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Rock Mechanics.pdf - Mining and Blasting

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Figure 4.13 Axial force–axial displacement<br />

curve obtained for Tennessee<br />

Marble with post-peak unloading<br />

<strong>and</strong> reloading (after Wawersik <strong>and</strong><br />

Fairhurst, 1970).<br />

BEHAVIOUR OF ISOTROPIC ROCK MATERIAL IN UNIAXIAL COMPRESSION<br />

Marble which was unloaded <strong>and</strong> then reloaded from a number of points in the postpeak<br />

range. Several points should be noted about the behaviour observed.<br />

(a) On reloading, the curve eventually joins that for a specimen in which the axial<br />

displacement increases monotonically with time.<br />

(b) As displacement continues in the post-peak region, the proportion of the total<br />

displacement that is irrecoverable increases.<br />

(c) The unloading–loading loop shows some hysteresis.<br />

(d) The apparent modulus of the rock which can be calculated from the slope of<br />

the reloading curve, decreases with post-peak deformation <strong>and</strong> progressive fragmentation<br />

of the specimen.<br />

If rock specimens are subjected to loading <strong>and</strong> unloading cycles in the pre-peak<br />

range, some permanent deformation <strong>and</strong> hysteresis are generally observed. This is<br />

often associated with ‘bedding-down’ effects, <strong>and</strong> for this reason, the ISRM Commission<br />

(1979) recommends that ‘it is sometimes advisable for a few cycles of loading<br />

<strong>and</strong> unloading to be performed’.<br />

4.3.9 The point load test<br />

Sometimes the facilities required to prepare specimens <strong>and</strong> carry out uniaxial compression<br />

tests to the st<strong>and</strong>ard described above are not available. In other cases, the<br />

number of tests required to determine the properties of the range of rock types encountered<br />

on a project may become prohibitive. There may be still further cases, in<br />

which the uniaxial compressive strength <strong>and</strong> the associated stress–strain behaviour<br />

need not be studied in detail, with only an approximate measure of peak strength<br />

being required. In all of these instances, the point load test may be used to provide<br />

an indirect estimate of uniaxial compressive strength. This account is based on the<br />

ISRM Suggested Method for determining point load strength (ISRM Commission,<br />

1985).<br />

97

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