Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Method For Determination of Strength of Rock Materials in Triaxial Compression
Method For Determination of Strength of Rock Materials in Triaxial Compression
UDC 624*121*439*4
@ BIS 1991
FOREWORD
This Indian Standard was adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards, after the draft finalized by the
Rock Mechanics Sectional Committee had been approved by the Civil Engineering Division Council.
Natural rock formations are in triaxially stressed state and the strength characteristic of rock under such
a state is important in calculating the bearing capacity of foundation of rock and is also useful in slope
stability analysis. This standard is based on the suggested method of International Society of Rock
Mechanics.
In reporting the rerults of a test or analyais made in accordance with this standard, if the final value,
observed or calculated, is to be rounded off, it shall be done in accordance with IS 2 : 1960 ‘Rules for
rounding off numerical values ( revised )’ .
Indian Standard
METHODFORDETERMINATIONOF
STkENGTHOFROCKMATERIALSIN
TRIAXIALCOMPRESSION
1 SCOPE D/3. Surfaces of the platens shall be
ground and these shall not depart from
1.1 This standard covers the mothod for determi- plane surfaces by more than +0*005 mm.
nation of strength of cylindrical rock specimens
subjected. to triaxial compression. This test The top platen which shall incorporate a
provides Individual points on the failure (peak spherical seat. The centre of curvature of
strength) envelope from several tests. From this the spherical seat should coincide with the
the value of the internal friction angle 4 and the centre of the top surface of the specimen.
apparent cohesion C may be obtained. The spherical seat shall be lightly lubricat-
ed with mineral oil. The specimen, the
1.2 This standard does not cover (a) the multiple platens and the spherical seat shall be
failure state test, and (b) the continuous failure accurately central with respect to one
state test wherein the failure envelope is pro- another.
duced with a single test employing a stepwise or
continuous procedure. A flexible membrane of suitable material
( like neoprene or butyl rubber or any
2 REFERENCES other ) , to prevent the hydraulic fluid
The following Indian Standards are necessary from entering the specimen. The men&-
adjuncts to this standard: rane shall not penetrate significantly into
the surface pores and it shall be sufficiently
IS No. Title long to extend well on to the platens. When
slightly stretched, it shall be of the same
1586 : 1968 Methods for Rockwell hardness test
diameter as the specimen. When strain
( B and C scales )
gauged specimens are tested, a moulded
9179 : 1979 Method for preparation of rock silicon rubber membrane is satisfactory.
specimen for laboratory testing
3 APPARATUS
3.1 The apparatus consists mainly of three parts
( Fig. 1 ) : a triaxial cell, a loading device and
a device for generating confining pressure.
Platens having a Rockwell Hardness of MC = Control unit for applying andcontrolling axial load
b)
not less than HRC 30 ( see IS 1586 : C = Triaxial cell
1968 ) for placing at both ends of the HP = Equipnient for generating andcontrollingconfining
specimen, the diameter of the platens shall pressure
be between D and 1.02 D, where D is the FIG 1 BLOCK DIAQRAM SHOWINGTEST
diameter of the specimen. The thickness ARRANGEMENTFOR DETERMININGTHE TRI AXIAL
of the platens shall be at least 15 mm or COMPRESSIVESTRENGTH
1
4.3 Shape and Dimension of the Specimen
a
IS 13047: 1991
.%6 The axial load on the test specimen shall 6.4 Using parameters m and 6, the angle of
-then be increased continuously and without shock internal friction 4 and a value for the apparent
to produce an approximately constant rate of cohesion G ( in the sense (of coulomb’s failure
load or deformation; such that failure will occur theory ) may be calculated using the formulae:
within 5 to 15 minutes of initiation of loading if
carried to failure. Alternatively the stress rate . m-l
shall be within the limits of 0.5 to I.0 MPa/s.
4=
.
arc
‘In___
m -I- 1
The axial failure load shall be measured within
1 percent accuracy. c=b l---sin 4
2 cos $4
5.7 The maximum axial load and the corres-
ponding confining pressure on the specimen shall 7 REPORT
be recorded.
