A study about rock structure index which is a new method to determine the behavior of rock structure

Rock mass classification systems are one of the using methods to establish behaviors of rock masses in rock engineering. Many systems are developed about this subject. RMR, Q, GSI and RMI are the most commonly used systems. These systems are commonly used in underground and opencast designs. When these systems are analyzed, it is seen that they have both advantages and disadvantages in theirselves and at the applying places. Otherwise these systems have restrictions and disabilities, especially about determining of poor-very poor rock mass behaviors. Though some systems are modified by their developers, this problem continues.Especially it is thought that the developing of these systems at different countries and different country conditions are the main reasons of the troubles happened in our country?s conditions. It is thought that the location of the working area is important about determining rock mass behavior.In these systems, rock behaviors are determining by points depending on some parameters. Although these systems are using different parameters to estimate rock behavior, they have the same mentality about establishing behaviors of all type rock mass. Very poor rock mass and good rock mass are evaluated in the same mentality and this situation causes some troubles. The systems are not successful at poor rock mass which are successful at good rocks. And the most important reason of this is, evaluating all the type of rock mass in the same mentality.Different structures of rock mass indicate that their behaviors are different too. Therefore it seems wrong to evaluate all type of rock mass in same mentality and estimating of behavior depending same mentality. This situation is already seen when these systems have restrictions and disabilities at poor-very poor rock.The purpose of this thesis is, arranging rock mass structurally in classes, developing different evaluation methods for the rock masses in these classes, determining the success of developed system at mining operations, developing a new system suitable with our country?s conditions and mining operations by researching effects of different parameters (strength, ground water, block condition etc.) to different rock structures.Key Words: Rock mass classification systems, Rock Structure Index, RSI.