Proceeding of Indian Geotechnical Conference

December 22-24, 2013, Roorkee

IN SITU SHEAR STRENGTH PARAMETERS OF GNEISSIC ROCK MASS

K.K. Mishra, CSMRS, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-16, kkmisra_csmrs@rediffmail.com

R. P. Yadav, CSMRS, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-16, rana_yadav100@yahoo.com
Pankaj Kumar, CSMRS, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-16, msinha72@gmail.com
D. V. Sarwade, CSMRS, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-16, sarwadedv@rediffmail.com
Hari Dev, CSMRS, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-16, haridev@csmrs.nic.in

ABSTRACT:. To analyze the stability of rock mass, it is necessary to know its shear strength. It is difficult to
determine the shear strength parameters of rock masses in the laboratory as the samples need to be undisturbed and
sufficiently large to be representative of the discontinum rock mass. Hence, in-situ direct shear tests are conducted
to find out the shear strength parameters in terms of cohesion (c) and angle of friction ( ). Present paper deals with
in-situ direct shear tests conducted at Bogudiyar Sirkari H.E. Project (170 MW), Pithoragarh, (Uttarakhand) for
rock over rock (Quartzitic-Biotite-Gneissic rock mass) and concrete over rock interfaces, with emphasis on the
influence of area of sliding surface. It is reported that there is a remarkable variation in peak and residual shear
strength parameters i.e. c and calculated by considering actual measured sliding surface area after shear, as well
as with theoretical area of rock and concrete block. The influence of geological features on variation in shear
strength has been discussed in this paper.

INTRODUCTION often prevented by the surrounding rock, which

The conditions of friction along interfaces are
extremely important for many construction
projects in rocky terrain. The shear strength of the
rock mass is one of the most important parameters
used in design. Its determination involves the
measurement of two related parameters cohesion (c)
and angle of friction ( The direct shear test is the
established method for determining peak and
residual shear strength, because it directly
produces a relationship between normal and shear
forces and also the corresponding normal and
tangential displacements. A number of variations
are being used in applying shear load to in situ
shear test. Some of the commonly used tests are
Inclined load test, Parallel load test and Torsion
test. In all these tests, it is important to recognise
the plane of interest and align it with the shear
plane of the test. At least 5 tests should be
performed at each place or on each type of plane
[1]
Frictional processes under normal force are found
in many cases associated with over - ground
construction in rock, e. g. sliding of a monolithic
block of rock or wedge. The dilatation required to
initiate the sliding process on irregular surfaces is
stimulate additional normal forces.
The shear stress will increase rapidly until the peak
strength is reached. This corresponds to the sum of
the strength due to bonding of the two halves of the
bedding plane together and the frictional resistance
of the matching surfaces. As the displacement
continues, the shear stress will fall to some residual
value that will then finally remain constant, even
for large shear displacements.
Plotting the peak and residual shear stresses for
different normal stresses results in the two lines of
shear strength verses Normal stress graph
illustrated in Figure 1.
ABOUT PROJECT AREA
Bogudiyar Sirkari H.E. Project (170 MW), located in
Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. The shear
strength parameter obtained from the insitu shear
strength tests at right bank drift of dam axis of this
project would help in the design and construction of
the Project.
The project envisages construction of a 98 m high
concrete gravity dam across Goriganga river near

