ROCK TESTING:

PART 2
MKAJ1073: ENGINEERING ROCK MECHANICS

Ir Dr Rini Asnida Abdullah

School of Civil Engineering
Faculty of Engineering
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
[B] DIRECT STRENGTH TEST:

Test procedure requires detailed preparation of

sample (standard shape & finishing). Sample
preparation process is equipment related & it is
costly.

The testing itself involving sophisticated & large

equipment, thus detailed testing procedures. May
require complex analysis, again it is costly.

However data obtained is fundamental property &

direct presentation of property being evaluated.
Expensive tests to conduct therefore, limited
number of tests.

Since data is direct fundamental property, it can

be used for detailed design. Tests include:

1)Permeability of rock.
2)Modulus of deformation – elastic modulus (E) &
Poisson ratio (n).
3)Uniaxial & Triaxial compressive strength test
(Kekuatan mampatan satu-paksi (UCS) & tiga-paksi).
4) Shear strength test on weakness planes (joint
& foliation).
Core sample obtained rock drilling
Coring of rock block in laboratory – to obtain cylindrical
sample 54 mm diameter & 108 mm height
 Trimming
Preparation of rock of core
core sampleusing
sample to thelaboratory
required height or length
coring machine (tungstenusing diamond
carbide disc bit)
coring cutter.
Lapping of core sample to ensure end surfaces
are smooth and perpendicular to core axis.
Prepared core samples – 54mm dia. & 108mm ht.
 Uniaxial compression test

Universal compression machine for uniaxial &

triaxial strength test (500 kN capacity)
Universal compression machine, equipped with closed-
circuit servo-controlled unit (3000 kN capacity)
Digital controller for input of test parameters into testing
program e.g. strain-rate & maximum load etc.
Servo-controlled (power pack) unit - for complex testing
program e.g. compression under strain-controlled
(complete stress-strain curve) & cyclic loading.
Essential for study on deformation behaviour of rock.
Uniaxial compression test:

Requires preparation of sample, as per ISRM. Cylindrical

shape (H : D = 2) & specific finishing of sample surface.

UCS of rock material & deformation behaviour under

loading is verify by applying compressive load until failure
using high capacity universal testing machine.

If UCT is conducted with measurement on vertical &

horizontal strain, a number of rock properties can be
determined – UCS, strain at failure, E & n.
2 sets of gauges placed at vertical position (axial
strain) and horizontal position (radial strain)
Electric foil strain gauges (20 - 30 mm gauge length)
to measure strains
Core samples for UCS test with axial (vertical) and
radial (horizontal) strain measurements
TESTING EQUIPMENT & FACILITY

Load-cell & displc.

transducer (LVDT)

Servo-controlled 3000 kN compression

Data scanner &
machine – allows loading under strain-
logger
controlled
LVDT Sample
LVDT

Strain gauge

Platen
Fracture planes in failed rock (basalt) sample
Uniaxial compression test:

Emodulus of rock (E) is the gradient of the graph at 50%

ultimate stress (UCS):
E = stress / strain = (s) / (e)
unit s is MPa; e is % & E is GPa

Poisson ratio n is the ratio of radial (lateral) strain to axial

(vertical) strain taken at 50% UCS:
n=er/ea

Axial strain at failure is e a at ultimate UCS. Strain at failure

indicate the brittleness & ductility of sample.
E = (ds / de) @ 50 % UCS
= (33 ´ 106)/(0.06/100)
= 55 GPa

u = (eh / ev) @ 50 % UCS

= (0.009)/(0.06)
= 0.15
 sa
(MPa)
120 sc = 104 MPa

80
Slope = Es
sc/2

40

Slope = Et, Eav

-0.2 -0.1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3

er (%) ea (%)
Figure 7.5: Stress versus strain (ea & er) curve
Typical values of E & n for various types of fresh rock
Failure under uniaxial compression test:

Types and modes of failure of sample during testing

indicate the degree of hardness & brittleness (kerapuhan)
of rock. A number of characteristics can be interpreted
about the sample tested.

Under uniaxial compression, rock sample fails in a sudden

manner & fracture planes (satah kegagalan) are
distinctive. For strong rock like gabbro (igneous), crushed
material (dust) and fragmentations is very minimal.
Failure under uniaxial compression test:

For softer rock like shale (sedimentary rock),

failure is gradual and fragmentation & powdered
rock is more obvious. Fracture planes is less
significant.

Brittle (rapuh) & hard materials like rocks – the

strain at failure is relatively smaller & the stress at
failure is higher.
Modes of failure of rock sample under loading
Fracture planes in failed rock sample
 (brittle)

(ductile)

Stress-strain curve for rock samples of different

hardness: ductile and brittle
Triaxial Compression Test
Triaxial Compression test:

Triaxial compression test (mampatan 3-paksi) is

to evaluate the strength of rock under
confinement (terkurung), e.g. rock samples
obtained from deep seated rock mass (effect of
hydrostatic pressure P = rgh, due to weight of
overburden).

