2023 Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Graduate major in Civil Engineering
Rock Engineering
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Civil Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Jiro Takemura / Akihiro Takahashi / Keisuke Shimamoto / Tomoyuki Tsukada
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 1-2 Fri (MI3-203(M321)) / 1-2 Fri (MI1-107（M114）)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- CVE.C432
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2023
- Offered quarter
- 1-2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 8, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Rock grounds have larger strength and stiffness than the uncemented soil ground. Furthermore rock is common geological formation at relatively deep depth. Therefore large scale structures, such as dams, bridge foundations, and deep underground structures, such as mountain tunnels and underground power station are constructed on or in rock ground. However, there are a wide varieties of the conditions of rock mass and properties of rock material. Evaluations of these conditions and properties, and proper design and construction based on these conditions and properties are critical for safe and secure construction and maintenance of the rock structure.
In this course the students will study about the mechanical properties of rock materials and rock mass, the application of various theory and analytical models used in rock engineering, and typical structures constructed in and on the rock grounds.
Course description and aims
The students will acquire the knowledge on the following subjects on rock as the foundation of various infrastructures, such as
1) Geological process of rock formation, 2)Mechanical properties of rock, rock and rock mass classifications、3) Site and lab investigation of rock, 4) Analytical model of rock mass, 5) Behaviour of rock mass, 6) Design and construction of structures in/on rock, 7) Case studies
Keywords
geological rock formation, rock and rock mass classification, strength and stiffness, fractures and discontinuity, rock slope, rock tunnel, large underground structures, dam
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Basically lecture on basic soil mechanics is dilivered. At the end of each lecture short test is made on the issues studied in the class.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction, geological structure and basic characteristics of rock |
Basic aspects on rock structures and geological features of rocks |
| Class 2 | Rock structures - Characteristics of discontinuity, descriptions and classification of rock and rock mass |
Various aspect of discontinuity of rock mass, and their description, and methodology of rock and rock mass classification and their application |
| Class 3 | Site investigation and lab testing |
Methodology of site investigation and lab testing, and their interpretation |
| Class 4 | Failure mechanics of rock and strength and stiffness of rock |
Strength and deformation properties of rock |
| Class 5 | Engineering properties of discontinuity in rock mass -static strength and stiffness |
Strength and deformation properties of rock mass with factures and discontinuities |
| Class 6 | Dynamic properties and characteristics of rocks |
Dynamic properties of rock and seismic behaviour of rock mass |
| Class 7 | Modelling of discontinuity and analytical methods |
Brief understanding of modelling of discontinuity and basic analytical model of rock mass |
| Class 8 | Rock slope sliding, and stabilization |
Characteristics of rock sliding and analytical model of slope stability |
| Class 9 | Mountain tunnel 1 - introduction, investigation and design |
Various types of tunnel structures, site investigation and design of mountain tunnels |
| Class 10 | Mountain tunnel 2 - construction, maintenance |
Construction methods of mountain tunnels, and maintenance |
| Class 11 | Mountain tunnel 3 - case studies |
Case studies of former tunnel projects |
| Class 12 | Mountain tunnel 4 - construction accidents and natural disasters, environmental problems |
Case studies of former tunnel induced accidents, natural disaster, and environmental problems |
| Class 13 | Pumped storage power plant 1 - rock fill dam, gravity type concrete dam |
Site investigation, design and construction of rock fill dam and gravity type concrete dam |
| Class 14 | Pumped storage power plant 2 - underground power station, penstock |
Site investigation, design and construction of underground power station and penstock |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Handouts on each topic will be provided by lecturers through T2SCHOLA.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
"Rock Mechanics" Kawamoto, Choman, Yoshinaka Ryunoshin, Hibino, Satoshi, Gihodo, 1985.10 (Japanese)
"Engineering properties of rocks and application to the design and consturction", Committee of Rock Mechanics, JGS, 1974.4 (Japanese)
"Determination of Design parameters in geotechnical engineering - rock structures", JGS, 2007.7 (Japanese)
Evaluation methods and criteria
Based on short test after each lecture (50%) and report (50%)
Related courses
- CVE.C201 ： Soil Mechanics I
- CVE.C202 ： Soil Mechanics II
- CVE.C311 ： Geotechnical Engineering in Practice
- CVE.C403 ： Geo-environmental Engineering
Prerequisites
None
Other
None