o— a INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR ROCK MECHANICS COMMISSION ON TESTING METHO! DRAFT ISRM SUGGESTED METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE INDENTATION HARDNESS INDEX OF ROCK MATERIALS CONTENTS 1. Scope a 833, 2. Apparatus 833 3. Procedure 833 4. Analysis of results and calculations. 834 5. Reporting of results 834 6. References, 835 Co-ordinator T, Sewedzicki (Australia) 8311. SWEDZICKI: ISRM SUGGESTED METHODS (DRAFT) 833 Draft ISRM Suggested Method for Determining the Indentation Hardness Index of Rock Materials T. SZWEDZICKI ISRM SUGGESTED METHODS (SMs): SECOND SERIES A Second Series of Suggested Methods is being produced by the ISRM Commission on Testing Methods from 1998 onwards. In this Second Series, for each SM two versions are published: (@) A Draft SM written by the Working Group Co-ordinator; (b) A Final SM also produced by the Working Group Co-ordinator but with amendments resulting from the Draft SM review by the Working Group Members and other comments received after publi Draft SM. tion of this This document is the Draft ISRM Suggested Method for Determining the Indentation Hardness Index of Rock. Please send written comments on this Draft SM within 6 months of the publication date to the President of the ISRM Commission on Testing Methods Professor J. A. Hudson, 7 The Quadrangle, Welwyn Garden City, Herts ALB 6SG, U.K. Fax: +44 1707 375912 1. SCOPE, ‘The indentation test may be used for characterisation of hardness of rock materials. During the test, an indentor under applied load penetrates into the rock surface forming a crater. The test allows the determi- nation of an index which characterises rock hardness and may be used to assess other strength parameters with which it can be correlated, for example to uniax- ial compressive and tensile strength. It also may be used 10 predict drillability or cutability of rock for- mations. The test is mainly intended as a simple pro- cedure for classification and characterisation of rock samples. The test is of special value when only a lim- ited amount of rock material, e.g. a thin disc of core or a small lump sample, is available 2, APPARATUS, The testing machine consists of a loading system, load measuring system and penetration measuring sys- tem, ‘Department of Mining Enginering and Mine Surveying. Western ‘Australian School of Mines, Kalgoorlie, WA 6830, Austra. 2.1 Loading system The loading device is comprised of a loading frame, pump, ram and platens. The system should have the following features: (a) The device should be adjustable to accept and test available rock specimens for which a loading ca- pacity of up to 30 KN is commonly required (b) Two platens: the lower one should be flat to seat the specimen (in a steel frame) and the upper platen which is an indenter should be conical. The conical cone should be of standard geometry, ie. the same shape and dimensions as conical platen used to determine the point load strength index [1,2]. The con- ical platen should have a 60° cone and 5mm radius spherical tip. The tip transmits the load to the speci- men, The conical platen should consist of a hard ma- terial such as tungsten carbide or hardened steel. A spherical seat or other non-rigid component should not be permitted in the loading system 2.2 Load measuring system A system should be capable of measuring the failure load (P) to an accuracy of 1% irrespective of the strength of the specimen tested. The system should in- corporate a recording device so that the reading is retained and recorded. It should be resistant to hydraulic shock and vibrations so that the accuracy of the reading is maintained during testing.. SZWEDZICKI: Fig. 2.3 Penetration measuring system ‘The displacement of the indenter (penetration) is measured by a continuous measuring system capable of indicating the distance (D) between platen contact points to an accuracy of 0.01 mm. The most suitable is 4 data logging system which allows for taking one reading per second, 3. PROCEDURE ‘The testing procedure is as follows: (a) The test specimen has the top end saw-cut so it is smooth and free of abrupt irregularities to within 0.1 mm over the whole area, Samples in the form of core are preferred. They should be circular cylinders or disks cut from a rock core sample (with a height to di- ameter ratio of not less than 1:2), Block or irregular lump samples with a typical width of approximately 50mm should be trimmed and saw-cut along the test- ing surface. (b) Samples are stored, for no longer than 30 days, in such a way as to preserve the natural water content Following their preparation, the specimens are stored prior to testing for S-6days in an environment of 20 + °C and 30 + $% humidity [1], 46) The disk sample és cemented into a steel frame in such a manner a to ensure that the top of the speci men is at the cementing agent level and can be posi- tioned perpendicular to the indenter. The cementing agent can be high