Rock displays a higher strength when confined

and deformation behaviour becomes ductile /
strain-hardening).
Triaxial Compression test:

The test is used to assess load bearing capability

of rock at depth (20 m from surface). Example the
bedrock (batu dasar) where a large structure is to
be founded & strength of rock surrounding a deep
tunnel.

Test requires high capacity compression machine,

Hoek’s cell & confining pressure generator.
 Overburden Surface

Overburden
stress P = rgh.

Deep seated
rock intrusive
igneous rock

Rock body at depth is subjected to confining pressure,

due to overburden stress & surrounding material
 sv

sh

Hoek’s Cell & sample sleeve for triaxial compression test

on core sample of 54 mm D & 108 mm H
Hoek’s Cell for use in triaxial compression test
Test set-up for triaxial Compression machine
compression test

Spherical seat

Hoek’s cell with core sample

Constant pressure pump unit

with pressure accumulator
Mohr’s circle is obtained from series of triaxal compression
tests undertaken at different confining pressure (s3); data
obtained is cohesion c & friction angle f
 From the UCT

From the Triaxial

Modes of failure of rock sample under loading
 Triaxial tests on Indiana Limestone, showing
transition from brittle fracture (at the low pressures)
to ductile flow
TRUE TRIAXIAL COMPRESSION
Direct Shear Test
Direct shear test:
Shear test is to evaluate shear strength & shear
behaviour of weakness plane in rock (not shearing
of the intact rock material)

This is the most expensive laboratory strength

tests, for it requires special method for acquiring of
samples from site (fracture plane to be tested) &
relatively complex testing procedures.

Shear strength of the weakness planes (fractures &

joint) in rock mass is important for project involving
excavation in rock e.g. slope & tunnel.
Joint is the weakest point in this core sample, sliding or
shearing is likely to occur along this fracture
Sample preparation
NORMAL LOAD

SHEAR LOAD
Direct shear test:

Shear test is to obtain shear strength parameters

: cohesion (c), basic friction angle (f), & shear
strength (t).

These parameters are greatly depending on the

texture, roughness & degree of weathering of
fracture surface being tested.

Value of f (dry) is between 300 (siltstone & slate)

& 400 (limestone & basalt).
Portable shear box apparatus suitable for test on
core sample (Roctest Phi – 10)
Large shear box apparatus
Shear box section for rectangular sample
size 150 ´ 220 ´ 220 mm (H ´ L ´ B)
Sample of rectangular joint size 150 ´ 220 ´
220 mm (H ´ L ´ B)
Estimation of joint shear strength:

qThe shear joints will affect the stability of excavation

face created in jointed rock mass.
qIf sufficient information is available to allow realistic
analysis of stability, then some quantitative assessment
of joint strength is possible.
qThe shear strength can be estimated perfectly
adequately from the following formula, provided that
exposed joint surfaces are available in situ, or at least in
core samples.

t = sn tan { JRC log10 ( JCS / sn) + fb }

Estimation of joint shear strength:

t = sn tan { JRC log10 ( JCS / sn) + fb }

t : peak shear strength

sn : effective normal stress
JRC: joint roughness coefficient
JCS: joint wall compressive strength (obtained Rebound
Hammer test on joint surface).
fb : is the basic friction angle (obtained from residual
shear test on flat unweathered surfaces
qThe shear strength estimated using the above formula
includes apparent cohesion of the joint
Estimation of joint shear strength:

qIn practice fb may vary between 250 and 350, and the
assumption of 300 will be adequate.
qJCS is obtained from Rebound Hammer test on joint
surface and R is converted to JCS using formula:
Log10 JCS = 0.00088 (g) (R) + 1.01 (Broch & Franklin,
1972).
qJRC can be interpolated from roughness profile.
qA simpler, but more approximate means of estimating
frictional shear strength (excluding apparent cohesion)
is to take into account of the roughness using
description given in the following table and add the
basic friction angle.
Texture of joint surface (roughness)
Typical roughness profiles and JRC number
Roughness of joint surface may induce dilation during
shearing of joint blocks. Dilation is the vertical
displacement that leads to joint opening.
 Roughness and frictional strength of joint

Note: Slickensiding on joint surfaces will reduce the angle of friction very
considerably, and the presence of gouge or other infilling in the joint
aperture may totally control the joint strength. In such cases, take the
angle of friction to be 150.
 T1

