LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY 

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 

 
ECIV‐0510‐WA: Rock Engineering         2019 
 
Dr. Jian Deng, P.Eng. 
Office: CB‐4082D,  Phone: 766‐7164,  Email: jian.deng@lakeheadu.ca 
 
Two 1.5 hour lectures per week 
Lectures:  RB2047; T,Th 11:30AM-01:00PM; 2019/01/07-2019/04/05
Office Hours:  Th 03:00PM-04:30PM or by appointment
Course link: There is a website at lakeheadu.desire2learn.com
   

COURSE OBJECTIVE:
The objective of this course is to provide engineering students with a fundamental understanding
of the rock mechanics principles for designing and analysis of rock structures and rock excavations.
The course will also allow students to enhance their rock mechanics problem-solving and
computational skills to various rock engineering problems, such rock tunnels, rock slopes, and
rock foundations, etc.
TEXT BOOK: 
[1]D.H. Steve Zou. Applied Rock Mechanics and Ground Stability: a textbook for engineering students,
Canamaple Academia Services, 2015. ISBN: 978-0994879103
REFERENCE BOOKS:
[2]Debasis Deb, Abiram Kumar Verma. Fundamentals and Applications of Rock Mechanics. PHI
Learning, 2016. ISBN: 978-8120351820
[3]RE Goodman, 1989, Introduction to Rock Mechanics, 2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

COURSE CONTENTS: 
Topics  Chapter Week 
1.  Introduction: Rock as a geo-material; Rock Vs. Soil; Discontinuities in rock; 1  1 
fields of application of rock mechanics. 
2. Rock Testing  and Mechanical Properties of Rock: Index properties of intact 2,3  2,3 
rock; UCS; tensile strength; point load strength; shear strength; slake durability;
hardness; triaxial strength.
3. Strength of Rock and Failure Criteria: Maximum Tension and Compression; 5  4
Coulomb Criterion --- for Shear Failure; Mohr's Criterion --- for Shear Failure;
Griffith Theory - Tensile Failure at Crack Tips; Empirical Failure Criterion for
Jointed Rock Masses
4. Rock Mass Classifications: Terzaghi's Classification System; Rock Quality 6  5,6 
Designation (RQD); Geomechanics Classification System for Jointed Rock
Mass (RMR); NGI Rock Tunnelling Quality Index – Q; Applications 
Mid-term exam   6
 5.  Stresses in Underground Excavations: In Situ Stresses; Stresses in the Cross 7  7,8
Section of a Drift; Stress Distribution around a Single Opening; Influence of
Opening Shape and Orientation; Stress Distribution around Multiple Openings;
Influence of Weak Planes on Stress Distribution around Openings
6. Support Design for Underground Excavations:    8,9,10  8,10 
Natural supports: Locations of Major Underground Mine Infrastructure;
Optimum Orientation of Openings; Open Stope Design with Mathew’s Method;
Pillar Design.
Artificial supports: Ground Support and Rock Mass Interaction; Empirical
Approaches to Underground Support Design; Commonly Used Underground
Support Systems; Support of Discontinuity-Controlled Ground Failure
7. Rock Slope Engineering: Modes of rock slope failure; translational rock slope [2]13  11 
failures; rotational slope failures; slope stabilization.
8. Foundations on Rock: Rock shallow foundations, Rock deep foundations, Notes  12 
Foundation construction and treatment.
GRADING  SCHEMES: 
Assignments: 10%;
Mid-term exam (closed-book format): 30%;
Final exam (closed-book format) 60%;
Total: 100%
STUDENT LEARNER OUTCOMES: 
Students successfully completing this course will be able to:
[ECIV0510:1] demonstrate the understanding of the definition of rock mechanics and rock engineering,
the difference of rock and rock mass;
[ECIV0510: 2] demonstrate the ability to describe physical and mechanical properties;
[ECIV0510: 3] demonstrate the ability to apply rock strength criteria (Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion
or Hoek–Brown failure criterion) to judge the stability of rocks;
[ECIV0510: 4] demonstrate the ability to conduct various laboratory rock testing;
[ECIV0510: 5] demonstrate the ability to apply rock mass classification systems in design;
[ECIV0510: 6] demonstrate ability to estimate stresses about rock cavities and to design rock natural
and artificial supports in underground rock excavation engineering.
[ECIV0510: 7] demonstrate the ability to identify modes of rock slope failure and analyze rock slope
stability and stabilization;
[ECIV0510: 8] demonstrate the ability to analyse and design rock foundations.
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS AND EXAMS:
Six problem sets will be assigned. Part of each assignment’s questions will be chosen randomly to be
marked. NO CREDIT will be given to late assignments (unless a valid reason is given).
Discussion on assignments is allowed, while copying others’ work is strictly prohibited. One mid-term
examination will be administered on a TBA date and a comprehensive final examination will be
administered during final exam period. Final examination will not be returned to students. An

