POINT LOAD STRENGTH INDEX TEST OF ROCK (IS-8764)

Equipments
Point load strength test machine
A 100 mm scale attached with the loading frame
Pressure gauge (Capacity 25 kN or 50 kN)

Point Load Testing Machine Set up

Depending upon the size and shape of test specimen, the point load strength index can be
conducted by four different methods. These are

1. Diametral Test
2. Axial Test
3. Block Test
4. Irregular lump Test
1. Diametral Test

Diametral Test

Procedure

1. The diametral test is conducted on rock core sample. Minimum of 10 test specimens
are required to find out the average value of point load strength index.
2. This test can be conducted on the core specimens which are completely dry or after
soaking it for 7 days.
3. Measure the total length (l) and diameter (d) of the core specimen. Specimen of
l/d=1.5, are considered to be suitable for this test.
4. Place the specimen horizontally between two platens in such a way that the distance
between the contact point and the nearest free end (L) is at least 0.75times the
diameter of the core (d).
5. Measure the distance between two platen contact points (D) with the help of the scale
attached with the loading frame. (Note-In case of diametral test, the diameter of the
core (d) and the distance between two platens (D) will be same)
6. Apply load to the core specimen such that failure occur within 10-60 sec. record the
failure load P.

Calculation

Point load strength index (Is) = (P*1000)/D2 Mpa

Where P is breaking load in kN
D is the distance between platens in mm
Corresponding point load strength index for the standard core size of 50 mm (Is50) diameter is
given by the following equation
Is50 = (P*1000)/(D1.550) MPa
Uniaxial compressive strength of rock may be predicted from the following equation
qc = 22*Is50 Mpa
Report
The corrected mean value of the point load strength index Is50 is reported in Mpa.
2. Axial Test

Axial Test

Procedure

1. The axial test is conducted on rock core sample of small length. Minimum of 10 test
specimens are required to find out the average value of point load strength index.
2. This test can be conducted on the core specimens which are completely dry or after
soaking it for 7 days.
3. Measure the total length (l) and diameter (d) of the core specimen. Specimen of l/d in
between 0.3 to 1.0, are considered to be suitable for this test.
4. Place the specimen vertically in between two platens.
5. Measure the distance between two platen contact points (D) with the help of the scale
attached with the loading frame. Measure the specimen width (W) which is equal to
the diameter of the core specimen (i.e. d).
6. Apply load to the core specimen such that failure occur within 10-60 sec. record the
failure load P.

Calculation

Uncorrected Point load strength index (Is) = (P*1000)/De2 Mpa

Where De= Equivalent core diameter
De2 = (4A)/
And A is calculated using following equation
A=W*D
Where W is the specimen width in mm
D is the distance between platens in mm
P is the breaking load in kN
Corrected point load strength index for the standard core size of 50 mm (Is50) diameter is
given by the following equation
Is50 = (P*1000)/(De1.550) Mpa
Uniaxial compressive strength of rock may be predicted from the following equation
qc = 22*Is50 Mpa
Report
The corrected mean value of the point load strength index Is50 is reported in Mpa.
3. Block or Irregular Lump Test

Block or Irregular lump Test

Procedure

1. This method of test is conducted on rock block or irregular samples. Minimum of 10

test specimens are required to find out the average value of point load strength index.
2. This test can be conducted on the core specimens which are completely dry or after
soaking it for 7 days.
3. Place the specimen horizontally between two platens.
4. Measure the distance between two platen contact points (D) with the help of the scale
attached with the loading frame. Measure the smallest specimen width (W)
perpendicular to the load direction. If the sides are not parallel , then W is obtained
from W1, W2 and W3 as show in the figure and calculated as W= (W1+W2+W3)/3.
Measure the distance between platen contact point and nearest free end (i.e. L). The
distance L should be at least 0.5D.
5. Apply load to the core specimen such that failure occur within 10-60 sec. record the
failure load P.

Calculation
Uncorrected Point load strength index (Il) = (P*1000)/De2 Mpa
Where De= Equivalent core diameter
De2 = (4A)/
And A is calculated using following equation
A=W*D
Where W is the specimen width in mm
D is the distance between platens in mm
P is the breaking load in kN
Corrected point load strength index for the standard core size of 50 mm (Is50) diameter is
given by the following equation
Il50 = (P*1000)/[(D*W)0.7550)] Mpa
Uniaxial compressive strength of rock may be predicted from the following equation
qc = 15*Is50 Mpa
Report
The corrected mean value of the point load strength index Is50 is reported in Mpa.
Note
See the figure below to find out which test is a valid test and which are invalid.

Valid and Invalid Test