T4

T2

T3
 Is » 24 UCS

Strength classification of rocks based on point load index

strength (Broch & Franklin, 1972)
Durability Classification (Gamble, 1971)
Uniaxial compressive and tensile strengths of rocks
(Pitts, 1984)
Typical static mechanical properties of some common rock
types (Bengt Stillborg, 1985)
Typical engineering properties of rock
Classification of rock types based on unconfined
compressive strength (McLean & Gribble, 1980)
Effect of loading orientation on UCS of sample displaying
lamination (metamorphic rock e.g. schist)
Minerals arrangements due to
sedimentation (lamination) and
due to metamorphism
(foliation) are is small scale
discontinuities rock (e.g. shale,
sandstone slate & schist)
Being small scale discontinuities, they occur in laboratory
rock sample. Fracture/failure can be easily induced along
the lamination/foliation, but not perpendicular to it. Thus
rock sample displaying lamination/foliation may display
different strength when loaded at different direction
Effect of compressive strength due to anisotropy in Penrhyn slate
EXISTING FRACTURE AFECT FAILURE LOAD

Effect of orientation of
existing fracture on
test data is more
significant for Brazilian
& Point-load test
Parameters affecting laboratory testing:

• Loading rate (kN/s), straining rate (%/s) & shearing rate

(mm/s) – higher loading rate, lower strength.
• Flatness & smoothness of specimen surfaces – bending
& flexural effect, cracks may initiate failure.
• For H/D greater than 2.0, UCS remains constant, thus
the recommended H/D > 2 to eliminate size effect.
• End-conditions affect UCS. The stronger the end platens
(e.g. steel vs. graphite) the higher is the UCS (note: an
important aspect in designing a pillars size in
underground coal mining).
Parameters affecting laboratory testing:

• Stiffness of compression machine – stiff loading

column or machine equipped with closed-loop
servo-controlled loading system to reduce
sudden/violent post failure mode (violent failure is
not inherent properties of rock).

• The state of stress – remnant stress in rock mass

may affect strength of rock sample obtained for
laboratory test (cores obtained in folded rock
strata) and deep-seated rock body.
 Frequently asked questions

Why joint is susceptible to weathering?

If the surface of joint A is weathered to grade III,

and joint B is grade I, which joint exhibits higher
shear strength?

If the surface roughness of joint A and B are of

similar roughness, how weathering affects the
shear strength of joint A ?

What test is used to measure the compressive

strength of joint surface ?
In situ or field test:

Field or in situ tests are to assess properties of

rock at location where they are found.

Simple laboratory index tests (e.g. point-load &

Rebound hammer) can also be undertaken on
site as to save time & minimise disturbance of
samples.

Field test include large-scale direct strength tests

undertaken on site. Tests require elaborate
preparation & equipments & hence very
expensive, complex & time consuming.
In situ or field test:

In situ strength tests are undertaken when

properties of rock is very critical to the design and
detailed assessment under actual environment is
essential.
Most importantly, the cost justifies the importance
of the data.

The main advantages of field full-scale test are:

it involves a larger size of sample (inclusive of
large-scale discontinuities; in situ sample is
therefore undisturbed & more representative of
field conditions.
In situ or field test:

Among the common field tests are plate-bearing test

& direct shear test. Figure explains the complexity &
elaborate preparation required to assess the shear
behaviour of a rock block in slope & tunnel.

The cost involved in undertaking the test can be

seen in the anticipated behaviour of the unstable
block with regard to nature of the project and
surrounding rock mass.
[a] & [b] Shear test configuration;
loading & displacement.

[c] & [d] Type of shearing

behaviour for unstable rock block
in different situations.
Plate load test.
Direct shear test.
Properties of rock determined in laboratory & field:

The commonly tested rock properties that include:

Laboratory – moisture content, hardness, slaking,
permeability, elasticity modulus & strength.
Field – moisture content, ultrasonic velocity,
permeability & shear strength.

When interpreting field & lab data, the conditions of

the in situ rock mass must be carefully considered,
such as degree of weathering & prevailing
discontinuities.
Effect of number of discontinuities in rock mass on
size of samples
Fresh rock (weathering Grade I) Weathered rock (Gred V)
Properties of rock determined in laboratory & field:

Take for example the effect of weathering, a difficult parameter to be

accommodated and considered in designing a structure although its effect on
rock properties is paramount.

Sample use in laboratory strength test is usually fresh (Grade I). On site, the
rock body may be weathered. Therefore, a reduction factor must be imposed on
to the laboratory data. This is similar to the use of F.O.S. in design, to cater for
the uncertainty aspects & parameters that are difficult to measure.
Strength Reduction Factor (SRF): Effect of different
weathering grades ( I to V) on strength of rock.
Grade VI is soils