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equation/information sheet will be provided by the instructor with all exams – other course materials
will NOT be allowed.
To contribute to training of learners in communication skills, the following requirements on
assignments must be followed: writing with coherence and flow; writing with correct spelling,
punctuation and grammar; writing equations and formulas correctly; using engineering units correctly;
using figures, charts and tables correctly and effectively; practicing conciseness, crispness, precision
and clarity of language.
Students are not allowed to bring any electronic device (except calculator) during an exam. The Faculty
of Engineering “Approved Non-Programmable Calculators” Policy will be invoked for midterm and
final exams. This policy can be found on the Faculty webpage at:
https://www.lakeheadu.ca/academics/departments/mechanical-engineering/programs/ug/calculator-
policy.
Professionalism and Academic Integrity:
As future engineers, you are expected to behave according to the following statements on
professionalism and academic integrity.
1. A professional takes responsibility for his/her work and strives to meet deadlines: sign your
assignment cover sheet and hand-in assigned work when required.
2. Commit to quality in every aspect to produce work in which he/she can take true pride: work
is written neatly; the text is clear and easy to read; the pages are clean and free of stains; pages are
bound aesthetically.
3. Respect for others: be accountable to teammates in group work; strive to understand teammates
in group work; provide constructive feedback when asked to evaluate other's work; contribute
equitably in group work; be punctual in group meetings.
4. Act at all times with devotion to the high ideals of personal honour and professional integrity:
behave with integrity at all times; adhere to the Code of Student Behaviour and University
Regulations (Lakehead University's regulations on academic misconduct will be strictly
enforced); take a strong stand against plagiarism and any other forms of academic dishonesty;
submitted work should bear the names of those contributing and taking responsibility for the
work; do not allow others to copy your work.
ATTENDANCE:
Students are expected to attend all classes. Please note the University Regulation VIII Deficiency: “(d)
A student is required to attend the courses of instruction and the examinations in all subjects prescribed.
A student whose attendance at lectures and laboratories is deemed to be unsatisfactory by the Senate
may have his registration in that course cancelled at any time.”
Handout notes and assignment solutions will be placed onto the Desire2Learn system. Students should
check this site for new materials regularly (once before each lecture). Students should also check their
university email daily for any announcements or information from the instructor and are responsible
for following any directives so sent. The professor will ONLY respond to emails whose return address
is a university email account and indicating the student name and course number.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES:

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To avoid distraction to fellow students in the class, electronic devices such as cell-phones, blackberry,
ipad etc must be turned off in class. Laptop or electronic notebooks may be used only with the prior
approval of the instructor.
ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATION 

Lakehead University is committed to achieving full accessibility for persons with disabilities. Part of
this commitment includes arranging academic accommodations for students with disabilities and/or
medical conditions to ensure they have an equitable opportunity to participate in all of their academic
activities. If you are a student with a disability and think you may need accommodations, you are
strongly encouraged to contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS) and register as early as possible.
For more information, please contact Student Accessibility Services
http://studentaccessibility.lakeheadu.ca (SC0003, 343-8047 or sas@lakeheadu.ca).

NOTE: This course outline represents a plan for the course. The instructor reserves the right to
adjust the content and marking scheme to better satisfy the needs and abilities of the class and to
introduce new materials and topics.
Approved by the Curriculum Committee December/2018