State of Weathering: The Search for a Rational Approach
AbstractIn BS 5930:1981 both the state of weathering of rock material and a scale of weathering grades for the rock mass are included in a Code for the first time. The schemes proposed are largely derivative from those proposed by Working Parties of the Engineering Group, which in turn benefited from earlier studies in Hong Kong and Australia.The descriptive terms used for rock material: fresh, discoloured, decomposed, disintegrated, are defined, and the stages of weathering subdivided using qualifying terms, for example 'partially discoloured'. These descriptive qualifying terms may be quantified if necessary, but no indication is given as to how this should be done.Following recent Australian practice, the scale of weathering grades of the rock mass is described in the terms applied to the rock material. Except in the case of Grade 1, Fresh, discontinuities and other defects of the rock mass are not mentioned. This implies, and it needs emphasizing, that the descriptive terms for the degree of weathering should provide a reliable indication of the effects of weathering on the engineering properties or engineering behaviour of the rock mass. The material and the defects, such as discontinuities in the rock mass, therefore need to be described separately.A descriptive scheme is proposed for the simple definition of weathering classes of rock material, and application of these classes to the description of the rock mass is also considered.The effect of scale, particularly the spacing of discontinuities and thickness of highly weathered zones, is important in assessing the engineering properties of the rock mass. This can be dealt with effectively in the descriptive logging of drill core and rock exposures.