CONTENTS PAGE

PREFACE 1
0 GENERAL
0.1 Project Reports about Drillability
0.2 Background
3
3
5
1 DRILLABILITY
1.1 Rock Sampling
1.2 The Drilling Rate Index DRI
1.20 General
1.21 The Brittleness Test
1.22 The Sievers' Miniature Drill Test
1.23 Assessment of DRI
1.24 The Mini-DRI
1.3 The Bit Wear Index BWI
1.30 General
1.31 The Abrasion Value AV
1.32 Assessment of BWI
1.4 The Cutter Life Index CLI
1.5 The Wear Parameter VHNR
1.6 Classification of Indices
6
6
7
7
7
8
9
10
13
13
13
14
15
16
18
APPENDIX
A. Previous Editions
B. Research Partners
C. Laboratory Testing

20
21
22

PREFACE
1

DRILLABILITY Test Methods
Project Report 13A-98

The report is one of three reports about drillability of rocks:

13A-98 DRILLABILITY Test Methods
13B-98 DRILLABILITY Catalogue of Drillability Indices
13C-98 DRILLABILITY Statistics of Drillability Test Results (to be published)

Combined with the other reports in the Project Report Series from the Department of
Building and Construction Engineering at NTNU, the reports present an updated and
systematised material on rock excavation and tunnelling to be used for:

Economic dimensioning
Choice of alternative
Time planning
Cost estimates, tender, budgeting and cost control
Choice of excavation method and equipment.

A list of available Project Reports may be requested from the Department of Building
and Construction Engineering at NTNU.

The Drillability Catalogue also exists as a digital database of test results (Excel file).

The report is prepared by Amund Bruland and is part of his dr.ing thesis about
hard rock tunnel boring. The report is included in the thesis as a necessary basis
for use and understanding of the prognosis model for hard rock tunnel boring.

The report describes the methods used at NTNU and SINTEF when testing rock drill-
ability and abrasiveness. The report is published in the Project Report Series of the
Department of Building and Construction Engineering because of the relation to the
other reports in the series.
PREFACE
2


The report is a result of the co-operation between the Department of Geology and
Mineral Resources Engineering at NTNU, SINTEF Rock and Mineral Engineering
and the Department of Building and Construction Engineering at NTNU.

The project has been granted financial support by our external research partners, see
list in Appendix.

For reference, registration and similar, we ask for the following:

NTNU-Anleggsdrift (1998): Project Report 13A-98 DRILLABILITY Test
Methods.

When copying from the report, the source should be stated.



Trondheim, September 1998



Odd J ohannessen
Professor
0. GENERAL 0.1 Project Reports about Drillability
3
0.1 PROJECT REPORTS ABOUT DRILLABILITY

13A-98

The Drilling Rate Index DRI, the Bit Wear Index BWI and the Cutter Life Index CLI
are indirect measures for the drillability of rocks.

The report describes the laboratory methods used to determine DRI, BWI and CLI.
Test apparatus and procedures are not described in detail. Such information may be
obtained from the Department of Geology and Mineral Resources Engineering or the
Department of Building and Construction Engineering at NTNU.

Project Report 13A-98 is a revised and updated version of Project Report 13A-94
DRILLABILITY Test Methods.

Appendix A shows a list of previous editions of the report.


Other Reports

Project Report 13B-98 DRILLABILITY Catalogue of Drillability Indices con-
tains detailed test results for approximately 2050 samples. The report is updated regu-
larly, and is also available as a digital database.

Project Report 13C-98 DRILLABILITY Statistics of Drillability Test Results
shows relations and statistics of the test results, based on the digital database
BORBAR.

The relations between the laboratory indices and performance, capacity and costs for
various drilling equipment and excavation methods are shown in other reports in the
series published by the Department of Building and Construction Engineering at
NTNU.

