In PWRI system, one of the rock mass classification method for dam foundation, rock mass class is evaluated by the combination of rock mass three factors, that is rock hardness, fissures spacing, fissures condition. To improve such rock classification system, it is very important to correlate geomechanical values such as shear strength with the above rock factors and rock classes. Nevertheless, there was no such correlation data for many dam sites because every dam has used their own original method on the division of rock factors and its combination. Then, in this paper, authors proposed common rock mass classification method and re-evaluated 799 points of shear test sites, and clarified the differences of rock shear strength by these common rock factors based on the analysis of quantitative theory type I which is one of the multivariate analysis. As a result, shear strength depends largely on rock hardness, next, fissure spacing, and fissure condition. And also authors proposed empirical formula estimating shear strength using the above common rock factors. These quantitative evaluations and the proposed formula will be a important reference data not only for consideration of rock shear test result but also for view of rock mass classification of each dam site, specially factors combination system.
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