CE645 - POINT LOAD STRENGTH TEST

J.M.G. INDUNIL
PG/E/GT/2016/01
15.07.2016

1.0 INTRODUCTION
Point load strength test is an indirect measurement of uniaxial compressive strength of rocks.
Point Load Strength can be calculated as follows.

PLS=

P50
De 2

Where,
PLS: Point Load Strength
P50 : Failure Load for 50 mm diameter sample
De2 : Area
D e 2=

4A

Where,
A : Maximum area through the failure surface
Point Load Strength=

Failure load for 50 mm diameter sample

Area of sample

2.0 OBSERVATIONS
Table 1: Point Load Vs De2 for Garnet Hornblende Biotite Gneiss
W (mm)

D (mm)

P (kN)

A (mm2)

De2

20.35

54.85

10.00

1116.20

1421.187

22.30

55.10

10.00

1228.73

1564.468

24.45

55.00

8.00

1344.75

1712.189

27.80

54.85

12.00

1524.83

1941.474

17.75

54.90

9.00

974.48

1240.740

15.70

54.90

8.00

861.93

1097.443

13.30

54.80

7.00

728.84

927.988

10.40

54.90

5.00

570.96

726.969

9.20

54.90

5.50

505.08

643.088

18.00

55.00

8.50

990.00

1260.507

30.50

54.90

8.00

1674.45

2131.976

3.0 CALCULATION
From the Graph 01,
P50
Point Load Strength=

Point Load Strength=

Point Load Strength=

12.6 kN

Failure load for 50 mm diameter sample

Area of sample
P50
D e2
12.6 kN
2500 mm 2
F50

2
5.04 N/ mm

4.0 RESULTS
2
Garnet Hornblende Biotite Gneiss: Point Load Strength = 5.04 N/ mm