The Drillability Catalogue as a digital database is at present available as an EXCEL
file. The database is available for research purposes and similar by agreement. The
digital database will be updated more frequently than the printed catalogue.
0. GENERAL 0.1 Project Reports about Drillability
4


Use of Drillability Indices from the Database

The database is aimed at being used through several stages in a project:

Preliminary and feasibility studies
Project design and optimisation
Tendering and contract
Construction
Possible claims.

Indices from the database should not be used as the single source of drillability infor-
mation for a project. Combined with other geological information such as geological
maps and reports, and particularly, engineering geological mapping and rock sam-
pling, the database may be used to:

Estimate drillability indices
Assess risk with regard to variation in drillability
Estimate time consumption and excavation costs, included risk
Establish and manage price regulation in contracts
Verify machine performance.

The laboratory results must be critically evaluated when the catalogue is used to
estimate drillability indices. The catalogue must be supplemented with labora-
tory testing of samples from the actual site.


0. GENERAL 0.2 Background
5
0.2 BACKGROUND

The Drilling Rate Index, the Bit Wear Index and the Cutter Life Index are based on
laboratory test results.

For rock blasting and tunnelling, the drillability has a major influence on

Time consumption and costs
Choice of method and equipment.

The DRI and BWI were developed at the Department of Geology at NTH
1
in the
years 1958 61 (Reidar Lien, Rolf Selmer-Olsen). The method was tested in the field
during the next ten years, resulting in minor adjustments.

The CLI was developed at The Department of Construction Engineering at NTH
2
in
the years 1980 - 83.

Systematic follow-up of drilling and boring in rock quarries and tunnels has been car-
ried out since 1972. The data have been normalised and related to the drillability indi-
ces of representative rock samples. The results are presented as drilling rate diagrams.
The various reports in the Project Report Series show relevant drilling rate diagrams
and how to estimate capacity and costs based on that information.

Registrations show that DRI and CLI give a good and reproducible measure of the
drillability and abrasiveness of rocks. The BWI has been found to have some weak-
nesses, one being that the DRI value to a large extent influences the BWI of a rock
sample (see Section 1.3 and Figure 1.5). We are currently working to replace the BWI
with VHNR, see Section 1.5.

It is only when the drillability indices are related to performance through drill-
ing rate diagrams and to costs for varying rock conditions through estimation
models of drilling capacity and excavation costs that the indices get their full
user value.

1
The present Department of Geology and Mineral Resources Engineering at NTNU
2
The present Department of Building and Construction Engineering at NTNU
1. DRILLABILITY 1.1 Rock Sampling
6
1.1 ROCK SAMPLING

It is important that the rock sampling for drillability testing is based on a careful engi-
neering geological mapping.

The necessary number of samples for a project is determined by the variation of the
rock properties and the rock types at the site.

Rock samples to be tested in the laboratory should be representative concerning pe-
trography and mechanical properties. It is very important to avoid weathered rock
samples. Blocks with fissures or cracks from blasting, or blocks that have been sub-
ject to high (anisotropic) rock stress should be avoided.

In order to get reliable results from the testing, each sample should have a total weight
of 15 - 20 kg. One sample may consist of several blocks (minimum weight per block
is 0.5 kg). Samples from core drilling must have core diameter of 32 mm or more, and
preferably 10 kg of core material. Less sample weight may be used, which will result
in fewer parallel brittleness tests and a larger uncertainty in the indices.

When it is difficult or very expensive to provide sufficient test material for standard
DRI testing, performing a Mini-DRI test is an option, see Section 1.24. In most cases,
a few hundred grams of sample material is sufficient for this test.

At present, only the Laboratory of Engineering Geology at NTNU/SINTEF in Trond-
heim has the equipment and long experience to perform the DRI, BWI and CLI tests.
Other laboratories are planning to install or have recently installed equipment to per-
form the necessary tests.

