Compressive Strength and Griffith Criterion
The University of Hong Kong
Department of Civil Engineering
CIVL2002 M – Geology & Rock
Laboratory Report
Brazilian Test
A. Introduction As shown by the Griffith criterion, tensile strength of brittle materials is theoretical 1/8 of the compressive strength. Typically, tensile strength of rock materials is about 1/10 to 1/8 of the compressive strength. Hence, rock fails easily under tension. In design, rock should be subjected to minimum tensile stress. Several methods are commonly used to test the tensile strength of rocks: 1. Direct tensile test: Metal caps are cemented to the end-surfaces of the samples so that tensile load can be applied to the samples until failure. 2. Brazilian test: Compressive stress is applied to the sample through the loading jaws enclosing the sample, so that tensile stress will be induced in the lateral direction of the applied load. 3. Flexural test (or Bending test): International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM), Commission on Testing Methods (1978), has listed suggested methods for determining tensile strength of rock materials.
Brazilian test is more preferrable than the other two tests in the measurement of tensile strength of rock specimens. One of the major reasons is that only small rock specimens are required for the Brazil test, thus ensuring the specimens to be intact and relatively free from cracks and joints or other discontinuities. In fact, the Brazil test has been found to give a tensile strength higher than that of the direct tensile test. This is most probably owing to the effect of fissures. Short fissures weaken a direct tension specimen more severely than they weaken a splitting tension specimen. The ratio of the ‘Brazilian tensile strength’ to direct tensile strength has been found to vary from unity to more than 10 as the length of preexisting fissures grows larger. Another reason for the popularity of the Brazil test is that it
Department of Civil Engineering
CIVL2002 M – Geology & Rock
Laboratory Report
Brazilian Test
A. Introduction As shown by the Griffith criterion, tensile strength of brittle materials is theoretical 1/8 of the compressive strength. Typically, tensile strength of rock materials is about 1/10 to 1/8 of the compressive strength. Hence, rock fails easily under tension. In design, rock should be subjected to minimum tensile stress. Several methods are commonly used to test the tensile strength of rocks: 1. Direct tensile test: Metal caps are cemented to the end-surfaces of the samples so that tensile load can be applied to the samples until failure. 2. Brazilian test: Compressive stress is applied to the sample through the loading jaws enclosing the sample, so that tensile stress will be induced in the lateral direction of the applied load. 3. Flexural test (or Bending test): International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM), Commission on Testing Methods (1978), has listed suggested methods for determining tensile strength of rock materials.
Brazilian test is more preferrable than the other two tests in the measurement of tensile strength of rock specimens. One of the major reasons is that only small rock specimens are required for the Brazil test, thus ensuring the specimens to be intact and relatively free from cracks and joints or other discontinuities. In fact, the Brazil test has been found to give a tensile strength higher than that of the direct tensile test. This is most probably owing to the effect of fissures. Short fissures weaken a direct tension specimen more severely than they weaken a splitting tension specimen. The ratio of the ‘Brazilian tensile strength’ to direct tensile strength has been found to vary from unity to more than 10 as the length of preexisting fissures grows larger. Another reason for the popularity of the Brazil test is that it
References: 1. Obert, L., Windes, S. L. and Duvall, W. I., 1946, “Standardized Tests for Determining the Physical Properties of Mine Rock,” U.S. Bureau of Mines, Rept. Inv. 3891, Augs., 67 p. 2. Obert, L. and Duvall, W. I., 1967, “Rock Mechanics and the Design of Structures in Rock,” John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, pp. 318-339. 4 3. American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM), Standard Test Method for Unconfined Compressive Strength of Intact Rock Core Specimens. ASTM D2938-71a. ASTM Book of Standards Part 19, 1979, pp. 440-442. 4. International Society for Rock Mechanics, Suggested Methods for Deter mining the Uniaxial Compressive Strength and Deformability of Rock Materials. Int. J. Rock Mech. Mi Sci. vol. 16, 1979, pp. 135-140. (ISRM Committee on Laboratory Tests, Sept. 1978, enclosed)