Designation:D5878−08StandardGuidesforUsingRock-MassClassificationSystemsforEngineeringPurposes1ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationD5878;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginaladoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon(´)indicatesaneditorialchangesincethelastrevisionorreapproval.1.Scope*1.1Theseguidesoffertheselectionofasuitablesystemofclassificationofrockmassforspecificengineeringpurposes,suchastunnelingandshaft-sinking,excavationofrockchambers,groundsupport,modificationandstabilizationofrockslopes,andpreparationoffoundationsandabutments.Theseclassificationsystemsmayalsobeofuseinworkonrippabilityofrock,qualityofconstructionmaterials,anderosionresistance.Althoughwidelyusedclassificationsystemsaretreatedinthisstandard,systemsnotincludedheremaybemoreappropriateinsomesituations,andmaybeaddedtosubsequenteditionsofthisstandard.1.2Thevalid,effectiveuseofthisstandardiscontingentuponthepriorcompletedefinitionoftheengineeringpurposestobeservedandonthecompleteandcompetentdefinitionofthegeologyandhydrologyoftheengineeringsite.Further,thepersonorpersonsusingthisstandardmusthavehadfieldexperienceinstudyingrock-massbehavior.Anappropriatereferenceforgeologicalmappingintheundergroundispro-videdbyGuideD4879.1.3Thisstandardidentifiestheessentialcharacteristicsofsevenclassificationsystems.Itdoesnotincludedetailedguidanceforapplicationtoallengineeringpurposesforwhichaparticularsystemmightbevalidlyused.DetaileddescriptionsofthefirstfivesystemsarepresentedinSTP984(1),2withabundantreferencestosourceliterature.DetailsoftwootherclassificationsystemsandalistingofsevenJapanesesystemsarealsopresented.1.4Therangeofapplicationsofeachofthesystemshasgrownsinceitsinception.Thisstandardsummarizesthemajorfieldsofapplicationuptothistimeofeachofthesevenclassificationsystems.1.5ThevaluesstatedinSIunitsaretoberegardedasthestandard.Thevaluesgiveninparenthesesaremathematicalconversi...