Page 1 of 10
Pankaj Kumar, Dr. K.K. Mishra, Dr. R. P. Yadav, D. V. Sarwade & Hari Dev
Fig 1: General view of insitu shear test.
Bogudiyar village. An underground powerhouse
with an installed capacity of 170 MW (2X85 MW)
is to be located on the right bank just upstream of
the confluence of Jaulchhida Gad with river
Goriganga. The other main components of the
project include a 2.35 km long Head Race Tunnel
(HRT), a Surge Shaft and a Pressure Shaft etc.
Geology of the Project Area
The rocks occurring in the vicinity of the project
sites are porphyroblastic gneisses and schists
which are included in the Central Himalayan
Crystalline. The region is bound by two major
planes of dislocations, the Main Central Thrust in
the south while the Dar Martoli Fault marks its
northern limit with the rocks of the Tethyan zone.
The Main Central Thrust is an important structural
discontinuity in the area which separates the rocks
of the Garhwal group from those of Central
Crystalline Group comprising of Porphyroblastic
augen gneiss, chlorite mica schist and Phyllitic
Quartzite.
The Dar Martoli Fault demarcates the boundary
between Central Himalayan Crystallines and rocks
of Tethyan zone i.e. Budhi schists etc. The passage
from gneisses of Dar formation to schists of
Tethyan sequence is gradual and contact zone is
highly migmatised. The intensity of migmatization
decreases towards north. General strike of Dar
formation varies from NW-SW to WNW-ESE with
350 to 650 dips towards north. Due to similarity in
lithology, grade of metamorphism and structural
fabric, the Dar formation has been correlated with
Joshimath Formation and Khati Formation. The
rocks comprise Garnetiferous Kyanitesillimanite
schist, quartzite mica schist, porphyroblastic augen
gneiss, quartzite, amphibolites and Garnetiferous
schist with Paragneisses. Hence the geological
conditions for the sites for the Mapang-Bogudiyar
and the Bogudiyar-Sirkari Bhyol projects are taken
as rock formation.
Geology of Dam Site
The proposed dam axis is located about 775 m
downstream of the Poting Gad and Goriganga river
confluence. The site was selected primarily as it
has better topographical and geological expression.
At this Dam axis, the River (EL. 2313 m approx.)
flows practically in a north-south direction, with a
little flexure. The left bank of the river at this site
and in its vicinity is very steep, with rock except,
for a debris-covered zone from around EL. 2365 m
to EL. 2375 m, well exposed from the river level to
a considerable height beyond the proposed top of
the dam. The river, up to about 40-50 m upstream
of the dam axis has a relatively wider valley which
becomes narrower in the downstream direction.
The narrowest section of the gorge has a very
limited, 40 m length. On the right bank, the rock is
exposed from the river level to around EL. 2343 m
in an isolated exposure which lies just upstream of
the dam axis. Thereafter, there is a reach upto and
above the Munshyari-Milam foot path level,
covered by boulders and blocks of rock. The rock
is again exposed farther higher upto beyond the top
of the dam.
A detailed appraisal of the Geomorphological
setting of the site has shown that a large landslide
from the right bank had completely blocked the
river in the vicinity of the dam site, resulting in the
formation of a lake farther upstream, which
extended to some distance beyond the confluence of
Poting gad with river Goriganga. This explains the
existence of a wider valley with a relatively gentler
gradient of the river, upstream of the dam site.
Exploratory Drift
In the present investigation in-situ rock mechanics
tests were conducted in drift BD-1 on right
abutment. The drift is located on the right bank of
the river about 10 m downstream of the proposed
dam axis 2 at an elevation of 2338.00 m. It has
Page 2 of 10
 In situ shear strength parameters of gneissic rock mass

