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Geotechnical Tests

The document discusses uniaxial compressive strength testing which determines the maximum load a rock sample can withstand without lateral loading. It describes sampling rock cores and preparing cylindrical samples that meet standards for diameter, length to diameter ratio, and end surface quality. The document also discusses triaxial compression testing which loads samples axially under constant confining pressure to investigate rock behavior under three-dimensional stress states.

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Hussien Alnoby
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13 views5 pages

Geotechnical Tests

The document discusses uniaxial compressive strength testing which determines the maximum load a rock sample can withstand without lateral loading. It describes sampling rock cores and preparing cylindrical samples that meet standards for diameter, length to diameter ratio, and end surface quality. The document also discusses triaxial compression testing which loads samples axially under constant confining pressure to investigate rock behavior under three-dimensional stress states.

Uploaded by

Hussien Alnoby
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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8-The uniaxial compressive strength (Destructive

Test)
• (UCS) is classified as one of the basic mechanical
properties of rocks, which is widely used in mining and
construction practice. For example, it allows geomechanics
to classify individual rocks and soils into groups with the
same or similar mechanical properties.
• Hardness is the basic quantitative engineering property of a
rock sample. Assessing the strength and deformability of rock
mass is of great importance for the implementation of
numerical analyses in rock mechanics.

• Uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) is a geomechanical rock


parameter that describes the maximum axial load that the
sample can withstand without lateral loading. This is why it is
also called unlimited compressive strength

The rock is sampled by core drilling, and the sample that best
represents the rock mass is selected. The minimum diameter of the
sample is 47 mm, and it is 10 times larger than the largest grain in the
sample. The ratio of length to diameter of the sample (L/D) must be
between 2 and 2.5 according to the ASTM (American Society for
Testing and Materials) standard, and between 2.5 and 3 according to
the ISRM (International Society for Rock Mechanics) standard.

Cylindrical surfaces are prepared by grinding to make them flat and


smooth. The ends of the sample must be leveled within a tolerance of
0.02 mm, with the vertical axis within 0.06 degrees. The load on the
sample should be applied continuously, in such a way that failure
occurs within 5 to 10 minutes from the start of stress. Continuous
load increase is from 0.5 to 1 MPa.
9- Triaxial Compression Test in Rock (Destructive
Test)

Triaxial tests are widely used in geotechnical engineering both


in soil and rock mechanics. Specimens are axially loaded to failure
while a confining pressure is constantly applied. As a result, the
behavior of geomaterials is investigated in a three-dimensional stress
state.
The principal stresses (the maximum and minimum normal
stresses acting on a plane at which the shear stress is zero) in 3-
dimensional objects are three (σ1> σ2> σ3). In nature, the principal
stresses may differ. However, in laboratory triaxial tests, the
intermediate stress σ2 is equal to σ3. Conducting laboratory tests in
which all applied principal stresses differ is challenging and is not
widely used. Such a procedure would be referred as polyaxial or true
triaxial test. Moreover, research has shown that the effect of the
intermediate stress is minor.
The principal stresses applied during a triaxial test are presented
in Figure .

The confining pressure is determined and remains constant


during a test. The sample is initially loaded isotropically until the
principal stresses are equal to the predetermined confining pressure.
Then, the axial stress, σ1, increases at a certain rate until the
specimen fails and the maximum σ1 is recorded.

• Test samples are obtained by core drilling and must be selected


to be representative of the rock formation examined.
• The specimens should be tested within 30 days of the drilling
date to preserve their initial conditions (e.g. natural water
content).
• The sample shape is cylindrical and the diameter must range
from 38 to 54 millimeters. The diameter is derived by taking
measures at the top, mid and the bottom parts of the specimen
with a tolerance of 0.1 millimeters.
• The sample shape is cylindrical and the diameter must range
from 38 to 54 millimeters. The diameter is derived by taking
measures at the top, mid and the bottom parts of the specimen
with a tolerance of 0.1 millimeters.
• The ends of the samples must be smoothed so that the top and
bottom surfaces are flat with a tolerance of ±0.01 mm. This
ensures that the applied loads are uniformly transmitted to the
sample and there is no loading eccentricity.

10- Ultrasonic Test ( Non-Destructive Test) :


• This technique is frequently employed to investigate certain
properties of rocks. There are a number of factors that
influence the ultrasonic pulse wave velocity of rocks, e.g.
density, rock type, shape and grain size, porosity, anisotropy,
pore water, confining pressure, temperature, and rock mass
properties
• An ultrasonic pulse velocity test is an in-situ, nondestructive test
to check the quality of concrete and natural rocks. In this test,
the strength and quality of concrete or rock is assessed by
measuring the velocity of an ultrasonic pulse passing through a
concrete structure or natural rock formation.

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