Bedrockenabled

Bedrockenabled is a term used in geotechnical engineering to describe site conditions in which bedrock is sufficiently shallow, continuous, and competently intact to support typical engineering works with limited need for surficial stabilization. In practice, a bedrockenabled site exhibits a well-defined bedrock surface, adequate rock quality, and a low likelihood of pervasive weathering zones that would reduce bearing capacity or induce instability.

Assessment combines drilling or direct push boreholes, rock core logging, and laboratory testing with field tests. Key metrics include rock quality designation (RQD), uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), point load strength index, and depth to bedrock. Geophysical methods such as seismic refraction and electrical resistivity can delineate bedrock continuity and stiffness. Design criteria for bedrockenabled sites typically involve allowable bearing pressures, foundation types (e.g., spread footings, piles), and consideration of seismic loads.

Applications include shallow foundations for buildings on bedrock, large-diameter tunnels in bedrock-dominated geology, slope stabilization, and rock anchor verification. The concept emphasizes predictable behavior under static and dynamic loads, reduced need for ground improvement, and potentially lower construction risk and cost when bedrock is reliably accessible.

Limitations include spatial variability, weathering fronts, groundwater pressure, and fault zones; even within a bedrock-dominated profile, local weak layers can govern design. Bedrockenabled status is not permanent and may change with rainfall, pumping, or seismic events, making monitoring essential.