DEPARTMENT OF MINING ENGINEERING

(NITK)

LAB SUBMISSION ON
PROTODYAKONOV STRENGTH INDEX

Submitted By
Ankesh Pandey
(181MN002)

Submitted To
Dr Sandi Kumar Reddy
AIM
To determine the Protodyakonov Strength Index (P.S.I) of a given rock sample.

APPARATUS
Drop cylinder, Drop weight 2.4 kg, volume-meter, sieve (500 microns), brush, balance
and hammer

THEORY
This is a very simple test meant to determine the resistance of rock to failure under
impact load and can be applied to experiments on irregular samples. This test is widely
used in the USSR and other East European countries. The test was derived by Prof. M.M
Protodyakonov and is also sometimes called the pounding method. With the help of the
Protodyakonov index, the approximate value of uniaxial compressive strength of rock
can be determined in the field.

This test determines the resistance of rocks to failure under impact load and can be
applied to experiments on irregular samples as well .The test also gives a brief idea
about the rocks strength properties, cuttability and brittleness. The test was further
improved by Evans and Pmoeroy in 1966 and this technique is based on the crushability
of rock under standard experimental conditions.

FORMULA USED
The Protodyakonov Strength Index is given by

Where,
f = Protodyakonov Strength Index
n = Number of Poundings
h = Height of lines in Volume - Meter
PROCEDURE
1. 5 Samples of rock pieces of size between 2 to 3 cm weighing around 5 grams are
prepared.

2. First sample is placed in the drop cylinder and the drop weight is made to fall
from a height of 0.60 m for 5 times on the sample.

3. After 5 drops on the first sample, the sample is properly taken out from the drop
cylinder and the next sample is placed in it and a similar operation is performed
on it. This process is repeated for all the samples.

4. Then all the 5 samples are collected and sieved through 500 microns sieve mesh.

5. Then the powdered sample sieved from the mesh is placed in the volume-meter
and height of the fines in volume-meter is recorded

6. The Protodyakonov Strength Index is calculated using the formula.

OBSERVATIONS & CALCULATIONS

Table 1 - Observations

Sample Sample No. of Height (h) of P.S.I Compressive

Type No Drops (n) fines in Strength =
Volume- (P.S.I x 100)
Meter (in
mm)

1 5

2 5

Granite 3 5 44 2.2727 227.27

4 5

5 5
 Sample Sample No. of Height (h) of P.S.I Compressive
Type No Drops (n) fines in Strength =
Volume- (P.S.I x 100)
Meter (in
mm)

1 5

2 5

Haematite 3 5 16 6.25 625.00

4 5

5 5

Standard Deviation :

Variance :

PRECAUTIONS
1. The rock pieces in each sample should be between 2 to 3 cm size
2. The drop weight should be dropped carefully
3. The sample should be properly transferred from the drop cylinder
4. After sieving, the powdered sample should be poured carefully in the volume-
meter

RESULT
The Protodyakonov Strength Index (P.S.I) of granite is 2.2727 and of haematite is
6.25 .