The Technical University of Helsinki has developed a modified DRI test that requires
less sample material than a standard DRI test. Necessary test material is in the order
of 25 cm of drill core with a diameter of 32 mm.
1. DRILLABILITY 1.2 The Drilling Rate Index DRI
7
1.2 THE DRILLING RATE INDEX DRI

1.20 General

The Drilling Rate Index is assessed on the basis of two laboratory tests, the Brittleness
Value S
20
and Sievers' J -value SJ .


1.21 The Brittleness Test

The Brittleness Test gives a good measure for the ability of the rock to resist crushing
by repeated impacts. The test method was developed in Sweden by N. von Matern
and A. Hjelmr in 1943. Several modified versions of the test have been developed
for various purposes. An outline of the test is shown in Figure 1.1.



Figure 1.1 The Brittleness Test.
1. DRILLABILITY 1.2 The Drilling Rate Index DRI
8

The sample volume corresponds to 500 grams of density 2.65 g/cm
3
from the fraction
16 - 11.2 mm. The Brittleness Value S
20
equals the percentage of material that passes
the 11.2 mm mesh after the aggregate has been crushed by 20 impacts in the mortar.
The Brittleness Value is the mean value of 3 - 5 parallel tests.


1.22 The Sievers' Miniature Drill Test

The Sievers' Miniature Drill Test gives a measure for the surface hardness (or the re-
sistance to indentation) of the rock. The test method was developed by H. Sievers in
the 1950s. The test is performed on a pre-cut rock sample as shown in Figure 1.2.



Figure 1.2 The Sievers' Miniature Drill Test.


The Sievers' J -value is the drill hole depth after 200 revolutions of the miniature drill
bit, measured in 1/10 mm. The SJ -value is the mean value of 4 - 8 drill holes.
weight 20kg
guide
guide
200 RPM
chuck
rock
sample
tungsten carbide
drill bit
8.5mm 110
g
1. DRILLABILITY 1.2 The Drilling Rate Index DRI
9


The pre-cut surface of the sample must be parallel or perpendicular to the foliation of
the rock. The SJ -value measured parallel to the foliation is used to find the Drilling
Rate Index. If the SJ -value for drilling perpendicular to the foliation differs from the
value for drilling parallel to the foliation, the drilling rate will most likely vary with
drilling direction to the foliation.


1.23 Assessment of DRI

Figure 1.3 is used to assess the Drilling Rate Index from the Brittleness Value S
20
and
the Sievers' J -value.

The Drilling Rate Index may be described as the Brittleness Value corrected for the
rock surface hardness. For a Sievers' J -value of 10, which is common for e.g. granite
or syenite, the DRI equals the S
20
value.



Figure 1.3 Diagram for assessment of DRI.
230 200
150
130
100
50
20
10
5
2
1
0.7
0.5
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Brittleness Value, S
20
D
r
i
l
l
i
n
g

R
a
t
e

I
n
d
e
x
,

D
R
I
S
i
e
v
e
r
s
'

J
-
v
a
l
u
e
,

S
J
1. DRILLABILITY 1.2 The Drilling Rate Index DRI
10


1.24 The Mini-DRI

In many cases, it is difficult or very expensive to provide sufficient sample material
for a standard drillability test. Currently, NTNU and SINTEF are modifying the stan-
dard tests to be able to test the rock drillability even with very little sample material
available. The modifications are based on downscaling the test apparatus to use less
sample volume and a less grain size than the standard tests.

Furthermore, a sufficient number of parallel tests must be carried out to find the rela-
tion between the modified and standard tests.


The Brittleness Test

In the modified test, the grain size is reduced from the fraction 11.2 - 16 mm to the
fraction 2 - 4 mm. The sample weight is reduced from 500 g to 15 g (for a rock type
with density of 2.65 g/cm
3
). The weight of the mortar lid is reduced from 4025 g to
115 g and the impact weight is reduced from 12 kg to 390 g. The height to width ratio
of the sample volume in the mortar is maintained. Other test parameters have not been
changed.


