ERTH2404: Rock Mechanics and Mass Movements

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key vocabulary and definitions from the lecture on Rock Mechanics and Mass Movements for the ERTH2404 course.

Rock Mechanics

The study of the behavior of rock materials under applied forces.

Mass Movements

The downslope movement of earth materials under the influence of gravity, including landslides and erosion.

Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS)

A measure of the strength of a rock without any lateral restraint.

Brittle Failure

Failure that occurs suddenly and without significant deformation.

Ductile Failure

Failure that occurs after a significant amount of plastic deformation.

Compressive Strength

The resistance of a material to being squeezed or compressed.

Tensile Strength

The resistance of a material to being pulled apart.

Shear Strength

The resistance of a material to shear forces.

Deere-Miller Classification

A classification scheme based on the stress-strain behavior of intact rocks.

Rock Quality Designation (RQD)

An index based on the length of core samples that are longer than 10 cm.

Strength

The ability of a material to support a load without failure.

Stiffness

The ability of a material to resist deformation.

Discontinuities

Features within the rock mass such as joints and faults that can influence rock behavior.

Pore Pressure

The pressure exerted by fluids within the pore spaces of a soil or rock.

Liquefaction

The process by which saturated soil substantially loses strength and stiffness in response to applied stress.

Landslide

A general term for the mass movement of soil and rock down a slope.

Erosion

The process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface by natural processes.

Slope Stability

The resistance of inclined surface to failure by sliding or collapsing.

Deforestation

The removal of trees, which can destabilize slopes and increase mass movement risk.

Mass Wasting

The movement of rock and soil down a slope due to gravity.

Mitigation Strategies

Techniques or measures taken to reduce the impacts of mass movements.

Slope Characteristics

Factors such as steepness and material type that affect the stability of a slope.

Gravity

The force that attracts a body toward the center of the Earth, causing mass movements.

Vibrations

Forces that can destabilize slopes, such as those caused by earthquakes or human activity.

Quick Clays

Clays that can transition from a solid to a liquid state, often during disturbance.

Efficacy of Rainfall

The measure of how rainfall affects slope stability and potential mass movement.

Geotechnical Investigation

The assessment of soil and rock properties to inform construction practices.

Joint Roughness Coefficient (JRC)

A measure of the roughness of discontinuities in rock, affecting shear strength.

Topples

A type of mass movement involving the rapid end-over-end motion of material.

Translational Slide

Movement along a plane that is nearly horizontal or a shallow slope.

Rotational Slide

Movement along a curved surface created by the failure of a slope.

Rock Bolts

Reinforcement structures used to stabilize rock masses.

Shotcrete

Concrete spray used to reinforce rock surfaces and prevent mass movements.