grade plaster (compressive strength of 35-40 MPa), epoxy resin or sulphur (4) After the cementing agent has hardened suffi ciently the test specimen in the frame is placed on a testing machine with the spherical tip, Fig. 1 (€) The penetration load on the specimen is applied continuously at a constant load rate such that the test can be completed within 3 min of loading: alternatively the lond rate is 0.05 to 0.15 KNYs. U0 The test is performed until a distinct crater is formed (the depth of the crater up to | mm) or the 1SRM SUGGESTED METHODS (DRAFT) load has reached 20 KN limit. The load on the speci- men is recorded to within 1% (g) Each rock specimen can be indented a number of times at different locations. Each indentation is ear- ried out at a distance of not less than 10 mm from the boundary of the specimen and any other previous indentation test. The number of tests per specimens is determined from the size of the specimen. The total number of tests for one rock type performed on one for more specimen is determined from practical con- siderations but at least five tests are preferred [4]. {h) When a rock sample is shaly, bedded or other- wise observably anisotropic it should be tested in directions which give the greatest and least strength values, which are generally parallel and normal to the planes of anisotropy. (i) The indentation process is controlled by an elec- tronie instrumentation array that is installed on the testing machine, The displacement of the indentor (penetration) can be measured by a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT). The data logging sys- tem allows for the accurate logging of the crater depth, D (mm) together with the corresponding load, LO), 4, ANALYSIS OF RESULTS AND CALCULATIONS, During the indentation three distinct phases can be identified. In the first there is elastic deformation and very fine crushing of the intact rock surface. In the sec- ‘ond phase there is crushing of tock fabric while in the third phase chips of rock wre formed. These three phases can be identified on a load penetration profile Elastic deformation and very fine crushing is rep- resented by a linear relation, Crushing is represented by “steps” on the profile and chipping of the rock fragments is represented by peaks and troughs. Calculations of indentation hardness index, THI, are carcied out for the first phase only. For that purpose each load—penetration profile is analysed and, at the first deviation from linear behaviour, the peak load, L, and corresponding penetration, P, are taken for calcu: lation of the indentation hardness index [4]. ‘The indentation hardness index, THI, of the speci. men is calculated by dividing the maximum load L (in KN) applied to the specimen to the maximum pen- etration P (in mm). TAL = L/P §, REPORTING OF RESULTS The report should contain the following information for each sample teste (a) Source of sample, including: geographic location, depth and orientation. {) Lithologic description of the rock. {c) Number of specimens tested“T. SZWEDZICK: (4) Orientation of the axis of loading with respect to specimen anisotropy, ¢.g. bedding planes, foliation, etc (€) Specimen diameter and height. (8) Water content and degree of saturation at time of test [3 (g) Test duration or/and load rate. (h) Description of the mode of failure, e.g. crushing. chipping, fracturing. (i) Load-penetration profile with values of load and penetration taken for calculation of the indentation index, / () Value of the indentation index for each test together with average results for each rock sample, Should it be necessary in some instances to test spe- cimens that do not comply with the above specifica- tions, these facts should be noted in the test report. If a relationship between the indentation hardness index and other mechanical parameters, e.g. uniaxial compressive strength or tensile strength, is required the relationship should be established by testing. ISRM SUGGESTED METHODS (DRAFT) a3 For statistical purposes ten or more tests of the same material are required. When ten or more tests on the same type of rock ure performed the mean value is caleulated by deleting the two highest and lowest values and then calculating the mean of the remaining values. If fewer than ten values are tested only the highest and the lowest values are deleted [3], Accepted fw publication 27 Novenber 197 6, REFERENCES, ISRM Supuested Methods. Suggested method for determining Point load sreagth In J. Rock Mech. A Min. Sct 1985, 22 (2). ISRM Sugpested Methods. Suggested method for determining tensile stengih of rock materials ar J Rock Mech. 4 Min. Se Geamech Abste 1978, 183), ISRM Suggested Methods. Suggested method for determination fof the water content of a rock sample, Des. 1977 In Rock Characterisation Testing aint Monitoring, e8, ET. Bown, Pergamon Press. 198 4. Sawedcki. T. Indentation hardness testing of rock material. J J Rock Mech AM Set Geumech. Abstr, IIR, 3816), 325. 9,