Evaluation of empirical methods for measuring the uniaxial compressive strength of rock

• Published in: International journal of rock mechanics and mining sciences & geomechanics abstracts Vol. 27; no. 6; pp. 495 - 503
• Main Authors: Cargill, J.S., Shakoor, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1990; New York, NY Pergamon
• Subjects: compressive strength; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Engineering geology; Exact sciences and technology; materials testing; Physical properties of sedimentary rocks; rock mechanics; Sedimentary rocks; Metamorphic rocks; Abrasion; Gneisses; Rock mechanics; Methodology; Dolomite; Limestone; Marbles; Uniaxial compression; Laboratory studies; Sedimentary rocks; Laboratory test; Carbonate rocks; Uniaxial tests; Sandstone; Methods; Strength; Clastic rocks
• ISSN: 0148-9062
• DOI: 10.1016/0148-9062(90)91001-N

Eight sandstones, three limestones, one dolomite, one marble and one syenitic gneiss were tested to evaluate the correlations between the compressive strength values, as determined by the standard uniaxial compression test, and the corresponding results of the point load, the Schmidt hammer, the Los Angeles abrasion, and the slake durability tests. Ten cores of each rock type were used for the uniaxial compression, point load and Schmidt hammer tests, whereas an average of three tests for each rock type was used to determine the Los Angeles abrasion loss and the slake durability indices. Results indicate that strong linear correlations exist between the results of uniaxial compression vs the point load and Schmidt hammer tests, the correlation for the Schmidt hammer being dependent on rock type. The correlation between uniaxial strength and the Los Angeles abrasion loss in non-linear but becomes linear when a log-log scale is used. The slake durability index does not exhibit a significant correlation with the uniaxial strength for the rocks tested. The correlation equations for predicting compressive strength using different methods are presented along with their confidence limits. All empirical tests used, other than the slake durability test, provide reliable estimates of compressive strength, with Schmidt hammer slightly underestimating at higher strength (> 150 MPa).