Sievers' Miniature Drill Test

The test has been downscaled by reducing the diameter of the drill bit from 8.5 mm to
2.5 mm and the weight of the sample fixture from 20 kg to 5.9 kg. Other test parame-
ters have not been changed.

Several types of test samples have been used: A pre-cut rock sample (as in the stan-
dard test), rock fragments in cement mortar, rock fragments in epoxy and rock frag-
ments in gypsum plaster. The tests with rock fragments in a matrix have not been suc-
cessful yet. Drilling in a pre-cut rock sample and in rock fragments with d >>2.5 mm
held in a cement mortar has given reliable results.



1. DRILLABILITY 1.2 The Drilling Rate Index DRI
11

The available rock sample is usually of a size that will allow a standard SJ test to be
performed, which is preferred. The downscaled SJ test is particularly being developed
with the aim to be able to test the rock surface hardness when the test material con-
sists of chips or similar.


Preliminary Results

Based on a limited number of samples, the results are promising. A medium to good
correlation between the standard test and the modified test has been found. For the
brittleness value the correlation is R
2
=0.8 and for Sievers' J -value the correlation is
R
2
=0.97.

The downscaled tests seem to be more influenced by grain size and foliation than the
standard tests. Hence, the "down-scaling relation" for the parameters will vary with
rock type and grain size (and most likely other factors also).


The Drilling Rate Index Mini-DRI

The Mini-DRI consists of a calculated brittleness value and a standard SJ value. The
calculated brittleness value is meant to represent the standard brittleness value, and is
found by the normalised relation between the downscaled and the standard brittleness
value. The diagram in Figure 1.3 for assessment of the DRI is also used to find the
Mini-DRI.

The preliminary results show that the index is quite able to classify the drillability of
rocks. However, the Mini-DRI must still be considered as having larger uncertainty
than the standard DRI since the number of parallel tests still is low.
1. DRILLABILITY 1.2 The Drilling Rate Index DRI
12


Down-scaling the Brittleness Test and the Sievers' Miniature Drill Test

The index consists of a calculated brittleness value and a calculated SJ value. Hence,
the diagram in Figure 1.3 for assessment of DRI is also used to find this index.

The preliminary results show that the index is able to classify the drillability of rocks.
The index must at present be regarded as having high uncertainty. Among other
things, we are trying to find a well-suited matrix material to cement the rock frag-
ments in. Furthermore, a sufficient number of tests to find the relation between the
downscaled and the standard SJ test must be performed.
1. DRILLABILITY 1.3 The Bit Wear Index BWI
13
1.3 THE BIT WEAR INDEX BWI

1.30 General

The Bit Wear Index is assessed on the basis of DRI and the measured Abrasion Value
AV.


1.31 The Abrasion Value AV

The parameter is a measure for the time dependent abrasion on tungsten carbide from
crushed rock powder. The test method was developed at the Department of Geology
at NTH
1
in the years 1958 61 (Reidar Lien, Rolf Selmer-Olsen). An outline of the
abrasion test is shown in Figure 1.4.



Figure 1.4 Abrasion testing.

1
The present Department of Geology and Mineral Resources Engineering at NTNU
1. DRILLABILITY 1.3 The Bit Wear Index BWI
14


Crushed rock powder less than 1 mm passes under the loaded tungsten carbide bit.
The Abrasion Value is the weight loss in milligrams of the test bit after 100 revolu-
tions of the steel disc. 100 revolutions equal 5 minutes testing time.


1.32 Assessment of BWI

Figure 1.5 is used to assess the Bit Wear Index from the DRI and the Abrasion Value
AV. The Bit Wear Index is used to estimate life of drill bits. The BWI expresses life
in drilled metres or drilled volume.



