PROPERTIES OF

ROCKS

DR. ZAKA EMAD

Why we need to determine rock properties?

 Boundary perpendicular = 0 (natural condition)

 Boundary parallel (tangential) is σ1 when there is stress concentration.
 Boundary parallel (tangential) is σ3 when there is stress relaxation.
 Shear stress = 0 at the boundary (natural condition)
 Shear stress ≠ 0 in the roof, floor or sidewall of the opening

σ=0

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 Engineering Properties of Rocks
 Engineers rely on a number of basic measurements to
describe rocks quantitatively.

 These are known as Index Properties.

 Porosity- Identifies the relative proportions of solids & voids;
 Density- a mineralogical constituents parameter;
 Sonic Velocity- evaluates the degree of fissuring;
 Permeability- the relative interconnection of pores;
 Durability- tendency for eventual breakdown of components or
structures with degradation of rock quality, and
 Strength- existing competency of the rock fabric binding components.

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 Engineering Properties of Rocks
 Rock Properties

 Porosity is therefore an accurate index of rock quality.

 Density: Rocks exhibit a greater range in density than soils.

 Sonic Velocity: Longitudinal velocity Vl measured on rock core.

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 Engineering Properties of Rocks
 Permeability: The degree of interconnection between pores / fissures,
its variation with change in normal stress assesses the degree of
fissuring of a rock.

 Durability: Measured by Franklin and Chandra’s (1972) “slake

durability test”.

 Strength- Use Point Load Test of Broch and Franklin (1972) or

standard ucs testing of core sample

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 Engineering Properties of Rocks
 All of the above are measured on Lab specimens, not rock
masses/ outcrops, which will differ due to discontinuities at
different scales.

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UCS OF ROCKS
 Rock Properties

 Unconfined compressive strength test (ASTM D7012-

10C)
 Purpose: UCS, E, ʋ
 L:D = 2.5 to 3
 Loading rate: 0.5 to 1.5 MPa/sec
 Test duration: 5 to 15 minutes

SEE EQUATIONS
IN PENG AND
ZHANG (2007) –
CHAPTER 4
ROCK
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 UCS (ASTM D7012-10C)
 Uniaxial compression is probably the most widely performed
test on rock.

 It is used to determine the uniaxial or unconfined

compressive strength, c, and the elastic constants, Young’s
modulus, E, and Poisson’s ratio, u , of the rock material.

 The uniaxial compressive strength of the intact rock is used

in rock mass classification schemes, and as a basic
parameter in the rock mass strength criterion to be
introduced later in this chapter.

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 UCS
 It must be recognised that, because of these effects, the
uniaxial compressive strengths of samples of rock having
the same geological name, can vary widely.

 Thus the UCS of sandstone will vary with

 The grain size,
 The packing density,
 The nature and extent of cementing between the grains,
 The levels of pressure and temperature that the rock has
been subjected to throughout its history.

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 UCS
 The test specimens (right circular cylinders) having a
l:d of 2.5–3.0 and a diameter preferably of NX core
size

 The specimen diameter should be at least 10 times

the size of the largest grain in the rock.

 The ends of the specimen should be flat to within 0.02

mm and should not depart from perpendicularity to the
axis of the specimen by more than 0.001 rad or 0.05
mm in 50 mm.

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 UCS
 The use of capping materials or end surface
treatments other than machining is not permitted.

 Specimens should be stored, for no longer than 30

days, in such a way as to preserve the natural water
content, as far as possible, and tested in that
condition.

 Load should be applied to the specimen at a

constant stress rate of 0.5–1.0 MPa s−1.

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 UCS
 Axial load and axial and radial or circumferential
strains or deformations should be recorded
throughout each test.

 There should be at least five replications of each

test.

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 UCS
 Lab procedure
 Cut the sample from the core (with a rock saw)
 Polish the ends (with a rock grinder)
 Measure the dimensions L and D
 Verify flatness of the sample
 Use hardened steel plates of equal size
 Use spherical seat under the press
 Take pictures before and after testing

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 UCS

 Take pictures before and after testing

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15
 UCS

 Sample result

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 Young’s Modulus
 It may be calculated in a number of ways, the most
common being:
 Tangent Young’s modulus, Et, is the slope of the axial stress–
axial strain curve at some fixed percentage, generally 50%, of
the peak strength.

 Average Young’s modulus, Eav, is the average slope of the

more-or-less straight line portion of the axial stress–strain
curve.

 Secant Young’s modulus, Es, is the slope of a straight line

joining the origin of the axial stress–strain curve to a point on
the curve at some fixed percentage of the peak strength.

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 Poisson’s Ratio

 Poisson’s Ratio
 Is the ratio of the radial to axial deformation
 n = - er / ea (axial strain)

Brady and Brown, 2006

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 Rock Properties

 Point load test (ASTM D5731-08)

 Purpose: tensile strength
 Sample dimensions: W x D x 2L

WXD

2L
SEE EQUATIONS IN PENG
AND ZHANG (2007) –
CHAPTER 4 ROCK
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 PLT (ASTM D5731-08)
 Point Load Test

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 PLT
 Caution must be exercised in carrying out point load tests
and in interpreting the results

 Very soft rocks, and highly anisotropic rocks or rocks

containing marked planes of weakness such as bedding
planes, are likely to give spurious results.

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 PLT
 A high degree of scatter is a general feature of point load
test results and large numbers of individual determinations
are required in order to obtain reliable indices.

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 Multi-axial Compression
 Biaxial Compression
 Triaxial Compression
 Polyaxial Compression

http://img.directindustry.com/images_di/photo-g/biaxial-extensometer-rock-concrete-
asphalt-62911-2402219.jpg

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 Rock Properties
 Triaxial (confined) strength (ASTM D7012-10A)
 L:D = 2.5 to 3
 Constant σ3 in each test
 Purpose: Mohr-Coulomb or Hoek-Brown criteria, cohesion and
friction angle
σ1

σ3

Brady and Brown, 2006

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 Direct Shear Test (ASTM D 3080)
 Direct Shear test
 Intact rock
 Discontinuities

http://www.isotop.co.il/AlbomGalleryImg/210_40311.682222
2222.JPG

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 Rock Properties
 Brazilian test (ASTM D3967-08)
 Purpose: tensile strength
 Sample dimensions: t = D

SEE EQUATIONS D
IN PENG AND
ZHANG (2007) –
CHAPTER 4 t
ROCK
PROPERTIES

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 Tensile Strength
 Indirect tensile strength test – Brazilian test
 preferably be not less than NX core size
 Loading rate10 to 50 kN/min
 L:D = 0.5 to 0.6
 Loaded diametrically

st=2P/(pDL)

http://www.geotechdata.info/geotest/brazilian-test.html
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 Rock Properties – Practical Tips
 It’s best to test at least 5 samples of the same rock type
and of the same size
 Point load test is good when the rock is laminar and it is
difficult to cut cylindrical samples
 Triaxial is needed to obtain the failure envelope for
numerical modelling
 Triaxial test is not required for empirical methods of design
 UCS is the most relevant test
 Tensile strength is often related to UCS

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References

ASTM Standards.
Brady, B H G and Brown, E T, 2006. Rock mechanics for
underground mining. 3rd edition, Springer, Dordrecht,
Netherlands.
Peng, S and Zhang, J, 2007. Engineering geology for
underground rocks. Springer, Berlin, Germany.
Price, D G, 2009. Engineering geology: principles and
practice. De Freihtas, M H (ed). Springer-Verlag, Berlin,
Germany.

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