9/23/21, 11:10 AM Unconfined Compression Test | Geoengineer.

org

HOME NEWS EVENTS PUBLICATIONS  EDUCATION JOBS SOFTWARE GALLERY

OUR SPONSORS GEOMAP LOGIN REGISTER

Home • Education • Laboratory Testing • Unconfined Compression Test

Pile Dynamics, Inc.'s PDI Webinar Series: QA/QC Remote Testing Continue Project Timelines begins on Oct 4th 2021 More

Create a free account and view content that fits your specific interests in geotechnical engineering Learn
Register
More

Search Geoengineer.org Education

Unconfined Compression Test

 Laboratory Testing Looking for Inclinometer
Equipment? Fill in the
form and we will contact
them for you.

GET A QUOTE NOW

Related Software

KeyLAB

Lab. Testing and Log

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Viber Email More 19
Drafting Software
(NovoLAB)

Contents [hide]
1. Laboratory Procedure
1.1. Sampling Related
Geoengineer.org uses third party cookies to improve our website and your experience when using it.News
 Allow cookies
1.2. Apparatus
To find out more about the cookies we use and how to delete them visit our Cookies page.
1.3. Testing Procedure 
https://www.geoengineer.org/education/laboratory-testing/unconfined-compression-test 1/7
9/23/21, 11:10 AM Unconfined Compression Test | Geoengineer.org

1.4. Results
1.5. Calculations HOME NEWS EVENTS PUBLICATIONS  EDUCATION JOBS SOFTWARE GALLERY
2. Rock characterization and typical range of UCS based on rock types
3. References
4. Media
5. Selected Topics

Investigation on recent
The Unconfined Compression Test is a laboratory test used to derive the Unconfirmed Champlain Towers
Compressive Strength (UCS) of a rock specimen. Unconfirmed Compressive Strength South failure in Miami
(UCS) stands for the maximum axial compressive stress that a specimen can bear under zero
confining stress. Due to the fact that stress is applied along the longitudinal axis, the Unconfined
Compression Test is also known as Uniaxial Compression Test. UCS is a parameter widely used in
geotechnical design, but may not represent the strength in-situ. On a large scale, the rockmass
properties are highly affected by other factors including discontinuities, faults and weathering.

During the test, apart from the axial load, axial and lateral deformation are commonly measured to
derive the sample’s elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio.

Laboratory Procedure

Sampling A sandstone fragment

reveals valid
information over
Samples are retrieved by drill cores and are selected cautiously in order be representative of the climate change
original rock formation. The minimum diameter of a specimen must be at least 47 millimeters and 10
times larger than the size of the largest mineral grain (or 6 times larger for weaker rocks e.g.
sandstones, marlstones).

The samples’ length to diameter ratio (L/D) must be between 2.0 and 2.5, according to ASTM
(American Society for Testing and Materials) and 2.5-3.0 according to ISRM (International Society for
Rock Mechanics). The cylindrical surfaces are prepared in order to be flat and smooth. In particular,
the sample’s ends must be leveled within a 0.02 millimeters tolerance and they should not depart
from perpendicularity by more than 0.06 degrees.

The purpose of the procedure is to preserve the in-situ properties of the sample until the test is
conducted. Therefore, moisture recorded in the field should also be preserved until testing.

At least 5 samples are required to achieve a reliable value of the UCS.

62,163 paper
Apparatus downloads in 2020 for
the ISSMGE
International Journal
The apparatus used to conduct the Unconfined Compression Test consists of the following parts: of Geoengineering
Case Histories!
Loading Device: The loading device must be designed to consistently apply load at the required rate
until the end of the test. The test may be stress- or strain-controlled. It is pointed out that only strain-
controlled devices can capture the post-failure behavior of a material.

Platens: The axial stress applied by the loading device is transferred to the specimen by two steel
platens that are made with a minimum Rockwell Hardness of 58. Their diameter must be at least
equal to the sample’s diameter. The length to diameter ratio must also be at least 0.5.