5.8 The axial displacement shall be measured to 7.1 The report shall give a plot of axial strength
an accuracy not less than 0.5 percent. versus confining pressure as discussed in 6.2
( Fig. 3 ), along with the values of apparent cohe-
5.9 The number of specimens to be tested, as well sion c and angle of internal friction 4 citing the
as, the number of different confining pressure range of confining pressures in which they are
values should be determined from practical consi- valid.
derations. However, at least five specimens per
rock sample are preferred.
7.2 The report of test shall also include the
6 CALCULATIONS following information:
6.1 The compressive strength of the specimen 4 Lithologic description of rock.
shall be calculated by dividing the maximum b) Orientation of the axis of loading with
axial load, applied to the specimen during the respect to anisotropy, bedding planes,
test, by the original cross sectional area of the foliations, etc.
specimen.
Cl Source of sample, location, depth, orien-
6.2 The confining pressures and the correspond- tation and date of sampling.
ing strength values for different specimen as
worked out in 6.1, are plotted with the confining 4 Storage history and environment.
pressures as abscissa and strength as ordinates e) Moisture content of sample and room
( see Fig. 3 ) . temperature at the time of the test.
6.3 A strength envelope is obtained by fitting a f) Duration of the test and stress rate.
mean curve to the above points. From practical d Date of testing and type of machine used.
considerations it may be advisable to fit a straight Number of specimens tested.
line to only the most relevant part of the curve h)
or to fit several straight lines to different parts of 3 Mode of failure of each specimen ( with
the curve. Each straight line is characterised by sketch showing failure pattern ).
calculating its gradient m ( tangent of the incli- k) Other physical properties such as specific
nation) its intercept b on the vertical (axial stress) gravity, absorption, permeability and
axis ( ,cee Fig. 3 ) . In each case the range of porosity, citing the Indian Standard
confining pressure in which the respective straight available for the determination of the
line is valid shall be shown on the abscissa. above properties.
300
/
l1
_- *
t _,lGrc----__ tan m
200
.I
t AA
03 6 IO 20 30 LO 50 60
CONFINING PRESSURE Mpa
3
m) Should it be necessary to test specimens height, specimen diameter, confining:
of shape other than cylindrical, suitable pressure and the corresponding axiak
mention of these facts shall be made in strength to three significant figures.
the report.
n) A table giving specimen number, specimen p) Any other observation.
4
.
Standard Mark
The use of the Standard Mark is governed by the provisions of the Bureau of Indian Standards
Act, 1986 and the Rules and Regulations made thereunder. The Standard Mark on products
covered by an Indian Standard conveys the assurance that they have been produced to comply
with the requirements of that standard under a well defined system of inspection, testing and
quality control which is devised and supervised by BIS and operated by the producer. Standard
marked products are also continuously checked by BIS for conformity to that standard as a
further safeguard. Details of conditions under which a licence for the use of the Standard Mark
may be granted to manufacturers or producers may be obtained from the Bureau of
Indian Standards.
I I
Bureau of Indian Standardr
BIS is a statutory institution established under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 to promote
harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods
and attending to connected matters in the country.
.
Copyright
BIS has the copyright of all its publications. No part of these publications may be reproduced in any form
without the prior permission in writing of BIS. This does not preclude the free use, in the course of
implementing the standard, of necessary details, such as symbols and sizes, type or grade designations.
Enquiries relating to copyright be addressed to the Director ( Publications ), BIS.
Indian Standards are reviewed periodically and revised, when necessary and amendments, if any, are
issued from time to time. Users of Indian Standards should ascertain that they are in possession of the
latest amendments or edition. Comments on this Indian Standard may be sent to BIS giving the
following reference:
Headquarters :
Manak Bhavan, 9 Bahadur Shah &far Marg, New Delhi 110002 Telegrams : Manaksanstha
Telephones : 331 01 31,331 13 75 ( Common to all Offices )