Lab Services: Rock testing

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Test Method Title

Standard Test Method for Elastic Moduli of Undrained Intact Rock Core Specimens in Triaxial Compression Without Pore Pressure Measurements **ASTM has discontinued this method, the industry-accepted standard test method is now ASTM D7012B

Reference Number

ASTM D5407

Material

Rock

Test Property

Young's Modulus, Poisson's ratio

Description of Test

A rock core sample is cut to length and the ends are machined flat. The specimen is placed in a triaxial loading chamber subjected to confining pressure and, if required, heated to the desired test temperature. Axial load is continuously increased on the specimen, and deformation is monitored as a function of load. Deformation and strength of rock are known to be functions of confining pressure. The triaxial compression test is commonly used to simulate the stress conditions under which most underground rock masses exist.

Preferred Test Sample Size

Number of Test Specimens

Enough samples to represent a valid average of the type of rock under consideration

Test Specimen Size

Right circular cylinder, with diameter of at least 1 7/8 in and a length to diameter ratio of 2 to 2.5

Keywords

Compression testing, loading tests, modulus of elasticity, modulus-Young's, triaxial compression