been excavated upto 40 m in the direction N 80O W Table 1 Major observed joint sets at right bank in
from its portal. At the end of the drift, 15 m long dam site
cross cuts have been excavated both in the upstream Set Strike Dip Remarks
as well as in the downstream directions. Both the No.
Amount Direction
cross cuts are aligned nearly in N-S direction.
Quartz- Biotite gneiss has been encountered in the
main drift as well as in both the cross-cuts. The S1 N800E - 35-500 N150W Strike
gneiss intersected in the drift strikes form N 60o W S700E to N200E across the
S 60o E to N 70o N 60o E and dips from 38o to river and
63o in a north-easterly direction i.e. upstream. N700W- dips
S800W towards
The rocks encountered in the drift are fresh, sound upstream
and competent without evidence of any root S2 N150W 65-750 S750W Strike
penetration, shearing or slumping. The gneiss to to across the
encountered in the drift is generally medium N500W- S400W river and
grained with occasional coarse-grained bands. It is S150E dips
composed of dark coloured biotitic and light to towards
coloured siliceous bands. The gneiss is hard and S500E downstream
compact and besides foliation, traversed by three
prominent set of joints most of which are stained by S3 N100E 55-750 S100E to Strike along
iron oxide. Quartz veins are seen traversing the to S800E the river
gneiss along the foliation and joint planes. Major N800E - dips
observed joint sets in right bank dam site are given S100W towards left
in Table -1 to bank
8500W
The drift is dry from its portal to around 18 m. S4 N300E 70- 800 N200W Strike along
Thereafter, its walls and crown are moist upto to N700 to the river
22m, beyond which water is seen dripping along E- N600W dips
foliation/ joint planes. The downstream cross-cut is S300W- towards
nearly dry upto 10 m beyond which it is wet up to S700W right bank
its heading from where water is seen dripping
continuously. The upstream cross-cut is dry
throughout its length [2]. 70cm X 35cm) from parent rock. MS plates of 20
mm thickness were used to prepare side and top
IN-SITU SHEAR TEST reaction pads, strengthened by R.C.C. The care is
taken to keep the top and side reaction pads
Test Procedure concentric with the block. For concrete over rock
In-situ shear tests by inclined load test were interface, the rock surface is prepared as horizontal
conducted to determine the shear strength as possible by removing all undulations with the
parameters of rock mass. Loading system for help of chisel and hammer. The rock breaker was
insitu shear test has been shown in Figure 2. also used in case of hard rock and high over
breaks. After levelling the rock surface, the
Blocks of rock mass were cut for rock over concrete block of 70cm X 70cm X 35cm was
rock interface and concrete blocks were prepared by using steel frame. All the blocks were
casted for concrete over rock interface for cured for 28 days before shearing.
testing [3,4] During the preparation,
diamond wheel chisel and hammer along For testing purpose, a set of five blocks of rock
with rock beakers were used to separate the over rock and concrete over rock has been
rock mass of block size (70cm X

Page 3 of 10
Pankaj Kumar, Dr. K.K. Mishra, Dr. R. P. Yadav, D. V. Sarwade & Hari Dev

such problems, wooden wedges have been

strengthened by steel strips which also supported
reaction pad by making contact with parent rock.
This efforts and idea have given a very good
solution to the above mentioned problem. By
strengthening of wooden wedges, in-situ shear
tests have been conducted very successfully [6].
Wooden wedge strengthened by steel strips being
used in insitu shear test is shown in Figure 3.

Fig 2: Loading system for insitu shear test

prepared. Each block will be sheared at constant

but different normal load after consolidation [5]. (a)Strengthened Wooden wedge
Vertical and horizontal shear load will be applied
by 200T capacity hydraulic jack. The horizontal
shear load is applied from the side reaction pad at
an angle of 15o with the horizontal so that the
resultant force should pass through the centre of
the test block. This is achieved by two wooden
wedges placed across the horizontal hydraulic jack.
Aluminium alloy hallow cylinders were used to fill
up the gap between the top reaction pad and the
vertical hydraulic jack. The increment of shear
force is kept until the failure occurs. The shear
force and displacement of block are measured and
recorded during the test. The vertical, horizontal
and lateral displacements of the block, produced (b) insitu shear test set up
during the test are measured at regular interval by Fig 3: Wooden wedge strengthened by steel strips
dial-gauges of 0.01mm least-count. The being used in insitu shear test
observations are recorded till failure and continued
even after the failure to the extent possible to get Calculations
the information regarding residual frictional Normal stress and shear stress are obtained from
resistance. normal load and shear load recorded during the test
Here it would be appropriate to mention that conducted and are calculated from the following
during the shear test at this site as well as on the equations:
other site in past, lot of difficulties have been faced P P cos
Shear Stress, s sa
due to failure of wedge and reaction pad, due to A A
which total efforts for testing becomes useless. As P P Psa sin
a new approach, at this site, towards solution of Normal stress, n n na
A A