Strain measurement devices: The axial and lateral deformations are measured by various devices NASA launches new
(e.g. Linear Variable Differential Transformers (LVDTs), Compressometers, Electrical Resistance rover mission to
Strain Gages). planet Mars: Soil and
rock samples will be
Testing Procedure retrieved and sent
back to Earth

The two plates shall be carefully cleaned before the specimen is placed in the testing chamber. The
load should be continuously applied at a rate of 0.5 MPa/s to 1.0 MPa/s (in case of a stress-
controlled load device) and failure must occur in approximately 10 minutes. Stress and deformation
data can be recorded through an electronic system that has the appropriate accuracy specifications.
The maximum load is recorded in Newtons within a 1% accuracy.
Geoengineer.org uses third party cookies to improve our website and your experience when using it.
Results  Allow cookies
Massive landslide
To find out more about the cookies we use and how to delete them visit our Cookies page.
sweeps away houses 
https://www.geoengineer.org/education/laboratory-testing/unconfined-compression-test 2/7
9/23/21, 11:10 AM Unconfined Compression Test | Geoengineer.org

A typical stress-strain diagram deriving from a Uniaxial Compression Test of an undisturbed in Norway
HOME
specimen of basalt is presented NEWS
in Figure 1. The EVENTS PUBLICATIONS
UCS is the peak EDUCATION
value of the diagram and is equalJOBS SOFTWARE GALLERY

to 44.7 MPa. Photos of the specimen before and after the test are presented in Figure 2. During the
failure process, cracks propagated from the bottom to the top of the specimen, shearing off a large
piece of the sample.

Engineering new
materials to replace
diamonds for drilling

Figure 1: Stress-strain curve of the Unconfined Compression Test for a specimen of Basalt.

Industry Events

Rocscience Online
Course: 2D & 3D Slope
Stability Analysis
(October 26-27)

Figure 2: Photographs of the specimen before and after the testing procedure.

A recorded testing process of another basalt specimen is presented in the video below.
Rocscience Online
Calculations Course: 2D & 3D Slope
Stability Analysis
(November 2-3)
The axial strain is calculated as:

εa = Δl / L0

Where εa: Axial strain, Δl: Change in measured axial length and L0: The initial length of the sample.

The diametric strain is calculated as:

PDI Webinar Series:
εd = Δd / D0 QA/QC Remote Testing
Continue Project
Where εd: Diametric strain, Δd: Change in diameter and D0: The initial diameter of the sample. Timelines
The compressive stress is calculated as:

σ = P / A0

Where σ: Compressive Stress, P: Load and A0: The initial cross-section area of the specimen.

Therefore, the Unconfined Compressive Strength is calculated for the maximum load applied: PDI Discussions: PDA
Practices Q&A
σUCS = Pmax / A0

The modulus of elasticity (Young's modulus) E which represents the ratio between axial stress and
axial strain can be derived via several methods. Usually, it is calculated at stress-strain level of about
50% of the maximum load.

E = Δσ / Δεa (At 50% of maximum load) PDI WORKSHOP: State

of Practice – QC of
The Poisson’s ratio that represents the ratio between diametric and axial strain, is calculated as:
Deep Foundations,
n = - (εd / εa) Houston,
Geoengineer.org uses third party cookies to improve our website and your experience when using it. TX
 Allow cookies
Size corrections:
To find out more about the cookies we use and how to delete them visit our Cookies page.

https://www.geoengineer.org/education/laboratory-testing/unconfined-compression-test 3/7
9/23/21, 11:10 AM Unconfined Compression Test | Geoengineer.org

According to ASTM, the preferable sample L/D ratio is 2.0. Therefore, a correction formula is applied
HOME
for larger ratios (smaller rations NEWS EVENTS
are unacceptable). PUBLICATIONS
In particular,  EDUCATION
the Uniaxial Compressive StrengthJOBS SOFTWARE GALLERY

is re-calculated as:

σc = σUCS / (0.88 + 0.222*(D/L) ) PDI WORKSHOP: State

of Practice – QC of
Where σc is the corrected uniaxial compressive strength. Deep Foundations,
Dallas, TX
Rock characterization and typical range of UCS
based on rock types

Based on their Uniaxial Compressive Strength, rocks can be characterized from very weak to very
strong as following:

Strength Strength
Typical rock types
classification range (MPa)

Very weak 10-20 weathered and weakly-compacted sedimentary rocks

Weak 20-40 weakly-cemented sedimentary rocks, schists

competent sedimentary rocks; some low-density coarse-

Medium 40-80
grained igneous rocks

competent igneous rocks; some metamorphic rocks and

Strong 80-160
fine-grained sandstones

Table 1: Classification of rock hardnesses (from Attewell & Farmer 1976).

The range of the Uniaxial Compressive Strength for a large amount of typical rock types is presented
in Table 2.

