Relation of rock mass characterization and damage

There are several empirical relations between the rock mass mechanical parameters (unconfined compressive strength, deformation modulus) and of the rock mass classification systems. These uniformly show increasing deformation modulus and compressive strength with the increasing quality of the rock mass. The goal of this paper is to put the deformation modulus—rock mass quality dependence into a framework of damage mechanics and to find a connection with the unconfined rock mass strength — quality relation. The rock mass characterizations are interpreted as damage classifications. Then thermodynamics reveals an interrelation between the deformation modulus and rock mass strength. This relationship is discussed from some points of view