Figure 1.5 Diagram for assessment of BWI.
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
B
i
t

W
e
a
r

I
n
d
e
x
,

B
W
I
0.5 1 2 3 5 10 20 30 50 100
Abrasion Value, AV
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
D
R
I
1. DRILLABILITY 1.4 The Cutter Life Index CLI
15
1.4 THE CUTTER LIFE INDEX CLI

The Cutter Life Index is assessed on the basis of Sievers' J -value and the Abrasion
Value Steel, AVS. CLI expresses life in boring hours for cutter disc rings of steel for
tunnel boring machines.

The AVS is measured by the same test equipment as the AV. The AVS test uses a test
bit of steel from a new cutter ring. The testing time is 1 minute, i.e. 20 revolutions.
The Sivers' J -value and the Abrasion Value Steel expresses the CLI by the equation:




The CLI is based on normalising field data of actual cutter ring life versus tested rock
parameters.
)
AVS
SJ
( 13.84 = CLI
0.3847

1. DRILLABILITY 1.5 The Wear Parameter VHNR
16
1.5 THE WEAR PARAMETER VHNR

The mineral composition of a rock type is partly determining the effective time de-
pendent abrasion from crushed rock powder on drilling equipment. This is the basis
for the development of new parameters for service life of drill bits and cutter discs.

The mineral content of the rock may be measured by several methods. Microscopy of
thin-sections and X-ray diffraction of rock powder are common methods.

Vickers Hardness Number (VHN) is used as a measure for the abrasiveness of each
mineral. The mineral hardness numbers are combined to a hardness number for the
rock (VHNR, Vickers Hardness Number Rock) according to mineral percentage of
the actual rock. Calculation of VHNR for one sample of gneiss is shown below.


Mineral Percentage
%
Mineral Hardness
VHN
Portion of Total
Hardness
Quartz
Plagioclase
Amphibole
Biotite
30
63
2
5
1060
800
600
110
318
504
12
6
Total Hardness VHNR 840

Table 1.1 Example of calculation of VHNR.


VHNR seems to be a better parameter for life of drill bits than the indices DRI and
BWI. The Department of Building and Construction Engineering is developing new
relations for the life of drill steel, but the amount of field data is currently not suffi-
cient to be able to show reliable relations of life as a function of VHNR for all types
of drill bits. For drill and blast tunnelling, expected life of drill bits as a function of
VHNR is shown in Project Report 2B-95 TUNNELLING Prognosis for Drill and
Blast.
1. DRILLABILITY 1.5 The Wear Parameter VHNR
17


Mineral VHN [kg/mm
2
]
Corundum 2300
Quartz 1060
Garnet 1060
Olivine 980
Hematite 925
Pyrite 800
Plagioclase 800
Diopsid (clinopyroxene) 800
Magnetite 730
Orthoclase (alkali feldspar) 730
Augite (clinopyroxene) 640
Ilmenite 625
Hypersthene (orthopyroxene) 600
Hornblende (amphibole) 600
Chromite 600
Apatite 550
Dolomite 365
Pyrrhotite 310
Fluorite 265
Pentlandite 220
Sphalerite (zinc blende) 200
Chalcopyrite (copper pyrite) 195
Serpentine 175
Anhydrite 160
Calcite 125
Biotite 110
Galena (lead glance) 85
Chalcosite 65
Chlorite 50
Gypsum 50
Talc 20
Halite (rock salt) 17
Sylvite 10

Table 1.2 Vickers hardness VHN for common rock minerals.
After P. Salminen and R. Viitala 1985, A. Lislerud 1997.
1. DRILLABILITY 1.6 Classification of Indices
18
1.6 CLASSIFICATION OF INDICES

On the background of the original classification done by Lien and Selmer-Olsen in
the 1960s, and the more than 2000 samples that later have been tested in the labora-
tory, the following intervals are recommended for the categories:


Category DRI BWI CLI
Extremely low - 25 - 10 <5
Very low 26 - 32 11 - 20 5.0 5.9
Low 33 - 42 21 - 30 6.0 7.9
Medium 43 - 57 31 - 44 8.0 14.9
High 58 - 69 45 - 55 15.0 - 34
Very high 70 - 82 56 - 69 35 - 74
Extremely high 82 - 70 - 75

Table 1.3 Category intervals for drillability indices.