Page 4 of 10
 In situ shear strength parameters of gneissic rock mass

Where, Psa, Ps, Pn , are Applied shear load, Total Table 2 Details of tests conducted in right bank
Shear force, Total Normal force, A, area of test drift (BD-1), EL-2338m
block, Pna, Applied normal Load and is 150
Inclination of applied shear force. Tests No. RDApplied Rock
(m)
Normal Type
The applied normal force is reduced after each Load
increment in shear force by an amount Psa sin in (T)
order to maintain the normal stress approximately Rock over rock interface
constant. At failure and after failure (residual) the SHT -1 31.5 50 Gneiss
shear stress is plotted against the normal stress and SHT -2 29.5 20 composed
the curve of best fit is drawn using linear SHT -3 26.0 30 of dark
regression analysis. From the equation of straight SHT -4 21.0 25 coloured
line obtained, the intercept on the Y- axis gives Concrete over rock interface biotitic
cohesion c of the rock mass and the slope of the SHT- 5 18.0 40 and light
line gives the friction angle of the rock mass. SHT -6 15.0 35 coloured
SHT -7 12.0 50 siliceous
Test Locations SHT -8 9.5 20 bands
In the present investigation in-situ shear tests SHT -9 7.0 30
(SHT) were conducted on four rock blocks and six SHT -10 4.0 25
concrete blocks at different RDs in the right bank SHT-Shear strength test
drift (BD-1) of dam axis at Bogudiyar Sirkari
Bhyol H.E. Project. Test locations in the drift (BD- RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
1) are shown in Figure 4. Gneiss composed of dark
coloured biotitic and light coloured siliceous bands Shear Tests on Rock over Rock Interface
were encountered in the drift. The drift was Four in-situ shear tests were conducted on rock
unsupported throughout its length. The details of blocks for determining shear strength parameters
the tests conducted inside the drift are given in of rock over rock interface. These tests were
Table 2. conducted at different but constant normal load
(Table 2). Normal load of the order of 50, 20, 30
and 25 tonnes was applied in test nos. SHT 1, 2, 3
and 4, respectively, in fully saturated conditions.
D/s crosscut (15m)

The normal and shear stresses were calculated

considering actual measured sliding surface area
RD 4.0m 7.0m 9.5m 12.0m 15.0m 18.0m 21.0m 26.0m 29.5m 31.5m after shear, as well as with theoretical area of rock
SHT-10 SHT-9 SHT-8 SHT-7 SHT-6 SHT-5 SHT-4 SHT-3 SHT-2 SHT-1 block and plotted to get the peak and residual shear
PORTAL

C C C C C C R R R R strength parameters with both the area. It was

U/s crosscut (15m)

possible to measure the exact area after shear as

25T 30T 20T 50T 35T 40T 25T 30T 20T 50TApplied Normal
stress the rock block break out in inclined plane along
Goriganga Main drift (40m) with joints during the test. After shearing, the rock
River blocks were overturned to observe the contact
NOT TO THE SCALE
surface at shear plane. Photographs of the
R Rock over Rock block
overturned rock blocks i.e. sliding surface after
C Concrete over Rock block testing are shown in Figure 5 (a). The comperative
Side reaction pad results of peak and residual shear stresses at
different normal stresses for respective rock blocks
are given in Table 3.
Fig 4: Test locations in the drift (BD-1)

Page 5 of 10
Pankaj Kumar, Dr. K.K. Mishra, Dr. R. P. Yadav, D. V. Sarwade & Hari Dev

*
Percentage variation in measured sliding surface
area (Ac) with respect to theoretical surface area
i.e. 4900 cm2
**Percentage variation in a ap and ar with
corresponding theoretical stresses since variations
are same for all the stresses.

To study the influence of area of sliding surface in the

peak and residual shear strength parameters, the
peak shear stress versus normal stress plot and the
residual shear stress versus normal stress plot for
above cases are shown in Figure 6(a) & (b)
respectively.
(a) Overturned rock blocks

(b) Overturned concrete blocks Fig 6(a): Peak Shear stress versus normal stress
Fig 5: Sliding surface area after testing plot for rock over rock interface.

