SCE5431 Earthwork Engineering

Tutorial 8
(1) Predict how the volume of a brittle rock specimen will change during the uniaxial
compression test, and sketch the variation of volumetric strain versus axial strain. In
addition, please explain what physical processes occur in the sample as the curve
manifests significant gradient changes.

Volumetric
change Crack
coalescence
Preexisting
fissures closed
Crack initiation
Elastic Crack propagation
(Dilation)
contraction Sliding on
macro crack

Axial strain
(Contraction)

(a) Initially, preexisting fissures closed and minerals are slightly compressed.

(b) Then, most fissures have closed, further elastic compression occurs.

(c) With further shearing, new cracks form (crack initiation), and old ones extend
(crack propagation).

(d) Macro crack/fracture forms by joining of micro cracks (crack coalescence).

(e) Eventually, sliding occurs on the macro crack and the sample continues to dilate.
(2) The results shown in the Table below were obtained at failure in a series of CU
tests on a strongly weathered rock. Supposed that the failure of the rock follows the
Coulomb criterion, determine the shear strength parameters with respect to (a) total
stress and (b) effective stress.

All-round pressure Principal stress difference Pore water pressure

(kPa) (kPa) (kPa)
150 192 80
300 341 154
450 504 222

σ3 σ1 σ'3 σ'1
(kPa) (kPa) (kPa) (kPa)
150 342 70 262
300 641 146 487
450 954 288 732

400
Shear stress, τ (kPa)

200

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Normal stress, σ (kPa)

400
Shear stress, τ (kPa)

200

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Effective normal stress, σ (kPa)

For the total stress, c = 15 kPa,  = 19.5

For the effective stress, c' = 20 kPa,  = 29

(3) Please elaborate what lab tests can be carried out to obtain the Hoek-Brown failure
envelope for intact rocks.

T0 = uniaxial tensile strength and C0 = uniaxial compressive strength

Therefore, direction tension test, Brazilian test, and flexural test can be carried out to
measure T0, and uniaxial compression test and point loading test can be carried out to
measure C0.