DEPARTMENT OF MINING ENGINEERING

(NITK)

LAB SUBMISSION ON
IMPACT STRENGTH INDEX

Submitted By
Ankesh Pandey
(181MN002)

Submitted To
Dr Sandi Kumar Reddy
AIM
To Determine the Impact Strength Index of a given rock specimen.

APPARATUS
Impact Strength Index Apparatus, Sieve (300 micron), Weighing Machine Tray

THEORY
Impact strength index is an important property of a rock mass which is used widely in
geological and geotechnical engineering. In this study, the mechanical properties of one
igneous, three sedimentary and three metamorphic rock types were determined in the
laboratory and correlated with P-Wave Velocity. Empirical equations have been
developed to predict the impact strength from P-Wave velocity which may avoid the
necessity for time-consuming and tedious laboratory testing.

The apparatus consists of a vertical steel cylinder of 44.5 mm internal diameter closed at
the upper end by a screw cap and fixed permanently at the bottom. A steel plunger of 1.8
kg in mass and 4.3 cm diameter at the bottom fits loosely inside the hollow cylinder. A
steel cap is provided through which plunger handle moves whose purpose is to prevent
the dust escaping from the steel cylinder. The steel cap serves the purpose of preventing
the hammer from coming out of the cylinder.

Impact Strength Apparatus

PROCEDURE
1. A sample is taken from mine face or from the run of mine and is sieved through
2.54 cm mesh.
2. The oversized material is broken to give maximum yield of fragments just under
2.54 cm.
3. The 0.95-0.32 cm fractions are then removed from broken material by hand
sieving.
4. Each fraction is sieved on a size of 0.32 cm B.S. Sieve using a weighing machine
sample of 100 +- 0.005 gm is carefully weighed.
5. The 100gm sample is poured gently into the hollow cylinder, which is placed on a
level floor.
6. Keeping the cylinder steady by feet raises the plunger to the full extent and drops
it freely 20 times. The impact rate is kept faster than one pound per every 2
seconds.
7. Finally the cap of the plunger is removed and the sample is sieved through 300
micron sieve.
8. The Impact Strength Index is obtained by calculating the ratio of final weight to
the initial weight.

OBSERVATIONS

● Observations
Sample Weigh Before Weight After Impact Strength
Pounding Pounding Index
(gm) (gm)

Marble 100 97 97

Granite 100 98 98

Sandstone 100 99 99
 ● Performance

Index Mkt. Return (%) +/- Index

1 Week 0.85 +0.80

1 Month 6.47 +6.24

3 Months 5.62 +4.93

YTD 0.68 -1.70

PRECAUTIONS
1. Before pounding, the cylinder should be thoroughly cleaned.
2. The cap should be screwed tightly.

RESULTS
The impact strength index of the following samples are as follows
1. Marble = 97%
2. Granite = 98%
3. Sandstone = 99%