• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.73-85
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• 2014

The strength parameters used in rock mass design are mainly estimated by equations using Hoek-Brown failure criterion because the tests to obtain the values are limited and expensive. To estimate the strength parameters, the Hoek-Brown failure criterion should be transformed to the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. But the processes are more or less cumbersome due to the several stages including the computation and the analyzing steps. In this study, several rock states of various conditions were modeled and then the strength parameters were estimated using the Hoek-Brown failure criterion. Thereafter by analyzing the results, some charts and equations estimating the strength parameters through only one step or easily in the field using the values of RMC, the uniaxial compressive strength and the rock constant ($m_i$), were suggested. And then the suggested method was compared and discussed with the existing method.