Table 3 Comparative results of peak and residual

shear stresses for respective rock blocks

Normal a ap ar Variation
Load (%)
*
(T) Ac Stresses**
20 0.3 0.75 0.63 36.8 -36.8
25 0.37 0.79 0.68 39.3 -39.3
30 0.47 1.05 0.93 31.3 -31.3
50 0.94 1.46 1.31 8.2 -8.2
Average 0.52 1.01 0.89 28.9 -28.9
Fig 6(b): Residual shear stress versus normal
Normal Stress with measured sliding surface area stress plot for rock over rock interface.
in MPa, a
Peak Shear Stress with measured sliding surface Shear Tests on Concrete to Rock Interface
area in MPa, Six in-situ shear tests were conducted on concrete
ap
Residual Shear Stress with measured sliding blocks for determining shear strength parameters
surface area in MPa, ar of concrete over rock interface. These tests were
conducted at different but constant normal load

Page 6 of 10
 In situ shear strength parameters of gneissic rock mass

(Table 2). Normal load of the order of 40, 35, 50,

20, 30 and 25 tonnes were applied in test nos. SHT
5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, respectively in fully saturated
conditions.

The normal and shear stresses were calculated

considering actual measured sliding surface area
after shear, as well as with theoretical surface area
of concrete block and plotted to get the peak and
residual shear strength parameters with both the
area. It was possible to measure the exact area after
shear as the concrete block sheared out in
horizontal plane along with interface during the Fig 7(a): Peak Shear stress versus normal stress
test. After shearing, the concrete blocks were plot for concrete to rock interface.
overturned to observe the contact surface at shear
plane. Photographs of the overturned concrete
blocks i.e. sliding surface after testing are shown in
above Figure 5(b).

The comperative results of peak and residual shear

stresses considering actual measured sliding
surface area after shear, as well as with theoretical
area of concrete block at different normal stresses
for respective concrete blocks are given in Table 4.

Table 4 Comparative results of peak and residual

shear stresses for respective concrete blocks

Normal a ap ar Variation Fig 7(b): Residual Shear stress versus normal

Load (%) stress plot for concrete to rock interface.
*
(T) Ac Stresses**
20 0.34 0.59 0.43 20.1 -20.1 Analysis of Result
25 0.46 0.57 0.43 10.1 -10.1 On the basis of above study, Peak and residual
30 0.53 0.96 0.76 14.7 -14.7 shear strength parameters of rock to rock and
35 0.67 1.03 0.89 6.9 -6.9 concrete to rock interfaces for Quartz- Biotite
40 0.69 1.20 1.00 18.4 -18.4 gneiss rock mass of Bogudiyar Sirkari H.E. Project
50 0.94 1.31 1.09 8.2 -8.2 Uttarakhand are summarized in Table 5(a) & 5(b).
Average 0.61 0.94 0.76 13.06 -13.1
Table 5(a) Peak shear strength parameters of rock to
Similar to rock over rock Interface, to study the rock and concrete to rock interfaces
influence of area of sliding surface in the peak and
residual shear strength parameters, the peak shear S/I cap ctp Variation ap tp Variation
stress versus normal stress plot and the residual in cap (%) in ap (%)
shear stress versus normal stress plot for measured
sliding surface area, as well as for theoretical R/R 0.45 0.7 -35.7 47.5 41.6 14
surface area of concrete block are shown in Figure
7(a) & (b) respectively. C/R 0.13 0.12 8.33 53.3 54.3 -1.8

Page 7 of 10
Pankaj Kumar, Dr. K.K. Mishra, Dr. R. P. Yadav, D. V. Sarwade & Hari Dev