Typical Rock Types Uniaxial Compressive Strength (MPa)

Granite 100-250

Diorite 150-300

Diabase 100-350

Gabbro 150-300

Basalt 100-300

Gneiss 50-200

Marble 100-250

Slate 100-200

Quartzite 150-300

Sandstone 20-170

Geoengineer.org uses third party cookies to improve our website and your experience when using it.
 Allow cookies
To find out more about the cookies we use and how to delete them visit our Cookies page.

https://www.geoengineer.org/education/laboratory-testing/unconfined-compression-test 4/7
9/23/21, 11:10 AM Unconfined Compression Test | Geoengineer.org

Shale HOME NEWS EVENTS 5-100 

PUBLICATIONS EDUCATION JOBS SOFTWARE GALLERY

Limestone 30-250

Dolomite 30-250

Table 2: Typical values of Uniaxial Compressive Strength for a various number of rocks (from
Attewell & Farmer 1976).

References

ASTM D7012-14e1, (2014). Standard Test Methods for Compressive Strength and Elastic Moduli of
Intact Rock Core Specimens under Varying States of Stress and Temperatures, ASTM International,
West Conshohocken, PA.

Attewell, P.B. and Farmer, I.W. (1976). Principles of engineering geology. Chapman and Hall,
London.

ISRM, (1979). Suggested Methods for Determining the Uniaxial Compressive Strength and
Deformability of Rock Materials. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences &
Geomechanics Abstracts. 16, 2.

Equipment Providers

Looking for Inclinometer Equipment? Fill in the form and we will contact them for you.

Name Email

Affiliated Company

Country Phone Number

Select Country

Address

Equipment Category

Unconfined Compression Test

Standard To Be Used

Select a standard

Message

Submit

Geoengineer.org uses third party cookies to improve our website and your experience when using it.
 Allow cookies
To find out more about the cookies we use and how to delete them visit our Cookies page.

https://www.geoengineer.org/education/laboratory-testing/unconfined-compression-test 5/7
9/23/21, 11:10 AM Unconfined Compression Test | Geoengineer.org

HOME NEWS Media

EVENTS PUBLICATIONS  EDUCATION JOBS SOFTWARE GALLERY

0:00 / 0:20 0:00 / 0:16

D. Zekkos Research Group D. Zekkos Research Group

Selected Topics

Equipment for Preparing Specimens

Laboratory Testing

Water Content (w)

Atterberg Limits

Soil Consolidation and Oedometer Test

Step-by-Step Guide for Grain Size Analysis

Geotechnical Engineering Lab Manual, by Prof. William A. Kitch (Angelo State University)

Soil Compaction Test

Direct Shear Test

Triaxial Compression Test in Rock

What is Geotechnical Engineering?

Measurement of Specific Gravity of Soils

A list of Videos on Laboratory Testing to support Online Instruction

Point Load Test

Splitting Tensile Strength Test (Brazilian)

Centrifuge Testing

Geoengineer.org uses third party cookies to improve our website and your experience when using it.
 Allow cookies
To find out more about the cookies we use and how to delete them visit our Cookies page.

https://www.geoengineer.org/education/laboratory-testing/unconfined-compression-test 6/7
9/23/21, 11:10 AM Unconfined Compression Test | Geoengineer.org

HOME NEWSSee EVENTS

Also PUBLICATIONS  EDUCATION JOBS SOFTWARE GALLERY

Numerical
Numerical Modelling: On the
Modelling: The Importance of an
What is Hardening Soil
Geotechnical Appropriate Soil
Model Model
Engineering? Aug, 09, 2021
Jun, 25, 2020 Jul, 22, 2021

The following was The following was

Geotechnical
prepared by Dr. Ronald prepared by Dr. Ronald
Engineering has been -
B.J. Bri... B.J. Bri...
throughout th...

Slope Stability:
Liquefaction and Critical Failure
Slope Stability:
Earthquake Surface & Design
Example Analysis
Modelling in PLAXIS Factor of Safety
Jul, 12, 2021
Jun, 30, 2021
Jun, 18, 2021
Slope Stability Analysis
The following was Critical Failure Surface
In this chapter of...
prepared by Dr. Ronald As discussed in the
B.J. Bri... prev...

© 2002-2021 Elxis S.A. Powered by ARGO-E LLC. All rights About Us • Disclaimer • Privacy Policy • Cookies Policy • Copyrights & Permissions
reserved.

Geoengineer.org uses third party cookies to improve our website and your experience when using it.
 Allow cookies
To find out more about the cookies we use and how to delete them visit our Cookies page.

https://www.geoengineer.org/education/laboratory-testing/unconfined-compression-test 7/7