Comparar métodos

	Q-System	Critério de Falha de Hoek-Brown	Otimização do Layout de Cavas
Área	Engenharia de minas	Engenharia de minas	Engenharia de minas
Família	Process / pipeline	Process / pipeline	Process / pipeline
Ano de origem	1974	1980	1960
Autor original	Nick Barton (Norwegian Geotechnical Institute)	Evert Hoek and E. T. Brown	Mining Engineering Practice
Tipo	Empirical index for tunnel support and stability prediction	Empirical criterion for rock mass strength prediction	Optimization framework for underground mine excavation design
Fonte seminal	Barton, N., Lien, R., & Lunde, J. (1974). Engineering classification of rock masses for the design of tunnel support. Rock Mechanics, 6(4), 189-236.	Hoek, E., & Brown, E. T. (2002). The Hoek-Brown failure criterion and GSI: 2018 update. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 10(2), 445-463.	Brady, B. H. G., & Brown, E. T. (2004). Rock mechanics for underground mining. Springer Science+Business Media.
Outros nomes	Q Index, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute Classification, Barton System	Generalized Hoek-Brown Criterion, HB Criterion	Stope Design, Underground Mine Layout, Panel Design
Relacionados	3	3	3
Resumo	The Q-System (NGI Index), introduced by Nick Barton and colleagues at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute in 1974, is an alternative rock mass classification to RMR. It combines six parameters into a dimensionless index Q ranging from 0.001 to 1000, where higher Q values indicate better rock quality. The Q-System is particularly valued for tunnel and underground excavation design due to its explicit consideration of joint roughness and groundwater effects.	The Hoek-Brown Criterion, developed by Evert Hoek and E. T. Brown starting in 1980, is an empirical failure criterion that predicts the shear strength of rock masses as a function of confining pressure. It accounts for rock quality (via the Geological Strength Index, GSI) and thus bridges laboratory rock mechanics and field behavior. The criterion is widely used in mining for slope stability, pillar design, and stress analysis.	Stope layout optimization is the process of designing the size, shape, and spatial arrangement of underground mine excavations (stopes) to maximize ore recovery while maintaining safety and economic viability. It balances the desire for large extraction volumes against rock mechanics constraints and support costs. The layout determines mining productivity, capital investment in support systems, and long-term mine life.