The intervals are related to the distribution of the test results in the database. The in-
tervals are based on the following:


Category Cumulative percentage of total number of samples
Extremely low 0 5
Very low 5 15
Low 15 35
Medium 35 65
High 65 85
Very high 85 95
Extremely high 95 100

Table 1.4 Cumulative percentage for category intervals of drillability indices.
1. DRILLABILITY 1.6 Classification of Indices
19


Furthermore, it has been taken into consideration that the database most likely is not
representative for the total rock mass. When testing rock samples, it is more interest-
ing to test samples of low drillability or high abrasivity than samples of good drillabil-
ity or low abrasivity, since the latter seldom represents any risk regarding costs. The
recommended intervals for the categories are therefore moved towards the original
(and higher) intervals of classification made by Lien and Selmer-Olsen.
APPENDIX A. Previous Editions
20
A. PREVIOUS EDITIONS

Previous editions of the Drillability Report including project group members:

6-75 THE DRILLING RATE INDEX DRI
(Norwegian edition)
Bjrn Kielland
Halvdan Ousdal
O. Torgeir Blindheim
Odd J ohannessen

8-79 DRILLABILITY Catalogue of Drillability Indices
(Norwegian and English editions)
O. Torgeir Blindheim
Erik Dahl J ohansen
Arne Lislerud
Odd J ohannessen

4-88 DRILLABILITY Catalogue of Drillability Indices
(Norwegian edition)
Amund Bruland
Sigurd Eriksen
Astrid M. Myran
Rune Rake
Odd J ohannessen

13-90 DRILLABILITY Catalogue of Drillability Indices
(Norwegian and English editions)
Amund Bruland
Sigurd Eriksen
Astrid M. Myran
Odd J ohannessen

13A-94 DRILLABILITY Test Methods
(Norwegian edition)
Amund Bruland
APPENDIX B. Research Partners
21
B. RESEARCH PARTNERS

The following external research partners have supported the project:

Statkraft anlegg as
Norwegian Public Roads Administration
Statsbygg
Scandinavian Rock Group AS
NCC Eeg-Henriksen Anlegg AS
Veidekke ASA
Andersen Mek. Verksted AS
DYNO Nobel
Atlas Copco Rock Drills AB
Tamrock OY
The Research Council of Norway
APPENDIX C. Laboratory Testing
22
C. LABORATORY TESTING

Samples for testing should be marked and sent to:

The Laboratory of Engineering Geology
SINTEF Rock and Mineral Engineering
N-7034 Trondheim
NORWAY

Some information about the sample should be given:

Rock type
Location of sample site, preferably also co-ordinates
Project name
Registered data related to the sample, e.g. drilling rate and drill steel wear
Laboratory tests to be performed.

The information may, if desired, be confidential.

At present (1998), testing of one sample with regard to DRI, BWI, CLI and quartz
content (DTA, differential thermal analysis) amounts to NOK 7600. For testing of a
series of samples, a special price may be arranged. The same costs are currently
applied for the Mini-DRI test.

To get the best possible information on the rock abrasiveness on drill bits or cutters,
an analysis of the rock mineral content should be performed as well. The Laboratory
of Engineering Geology applies XRD (X-Ray Diffraction), a semi-quantitative
method. The cost of one XRD test is at present NOK 2000.

Contact Persons

SINTEF Rock and Mineral Engineering
Filip Dahl e-mail: Filip.E.Dahl@civil.sintef.no tel: +47 73 59 48 35
Torill Srlkk e-mail: Torill.Sorlokk@civil.sintef.no fax: +47 73 59 47 78

The Department of Building and Construction Engineering at NTNU
Amund Bruland e-mail: amund.bruland@bygg.ntnu.no tel: +47 73 59 47 37
fax: +47 73 59 70 21