Table 5(b) Residual shear strength parameters of testing it seems that active participation of joint
rock to rock and concrete to rock interfaces pattern has a direct bearing on progressive failure
of rock block. Due consideration to this
S/I car ctr Variation ar tr Variation observation would affect the actual measured
in car (%) ar (%) sliding surface area for rock to rock interface. It
R/R 0.35 0.55 -36.36 46.2 41.6 11.06 can also be seen from Table 3&4 that there is more
variation in change of area (30 to 40%) up to 30
C/R 0.01 0.00 - 51.3 51.7 -0.77 tonnes load in rock blocks which decreases sharply
Shearing Interface S/I (8 %) at higher load i.e. at 50 tonnes. Where as in
Rock to rock interfaces R/R concrete blocks there is less variation (8 to 20 %)
Concrete to rock interfaces C/R in change of area with no specific trend. The large
Peak cohesion for actual measured sliding surface variation in the values of area of rock blocks may
area in MPa cap be attributed to different geological jointing pattern
Peak cohesion for theoretical surface area in MPa of rock mass with possible inclined sliding surface
ctp as compared to homogeneous and continuous
Peak friction angle for actual measured sliding nature of concrete blocks with more or less
surface area in degrees ap possible horizontal sliding surface.
Peak friction angle for theoretical surface area in
degrees tp
Residual cohesion for actual measured sliding
surface area in MPa car
Residual cohesion for theoretical surface area in
MPa ctr
Residual friction angle for actual measured sliding
surface area in degrees ar
Residual friction angle for theoretical surface area in
degrees tr
Fig 8(a) Variation in peak and residual shear
Figure 6(a) & 6(b) and 7(a) & 7(b), as well as strength parameters c
Table No. 5(a) & %(b), clearly reflects that there is
a remarkable variation in peak and residual shear
strength parameters i.e. c ( - 36.6% to 8.33%) and
(-1.8% to 14%) calculated by considering actual
measured sliding surface area after shear, and with
theoretical area of rock and concrete block. The
above variations have been presented in Figure 8(a)
& 8(b).

From Figure 8(a) & (b) as well as from Table No.

5(a) & (b), it has been observed that variation in
peak and residual shear strength parameters i.e. c
and for rock over rock interface (-36.6% to - Fig 8(b) Variation in peak and residual shear
35.7% and 14% to 11.6% respectively) is much
more as compared to the concrete over rock
interface (8.33% to - and -1.8% to -0.77% However, rock over rock interface has lower value
respectively), as there is less variation in measured of c and higher value of than corresponding
area of overturned concrete blocks. Further, here it values calculated by considering
would be appropriate to mention that during the theoretical area of rock block, whereas rock over

Page 8 of 10
 In situ shear strength parameters of gneissic rock mass

concrete interface has higher value of c and lower lower value of c and higher value of than Quartz
value of than corresponding values of c and Biotite - Gneiss rock mass for concrete to rock
interfaces, which is a just opposite trend in
concrete block, which is a just opposite trend in comparison to rock to rock interfaces. This may be
comparison to rock to rock interfaces. due to presence of light coloured siliceous bands in
Biotite - Gneiss rock mass in Bogudiyar dam site
Further, A comparable peak and residual shear which have been classified Quartz - Biotite - Gneiss
strength parameters i.e. c and for Quartz- Biotite rock mass. The above mentioned variations of shear
- Gneiss rock mass of Bogudiyar Sirkari H.E. strength parameters have been presented in Figure
Project Uttarakhand and Biotite - Gneiss rock mass 9(a) & (b).
of Tala Dam project at Bhutan as studied by
CSMRS [7] have been presented in Table 6(a) &
6(b).

Table 6(a) Comparative in situ direct shear

strength parameters of Rock to rock interfaces.

Name of project Type of Shear strength parameters

Rock of Rock to rock interfaces
mass cap car ap ar

Tala Dam RightBiotite Fig 9(a): Variation in peak and residual shear
0.37 0.03 62.9 57.1
bank (Bhutan) Gneiss strength parameters c
Tala Dam Left Biotite
0.35 0.14 63.8 57.4
bank (Bhutan) Gneiss
Quartz-
Bogudiyar Dam
Biotite 0.45 0.35 47.5 46.2
(India)
Gneiss

Table 6(b) Comparative in situ direct shear

strength parameters of Rock to rock interfaces.

