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1129215777isrm SM Block Punch Strength Index 2001
1129215777isrm SM Block Punch Strength Index 2001
3. Apparatus
Fig. 2. BPI test device fitted into a point load testing frame (PB:
punching block; BS: base support; R: ram).
in Fig. 3. This part of the apparatus is attached to the 4.3. The use of capping material or end surface
upper rigid block of the point load-testing device by treatments between the upper surface of the specimen
means of a long screw as can be seen in Figs. 1a and 2. and the punching block is not permitted.
3.4. The load is provided by a conventional portable 4.4. The diameter D of the test specimen should be
point load-testing device comprising a hydraulic ram measured to the nearest 0.1 mm by averaging two
and a manual hydraulic pump equipped with a pressure diameters measured at right angles to each other at
gauge. Spherically truncated conical platens of the point about the mid-height of the specimen. The thickness of
load-testing device are removed during the BPI test. To the specimen should also be determined to the nearest
apply a load approximately at a given rate, the hydraulic 0.1 mm by averaging two thicknesses measured at right
pump is manually operated while simultaneously both angles to each other. The average values of diameter and
the pressure gauge and a stopwatch are monitored. thickness are later used in any subsequent calculations.
3.5. An instrument, such as caliper is required to 4.5. For routine testing and classification, specimens
measure diameter D and thickness t of the specimens. should be tested either at their natural water content or
When the test is carried out on cores from boreholes at air dried. Samples should be stored, for no longer than
any angle to the weakness planes, a device such as a 30 days, in such a way as to preserve their natural water
goniometer should be used to measure the inclination of content, as far as possible, and tested in that condition.
the weakness planes. This moisture content should be reported in accordance
with ‘‘Suggested method for determination of the water
content of a rock sample’’, Method 1, ISRM Committee
4. Procedure on Laboratory Tests [8].
4.6. If the BPI test has to be carried out to measure
4.1. Specimen preparation the strength anisotropy (i.e. to estimate the strength in
the strongest direction from the specimens obtained
4.1. Test specimens should be right cylindrical thin from the cores inclined at any angle to the weakness
discs. For the purpose, the cores are cut into discs of planes), the inclination of the weakness plane a should
various raw thicknesses ranging between 5 and 15 mm be measured by a goniometer to the nearest 11.
using a diamond saw perpendicularly to the core axis. 4.7. The number of specimens tested under a specified
The diameter of the disc specimens should preferably be set of conditions shall be governed by practical
not less than BX core size approximately 42 mm. considerations, but at least five are preferred.
4.2. Although nearly all of the specimens are prepared
without special treatment, care should be taken to 4.2. Testing
ensure that the disc faces are as parallel as possible and
the sides of the specimens are smooth and free of abrupt 4.8. The base support of the BPI apparatus is
irregularities. However, if it is required, a surface- mounted onto the ram of the point load device of which
grinding machine can be used to smooth the end faces of conical platens have been removed. The punching block
the discs. is fixed to the upper block of the device by means of a
1116 R. Ulusay et al. / International Journal of Rock Mechanics & Mining Sciences 38 (2001) 1113–1119
Fig. 7. Calculation steps of the area ðAÞ of the failure surface in the
BPI test.
punch strength index value for the rock sample and one
that can be used for purposes of rock strength
classification.
5.3. The size-corrected block punch strength index
(BPI10;50 or BPIs ) of a rock specimen is defined as
the value of BPI that would have been calculated from a
failure load converted to a corrected load for a nomi-
nal 50 mm diameter and 10 mm thickness by multiplying
Fig. 8. Charts for the size correction factors to be used in the
BPI with the constants Kt and KD ; representing calculation of the corrected BPI [7].
correction factors for thickness and diameter,
respectively.
Because the load at failure is converted to a corrected the corrected BPI value without considering the failure
BPI value for a equivalent size (D ¼ 50 mm, area
t ¼ 10 mm), the area of the surface through which BPIc ¼ 3499D1:3926 t1:1265 Ft;D ; ð5Þ
shearing takes place used in calculation of the corrected
BPI should be expressed in terms of equivalent specimen where D and t are in mm and Ft;D is in kN.
dimensions. The equivalent area ðA10;50 Þ is
921 106 m2. When testing single-sized disc specimen 5.3. Strength index in the strongest direction
with a diameter and thickness other than 50 mm and
10 mm, respectively, the size correction is accomplished 5.4. In the case of a testing, which is carried out on
using the formula specimens prepared from cores from boreholes inclined
F10;50 Ft;D 103 Kt KD at any angle to the weakness planes, if determination of
BPI10;50 ðBPIs Þ ¼ ¼ ðMPaÞ: the strength index in the strongest direction (i.e. loading
A10;50 921 106
perpendicular to the weakness plane) is considered, an
ð3Þ additional conversion on BPIs should be done. For the
The correction factors Kt and KD can be obtained purpose, a strength anisotropy transformation factor of
from the charts in Fig. 8 or from the expressions: Ka was suggested by Ulusay and Gokceoglu [4–6]
Kt ¼ 13:741:1265 ðthickness correction factorÞ; ð4aÞ BPIs90
Ka ¼ ; ð6Þ
BPIsa
KD ¼ 234:53D1:3926 ðdiameter correction factorÞ: ð4bÞ
where BPIs90 is the BPIs of the specimens obtained from
Alternatively, the following equation derived from the boreholes perpendicular to the weakness planes (stron-
combination of Eqs. (3), (4a) and (4b) is used to obtain gest direction), and BPIsa is the BPIs of the specimens
1118 R. Ulusay et al. / International Journal of Rock Mechanics & Mining Sciences 38 (2001) 1113–1119
7. Notes
Table 1
Classification of block punch strength index [7]
o1 Very weak
1–5 Weak
5–10 Moderate
10–20 Medium
20–50 High
>50 Very high
Acknowledgements