recorded, corresponding
3r Stage
4t Stage pressures. The maximum either to low or medium
5t Stage Lugeon value is observed at the water pressures
Lu
ge
stage with the maximum water (1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th stage)
on
s pressure

1s Stage
2n Stage
Lugeon values increase as the
3r Stage test proceeds. Discontinuities Highest Lugeon value
4t Stage
infillings are progressively recorded (5th stage)
5t Stage
Lu washedout by the water
ge
on
s

1s Stage
2n Stage Lugeon values decrease as the
3r Stage
test proceeds. Either non- Final Lugeon value
4t Stage
persistent discontinuities are
5t Stage L
(5thstage)
u progressively being filled or
g
e
o
swelling is taking place
ns