ROCK MECHANICS TESTS

EQUIPMENT
ROCK SAMPLING

Laboratory coring machine, with water inlet.

General description and specifications

Machine specifically used in laboratory for

cutting core samples from hard material such
as rock and concrete.

A clamp (prensa) is provided to firmly secure

the material during the cutting cycle.

Weigth approx. 80 kg.

Sample preparation
Core face preparation jig.

General description and specification

For preparation of parallel and flat core faces

using horizontal surface grinders.

Consisting of a 4 place locking device

capable of clamping core sample from 20 to
50 mm dia.

Weight approx. net 6 kg.

Strength and deformability tests

Most of the information obtained from

laboratory test are substantially related to the
stress and strain characteristics of the tested
materials.

The test generally performed on cylindrical

rock samples are the following :

– Evaluation of the compression strength

and strain in uniaxial conditions.

– Evaluation of the compression strength

and strain in triaxial conditions.
Uniaxial test

An increasing load is applied at a

constant rate of stress between 0.5 and
1.0 MPa / s.

Axial and radial strain are measured

with high sensitivity (about 5 * 10-6).

Subsequent load - unload cycles are

also carried out to obtain a correct
evaluation of the compressibility
properties.
Triaxial test

Rock samples, contained in a rubber

sealing membrane, are placed within a
triaxial chamber and subjected to an
isotropic pressure (generally between 5
and 60 MPa), kept constant for all the
test.

Axial load is subsequently applied

Triaxial test

From the measurements recorded

during the test the following
information are obtained :

– Graphics of stress , versus axial

strain z, and radial strain r
– Maximum or failure stress
– Tangent and secant young modulus
measured on the stress - axial strain
curve
– Rate of radial strain versus axial
strain to obtain the Poisson’s ratio
 – Maximum stress versus applied cell
pressure (in the triaxial test) to
define the failure anvelope and the
corresponding properties (cohesion
and friction).
Another parameter investigated in the
triaxial test concerns the permeability
characteristics of rock, and behaviour
when subjected to high water pressure,
especially for the study of dam
fundations, and generally for
underground tunnels and cavities
(cavernas).
Hoek cells for triaxial test
here
General description and specification

Hoek triaxial cells are offered in five models of

different size; each one consist of the following :

– A cells body (1), complete with two quick realse

self sealing couplings, for the introduction of the
hydraulic oil and cell pressure, and for air outlet
and saturation of the chamber respectively.

– Two end caps (tapas) (2), screwed into the

cylindrical cell body.

– A loading cap (3), perforated inside for sample

saturation and permeability tests. One end is
machined (torneado), for spherical coupling.

– A loading cap (4) for unsaturated tests.

 – Two female spherical seatings (rótulas), (5)
connected to the loading caps (3) and (4) for the
correct transmission of the axial load from the
loading frame of the compression machine to the
sample.

– A rubber sealing sleeve (manga), (6) to separate

the sample from the cell fluid.
Measurements of axial and radial strain are carried
out with the use of electric strain gauges (7), both in
vertical and horizontal direction, directly glued
(adherido), on the lateral surface of the sample.

A readout unit properly designed for strain gauge

measurements is supplied for data recording (see
Systems for Readout and Data Recording).

The cell pressure and saturation presure for

permeability tests are carried on by the use of proper
equipament (see Systems for Isotropic Cell Pressure)
 Code Specimen size Net weight (kg) Total heigt mm
(mm) d * h
45 - D552 21.46 * 40 1.00 212
45 - D553 30.10 * 60 2.50 213
45 - D554 38.10 * 75 4.00 264
45 - D555 42.04 * 85 6.50 263
45 - D556 54.74 * 100 13.00 304

(1) Specimen plus loading caps plus spherical seating

Accessories (see table below)

45 - D552/1 to 45 - D556/1 Rubber sealing sleeve

45 - D552/2 to 45 - D556/2 Permeability end cap
45 - D556/A Pair of load spreader pads required to
ensure a correct load distribution from the loading
frame of the compression machine; size of each
spread : 140 mm dia * 15 mm heigth.
45 - D556/B Distance pad to reduce the clearance
of the compression frame depending from the model
of hoek cell available; size 75 mm dia * 25 mm
heigth.
Pressure systems
Low friction pressure maintainer

General description and specifications

Used for maintaining constant the desired lateral

pressure in the Hoek triaxial cells.

The unit comprises a hand pump connected to a

special oil reservior, a precision pressure gauge
(manómetro), a pressure maintainer and a flexible
hose (manguera), with quick release coupling.

