Rock index properties for prediction of rockfill behaviour

Abstract

ln about two thirds of the Portuguese territory rock materials are outcropping justifying a deep concern in the research of the engineering geological properties of such materials. Granitic rocks, gneisses, schists, slates, marls, limestones and other very diversified lithotypes can only be dealt with by methodologies appropriate for each specific case.

The authors present a few aspects on the philosophy usually followed in the studies of materials for

fill construction and for protection works.  Prediction of the behaviour of engineering works is an objective of the research which is expected to be feasible in a near future by resorting to the knowledge of the critical index properties that are closely linked with the behaviour referred to.

Some laboratory and field results obtained for diversified rock types are presented and discussed.