INTRODUCTION

Rock engineers widely use the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of rock in designing surface and underground structures. The procedure for measuring this rock strength has been standardised by both the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM and the International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM). Although, the method is relatively simple, it is time consuming and expensive; also, it requires well prepared rock cores. Therefore, indirect tests are often used to predict the UCS, such as Schmidt rebound number, point load index, impact strength and sound velocity. These are easier tests to carry out because they necessitate less or no sample preparation and the testing equipment is less sophisticated. Also, they can be used easily in the field. As a result, compared to the uniaxial compression test, indirect tests are simpler, faster and more economical. Specimens from drill cores are prepared by cutting them to the specified length and are thereafter grinded and measured. There are high requirements on the flatness of the endsurfaces in order to obtain an even load distribution. Recommended ratio of height/diameter of the specimens is between 2 and 3. The specimens are loaded axially up to failure or any other prescribed level whereby the specimen is deformed and the axial and the radial deformation can be measured using a special equipment, see figures below.

Figure 1: The specimens are loaded axially

By definition, the compressive strength of a material is that value of uniaxial compressive stress reached when the material fails completely. The compressive strength is usually obtained experimentally by means of a compressive test. The apparatus used for this experiment is the same as that used in a tensile test. However, rather than applying a uniaxial tensile load, a uniaxial compressive load is applied. As can be imagined, the specimen (usually cylindrical) is shortened as well as spread laterally. A Stressstrain curve is plotted by the instrument and would look similar to the following:

Figure 2 : Engineering Stress-Strain curve for a typical specimen

THEORY

Compressive strength is the capacity of a material or structure to withstand axially directed pushing forces. It provides data (or a plot) of force vs deformation for the conditions of the test method. When the limit of compressive strength is reached, brittle materials are crushed. Concrete can be made to have high compressive strength, e.g. many concrete structures have compressive strengths in excess of 50 MPa, whereas a material such as soft sandstone may have a compressive strength as low as 5 or 10 MPa. By contrast, a small plastic container might have a compressive strength of less than 250 N. These range from very small table top systems to ones with over 53 MN capacity. Measurements of compressive strength are affected by the specific test method and conditions of measurement. Compressive strengths are usually reported in relationship to a specific technical standard.

Result

Reference

1. http://www.sp.se/en/index/services/rockmechanicaltesting/uniaxial/Sidor/defa ult.aspx