Max. Working pressure : 70 MPa

Weigth approx. : net 15 kg

Elastic modulus and strength characteristics of
rock specimens in uniaxial and triaxial condition
Standards
ASTM D2664, 3148, 5407
ISRM Suggested methods (1983)

Foreword (Prefacio)
The above standards require the tests to be
performed at a constant rate of stress or
strain, using a loading device capable of
applying load strain continuously without
shock throughout the test.

For strain measurements the use of axial and

circumferential strain gauges, directly
applied on the specimen surface, is also
recommended with automatic data recording
in real time for high level analysis of stress -
strain relationships, elastic modulus and
Poisson’s ratio.
The complete testing system should therefore include
the following basic equipament :

1) Loading frame of sufficient capacity

Ranging from the 1500 kN to the 5000 kN
capacity. They have to be completed with the
triaxial cell loading spreader.
2) Load and strain servocontrolled system for
above

3) Triaxial cell with accesiries including strain

gauges

4) Pressure maintaing system for lateral pressure

5) System for read - out and data recording

Multifunctional Computerised Control
Console upgraded to enable rock testing.

Complete with testing software for

compression test on rock speciments with the
determination of deformability.
Complete testing system comprising sercomp 2
constant pressure system, 50 - C4600 / * 2000 kn
compression frame, computerised control console,
triaxial cell and accesories.
 3 Pressure maintaing system
SERCOMP 2 - Automatic control console for
constant pressure system.

4 Triaxial cell accessories

Permeability of rock

28 - T474 / A Oil and water constant pressure

apparatus for pressure up to 3500 kPa.

General description and specifications

This apparatus provides an infinitely variable

constant pressure and is used in conjunction with the
constant pressure system and the permeability and
caps, for the investigation of the permeability of rock
at high confining pressure in the laboratory.
The apparatus comprises : motorised hydraulic
pump; honed piston / spring assembly; cylindrical oil
/ water interchange vessel; valves; 2 kg of high
viscosity oil.

Pressure range : 0 - 3500 kPa. (35 kgf /cm2)

Dimensions : 310 * 300 * 390 mm
Weight approx. : net 16 kg
System for readout and data recording

This system is used to measure stress and strain

characteristics of rock samples.

In the standard configuration 6 channels are set for

strain measurements with electric strain gauges; 2
channels are set for / pressure measurements with
transducers.
Rock mechanics involves the study of discontinuities
within the rock mass, where the compression and
shear strength is lower.

The behaviour of joints is particularly investigated :

they are originated from geological failures, breaking
off the rock mass continuity.

From the rock mechanics point of view the

discontinuities are characterised by mechanical
strength lower than the original rock matrix and
require detailed test investigations.

Strength of the joint walls

Investigated with the Schmidt Hammer. A series of

10 measurements is performed both on the joint
walls and on a new failure surface.
From the 10 values obtained the 5 lower are rejected
and the compression strength is given by the average
value of the last 5.

This parameter is generally indicated as JCS (Joint

Wall Compressive Strength), expressed in Mpa.

Surface roughness of the joint

This parameter is defined on the joint surface with

the Barton comb (Profilometer 45 - D556) used to
reproduce the roughness profile.

The line obtained is compared with scale of

roughness profiles, proposed by Barton, each of
them is specified with a classification number JRC,
variable from 0 to 20 (JRC = Joint Roughness
Coefficient).
Tilt Test 45 - B96
Apparatus for measurement of the joint roughness
coefficient (Tilt Test)
Tilt test

An empirical method for an immediate evaluation of

the JRC index is obteined with the tilt test (model 77
- B96).

It essentially consists of a horizontal plane, upon

which the two parts of the sample are placed, laid
one upon the other along the joint surface.

Then the plane is gradually tilted until the relative

desplacement of the upper piece of sample on the
lower one is observed.

The equipament is fitted with a lower edge, to stop

the lower specimen from slindig, and one
goniometer.
The tilting angle  measured is related to the JRC
index with the following :

  R
JRC 
Log  JCS  

R angle of residual shear friction (obtained from a

direct shear test)

 normal pressure acting on the joint surface,

generated by the weigth of the upper pieces of
the sample

JCS joint compression strength (measured with the

Schmidt Hammer)
Shear strength of the joint

It is obtained from the direct shear test.

The peak resistance of a rough joint is calculated

from the following relationship :

   * tg  ieff  with ieff

JCS
 JRC * log


Therefore the shear test is performed :

– on a smooth joint to directly obtain the shear

friction angle 

– on a rough joint to calculate  from JCS and

JRC.
From the above expression it is interesting to observe
that, when the normal stress  equals JCS
(compression strength of the joint itself), ieff
becomes 0.

The mechanical explanation is thet, when the joint

walls are fractured for the applied high normal
pressure, the shear resistance of the rock only
depends from the shear strength angle  and not
from the surface roughness of the joint.

For the measurement of the residual shear strength of

the joint the direct shear test is also used.

The mathematical expression representig the

behaviour of residual strength is the Coulomb’s
linear failure envelope without cohesion :

   * tg  R
Measurement of shear strength
Standards
ISRM : Suggested method for determining shear
strength (1974)

Rock shear box apparatus. Hand operated.

General description and specifications

Developed at Imperial College, London, by

Professor E. Hoek.

It is simple and practical method of determining the

strength and slope stability od rock, both in the field
and in the laboratory.

The apparatus consist of a shear box designed to

accept rock samples not larger than 115 * 125 mm,
or alternatively cores up to 102 mm dia.
 45 - D548 / 1

The shear box consist of two halves, the upper

being connected to two rams for reversible shearing
action, and the lower connected to a ram for normal
load application. The loads are recorded by
Bourdon tube load gauges.
The normal loading system is complete with an
adjustable low friction pressure maitainer to absorb
volume changes of the specimen during the shearing
action and to ensure a constant vertical stress.

The apparatus is supplied complete with two 50 kN

pumps and manometers and two mould forms used
for the correct alignment of the sample before the
test with cementation.

Maximum range : 50 kN (5 Ton)

Weight approx. : net 45 kg
Roughness measurement. Profilometers

Used for measurement of the roughness profile of

rock samples.
45 - D566 Profilometer (Barton comb). 300 mm
length
Strength index
Standards
ISRM : Suggested method for determining the point
load strength index (1972)

45 - D550 / A Rock strength index apparatus

General description and specifications

This apparatus, is used to obtain quick information

concerning rock strength.

A rock core piece is subjected to a compression load

along its diameter with two opposite conical platens.

The index of rock strength is calculated from the

following :
P
IS  2
D
Where P is the maximum applied load and D the
core diameter

The apparatus consist of a load frame 55 kN capacity

with a hydraulic loading ram actuated by a hand
pump.

The frame is adjustable to allow for testing sample

up to 102 mm dia.

A proper ruler assembled on the frame allows for

direct measurement of the distance D between the
conical platens before and after the test.

Two 150 mm dia. Gauges wuith pointer and different

full scale measure the compression load.

Weight approx. : net 30 kg

45 - D561 Rock classification hammer
Compression strength
Standards
ISRM : Suggested method for determination of the
Schmidt rebound hardness (1978)

45 - D561 Rock classification hammer

General description and specifications

Used to measure the rebound index on rock cores

and samples.

Rock cores are positioned horizontally and the

rebound index is obtained from the average of
several measurements preformed perpendicularly to
the longitudinal axis.
Slake durability index
Standards ASTM D4644
45 - D546 Slake durability apparatus

General description and specifications

This test method has been developed to assess the

deterioration of rocks over a period of time when
subjected to water immersion.

The apparatus consist of a motorised drive unit

which is mounted on a baseplate and which can
rotate two or four drums at a speed of 20 r.p.m.

The tank assemblies are filled with water to a level

20 mm below the drum axis.
The test drums are manufactured from 2.00 mm
mesh, 140 mm dia * 100 mm long.

Weigth approx. : net 15 kg

Index of velocity #2
It is defined by the squared ratio of the velocities of
the elastic longitudinal waves measured in the site
and in the laboratory respectively. This number is
related to the RQD index :

lv  Vs VL  2

Ultrasonic pulse velocity tester

Standards
BS I 88 I : 203, ASTM C597, NF P18 - 418, UNI
9524, pr EN 12396

Principle of operation

Used to measure the velocity of ultrasonic pulses

through a rock sample in the laboratory and to
compare the results od similar measurements on site.
The instrument works by generating an
ultrasonic pulse which is passed throught the
rock sample (generally cylindrical samples),

The pulses are recorded by a receiving probe

that is also pressed against the plane surface,
opposite and parallel to the first one.

The instrument displays the time to penetrate

the rock sample along the longitudinal axis;
Since the distance between the probes is
measured the velocity of the ultrasonic pulses
can be calculed.