HYDRO-GEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF ROCK MASS USING DISCONTINUITIES DATA

Abstract

Hydrogeological assessment of rocks is the most important part of rock engineering surface and subsurface structures. It is not a simple task to carry out the assessment of rock-mass due to complexity in spatial distribution of rock mass properties such as rock fractures. Sufficient techniques have been introduced with time to assess the rock-mass properties effectively. Rock discontinuities are the basic channels for underground water flow that causes disaster in underground engineering structures such as mines, tunnels and nuclear waste bunkers. Rock mass can be assessed by two major classes geology and hydrology. Geology can be described by means of rock mass geometry and hydrology encounter hydraulic or transport properties. A comprehensive study is accomplished in Diamer Basha Dam site Chilas, Pakistan to assess the permeability of rocks naturally exposed at dam site. Different field geological techniques including Circular Inventory method performed in open cute slopes and tunnels to assess the hydraulic properties of rocks to experience the significant issue of water seepage in underground structures of dam.it is assessed that permaeability of rock mass in open excavation sites varies from 0.89×105 to 44.01×105 Darcy and for underground tunnel it varies 0.13×105 to 25.26×105 Darcy.