Name of project Type of Shear strength parameters

Rock of Rock to concrete
mass cap car ap ar
Fig 9(b): Variation in peak and residual shear
Tala Dam RightBiotite
0.50 0.08 49.0 46.0
bank (Bhutan) Gneiss
Tala Dam Left Biotite CONCLUSIONS
0.54 0.16 46.0 45.0
bank (Bhutan) Gneiss On the basis of present study the shear strength
Quartz- parameters of Quartz Biotite - Gneiss rock mass
Bogudiyar Dam
Biotite 0.13 0.01 53.29 51.34 of right bank drift of Bogudiyar dam are
(India)
Gneiss summarised below:
Rock over Rock Interface
Table No. 6(a) & 6(b), clearly reflects that Biotite Peak cohesion cap = 0.45 MPa
gneiss rock mass of Tala dam has higher value of c Peak friction angle ap = 47.50
and lower value of than Quartz - Biotite Gneiss Residual cohesion car = 0.35 MPa
rock mass of Bogudiyar dam for rock to rock Residual friction angle ar = 46.2
interfaces. However, Biotite gneiss rock mass has Rock over Concrete Interface

Page 9 of 10
Pankaj Kumar, Dr. K.K. Mishra, Dr. R. P. Yadav, D. V. Sarwade & Hari Dev

Peak cohesion cap = 0.13 MPa REFERENCES

Peak friction angle ap = 53.30 1. Lama R.D. and Vutukuri V.S. (1978),
Residual cohesion car = 0. 01 MPa Handbook on Mechanical Properties of Rocks
Residual friction angle ar= 51.3 Testing Techniques and Results-Volume-III.

There is a remarkable variation in peak and 2. DPR on Geological & Geotechnical studies
(Main report) of 2X73 MW Bogudiyar-Sirkari
residual shear strength parameters i.e. c and
Bhyol Hydro Electric Project (Uttarakhand), India
calculated by considering actual measured sliding
provided by WAPCOS Ltd.
surface area after shear, as well as with theoretical
area of rock and concrete blocks. The above
variation in peak and residual shear strength
3. ISRM (1981): International Society for Rock
parameters i.e. c and for rock over rock interface
Mechanics (ISRM) suggested methods for rock
is much more as compared to the concrete over
characterization, testing and monitoring, Editor:
rock interface with opposite trend in the values of c
E.T. Brown, Published by Pergamon press, pp. 1-
and .
211.
It is suggested that during the calculation of actual
4. CBIP (1988): Manual on Rock Mechanics
measured sliding surface area for rock to rock
prepared by Central Soil and Materials Research
interface, due consideration should be given to the
Station, New Delhi. Published by Central Board of
active participation of joint pattern in progressive
Irrigation and Power (CBIP), pp. 1-535.
failure of rock block in the sliding plane of rock
mass.
5. IS 7746 (1991): Indian Standard code of
practice for In-situ Shear test on rock, Bureau of
The impact of presence of bands, veins and
Indian Standards, New Delhi.
pigmentations of different minerals on shear
strength characteristics of different rock mass
6. CSMRS Report (2013) Report on in-situ shear
needs to be further studied at different geological
strength parameters of rock mass at right bank dam
locations.
site drift of Bogudiyar Sirkari Bhyol, Hydro
Electric Project, Uttarakhand.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Sincere thanks to Sh. Shambhu Azad, Chief
7. Singh Rajbal (2009), Measurement of in situ
Engineer, WAPCOS Ltd. for overall support
shear strength of rock mass, Jl. of Rock Mechanics
during the investigation work. Further, authors also
and Tunnelling Technology, ISRMTT, Vol. 15 No.
want to acknowledge the help and cooperation
2, 131-142.
extended from Shri D.S. Manjrekar, Geologist/ in
charge BSHEP, WAPCOS, Munsiari, during the
field investigation work.

Page 10 of 10