Analysis of Triaxial Lab Data 3-1

Tutorial 3 – Analysis of Triaxial Lab

Data
This tutorial will involve fitting three strength models to a triaxial
lab dataset for intact rock.

• Generalized Hoek-Brown

• Mohr-Coulomb

• Power Curve

Start up RocData and a new analysis file will be automatically

opened. If you are already in the program select the New option
from the File menu or from the toolbar.

The default view is the “Table Values View” in which the user
can estimate strength parameters using reference tables. However,
with the availability of triaxial test data, we can derive the
parameters using strength envelopes best-fit to the dataset. This is
done in the “Lab Data View,” which can be accessed from the
toolbar or the Analysis menu.

Select the Project Settings option (from the Analysis menu or the
toolbar) and ensure that the measurement unit is set to MPa.
Notice that the Generalized Hoek-Brown criterion is the default
strength model. The default Generalized Hoek-Brown Modulus
Estimation Method is Generalized Hoek-Diederichs (2006).
Exit the Project Settings dialog by pressing the OK button.

Let’s move to the sidebar.

Starting from the top, notice that the current material is “Lab
Material 1.”

Click the “Sync..” button. In the “Synchronize” dialog that appears,

select the following:

RocData v.5.0 Tutorial Examples

Analysis of Triaxial Lab Data 3-2

By synchronizing “Lab Material 1” of Lab Data View with

“Material 1” of “Table Values View,” curve fit results in the Lab
Data View will automatically be exported to the Table Values
View, in which strength parameters can be calculated.

Select “OK” in the dialog. Notice that the synchronized material

name is displayed:

Next, enter the following triaxial data points in the Lab Data Grid.

RocData v.5.0 Tutorial Examples

Analysis of Triaxial Lab Data 3-3

Click “Zoom Extents” to display all data points.

The next step is to determine how to curve fit the dataset. Under
the Curve Fit Analysis section, select “Modified Cuckoo” for the
algorithm, “Basic” for the error summation and “Absolute” for
the error type.

Only after both the data set and the curve fit parameters are
entered will the strength envelope of best fit be calculated and
displayed.

RocData v.5.0 Tutorial Examples

Analysis of Triaxial Lab Data 3-4

The calculated sigci and mi are also updated and displayed in the
data legend, to the right of the plot. The residuals value is also
displayed and is a measure of how well the envelope fits the
dataset. Curve fitting requires minimizing the residuals value.

Now let’s see the rock mass strength parameters derived from the
intact lab samples.

Go the “Table Values View.”

Notice that the sigci and mi values have been updated. The GSI
value has also been updated to 100 to reflect that the lab tests
were made from intact samples. The sigci and mi fields are now
read-only to discourage the user from changing them. Only by un-
synchronizing Material 1 from Lab Material 1 can the fields be
changed again.

The plots and calculated values are updated and displayed, as

follows:

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Analysis of Triaxial Lab Data 3-5

Let’s go back to the “Lab Data View.”

In the Project Settings dialog, select the Mohr-Coulomb

criterion and make sure the Lab Data Type is “Triaxial Data.”
Click OK.

Since we are still working with “Lab Material 1,” the dataset is
saved because it’s associated with the same material. However, we
need to enter new Curve Fit Analysis parameters because these
parameters are different depending on the strength criterion being
fitted to the dataset.

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Analysis of Triaxial Lab Data 3-6

Enter the following parameters for the curve fit analysis:

You should now see the updated plot and curve fit results.

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Analysis of Triaxial Lab Data 3-7

Fitting the data set to the Power Curve criterion is left as an

exercise for the user. The results for this exercise should appear as
follows if the user chooses the Simplex Algorithm with Vertical
error summation and Absolute errors:

Note that more curve fitting options are available in the Curve
Fitting Options dialog, which can be access from the “Curve Fit
Analysis” section in the sidebar.

This concludes the tutorial on fitting the Hoek-Brown, Mohr-

Coulomb and Power Curve strength models to an intact rock
triaxial lab dataset.

RocData v.5.0 Tutorial Examples