Interpretation of UCS Test Results for Engineering Design

This article focuses on the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of homogeneous and heterogeneous rocks. Critical factors impacting the UCS of rocks are reviewed and then separate assessments of UCS data from homogeneous and heterogeneous rocks are presented. The variability (coefficient of variation) of UCS test results for homogeneous rocks is found to be generally 35%. Failure mode variation is found to be the cause of the variability of UCS test results in heterogeneous rocks. Empirical engineering design methods that use UCS as an input parameter are discussed and suggestions are provided for selecting appropriate UCS values.

[1]  C. D. Martin,et al.  The strength of hard-rock pillars , 2000 .

[2]  Evert Hoek,et al.  Strength of jointed rock masses , 1983 .

[3]  Z. T. Bieniawski,et al.  Mechanism of brittle fracture of rockPart Itheory of the fracture process , 1967 .

[4]  John A. Hudson,et al.  Shape of the Complete Stress-Strain Curve for Rock , 1972 .

[5]  Peter K. Kaiser,et al.  Overcoming Challenges of Rock Mass Characterization for Underground Construction in Deep Mines , 2015 .

[6]  Peter K. Kaiser,et al.  Interpretation of Triaxial Testing Data For Estimation of the Hoek-Brown Strength Parameter Mi , 2011 .

[7]  Arne Lislerud,et al.  Hard rock tunnel boring: Prognosis and costs , 1988 .

[8]  R. F. Blanks,et al.  MASS CONCRETE TESTS IN LARGE CYLINDERS , 1935 .

[9]  Evert Hoek,et al.  Practical estimates of rock mass strength , 1997 .

[10]  R. K. Dhir,et al.  Relationships between size, deformation and strength for cylindrical specimens loaded in uniaxial compression , 1973 .

[11]  Z. T. Bieniawski,et al.  The effect of specimen size on compressive strength of coal , 1968 .

[12]  C. Fairhurst,et al.  The elasto-plastic response of underground excavations in rock masses that satisfy the Hoek-Brown failure criterion , 1999 .

[13]  A. H. Salamon,et al.  A study of the strength of coal pillars , 1967 .

[14]  B. Košťák.  Pillar strength prediction from representative sample of hard rock , 1971 .

[15]  Arvid M. Johnson,et al.  Crack growth and faulting in cylindrical specimens of chelmsford granite , 1972 .

[16]  Bo-Hyun Kim,et al.  Characterization of Strength of Intact Brittle Rock Considering Confinement-Dependent Failure Processes , 2014, Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering.

[17]  Derek Martin.  The Impact of Brittle Behaviour of Rocks on Tunnel Excavation Design , 2014 .

[18]  C. Martin,et al.  Crack initiation stress in low porosity crystalline and sedimentary rocks , 2013 .

[19]  Vincent Labiouse,et al.  Brittle Rock Failure in the Steg Lateral Adit of the Lötschberg Base Tunnel , 2009 .

[20]  E. T. Brown,et al.  Underground excavations in rock , 1980 .

[21]  Amund Bruland,et al.  HARD ROCK TUNNEL BORING , 2000 .

[22]  John A. Hudson,et al.  Draft ISRM suggested method for the complete stress-strain curve for intact rock in uniaxial compression , 1999 .

[23]  Diederichs,et al.  Fracture Initiation And Propagation In the Quintner Limestone , 2012 .

[24]  C. Martin,et al.  The strength of massive Lac du Bonnet granite around underground openings , 1993 .

[25]  C. Fairhurst,et al.  The of Maximum Phenomenon of Rock Splitting Parallel to the Direction Compression In the Neighbourhood of a Surface , 1966 .

[26]  Peter K. Kaiser,et al.  Crack Initiation and Crack Propagation in Heterogeneous Sulfate-Rich Clay Rocks , 2014, Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering.