(FOR IN SITU DETERMINATION OF ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF ROCK)

Astha Sharma
Civil Engineering department
Roll no.-20BTD5010050
Sem-6th
This test method covers the
measurement of peak and residual
direct shear strength of in situ rock
as a function of stress normal to
shear plane , on the same test
horizon each specimen tested at
different normal stress keeping it
constant for the particular
observation.
• This test method is performed on
rectangular shaped blocks of rock that
are isolated on all surfaces, except
shear plane surface
• The Blocks are not to be disturbed
during preparation operations. The
base of the block coincides with plane
to be sheared
• A normal load is applied
perpendicular to the shear plane and
then a side load is applied to induce
shear along plane and discontinuity
 • EQUIPMENT FOR CUTTING AND ENCAPSULATING THE
TEST BLOCK
Rock saws, drill, hammer and chisels, formwork of appropriate
dimension and rigidity , expanded polystyrene sheeting and
steel shear box
• EQUIPEMENT FOR APPLYING THE NORMAL LOAD
This includes flat jacks, hydraulic rams, or dead load of
sufficient capacity to apply the required normal loads, reaction
system.
EQUIPEMENT FOR APPLYING SHEAR FORCE
One or more hydraulic rams, of adequate total capacity
with at least 150mm travel. Reaction system to transmit the
shear force to test block
EQUIPEMENT FOR MEASURING APPLIED FORCE
This include one system for measuring normal force and
another for measuring applied shearing force
dynamometers or flat jacks pressure measurement may be
used
EQUIPEMENT FOR MEASURING SHEAR, NORMAL, &
LATERAL DISPLACEMENT
Displacement should be measured at eight locations on
the block specimen using micrometer dial gauges
1. TEST BLOCK
2. CEMENT CONCRETE
3. DIAL GAUGES FOR
DISPLACEMENT
4. DATUM BAR
5. DIAL GAUGES FOR NORMAL
DISPLACEMENT
6. STEEL CASING
7. HYDRAULIC JACK FOR NORMAL
LOADING
8. HYDRAULIC JACK FOR SHEAR
LOADING
9. 15’ WEDGE
10. MILD STEEL PLATE

11. LAYER OF MORTAR

12. LATERAL DIAL GAUGES (NOT

SHOWN)
1. PREPARATION OF TEST SPECIMEN
• Outline a test block such that the base of the block coincides with the
plane to be sheared. To inhibit relaxation and swelling and to prevent
premature sliding , it is necessary to apply normal load to the upper
face of the test specimen as soon as possible after excavation of the
opening . For example load can be provided by screws or by a system
of rock bolts . Maintin the load until the test equipment is in position.
Saw the test block to required dimension (700 by 700 by 350mm)
using methods that avoid disturbing or loosening of the block.
• Apply a layer of weak material at least 20mm thick around the base of
the test block and then encapsulate the remainder of the block in
concrete or similar material of sufficient strength to prevent collapse
or distortion during testing ensure that load bearing face are at
correct inclination to shear plane
• Carefully position and align reaction pads , anchors etc if required to
carry thrust from normal and shear load systems to adjacent sound
rock.
 2. CONSOLIDATION OF TEST SPECIMEN
• The consolidation stage of testing is necessary in order to
allow pore water pressures, in the rock and especially in any
filling material adjacent to the shear plane, to dissipate under full
normal stress before shearing. Behavior of the specimen during
consolidation may also impose a limit on permissible shear rate.
• Check all displacement gauges for rigidity, adequate travel and
freedom of movement and record preliminary readings.
• Raise normal load to full value specified for the test, recording
any consequent normal displacements of test block as a function
of time and applied loads
• If consolidation occurs , it may be considered complete when the
rate of change in normal displacement recorded at each of the
four gauges is less than 0.005mm/min for at least 10min . Shear
loading may then be applied
3. SHEAR TESTING
• The purpose of shearing is to establish values for the peak and
residual direct shear strengths of the test plane. Corrections to the
applied normal load may be required to hold the normal stress
constant . A shear determination should preferably be comprised
of at least five tests per block, tested at different but constant
normal stress. If conditions warrant, test more than one block for
each shear plane.
• Apply the shear force either incrementally or continuously.
• The rate of shear displacement should be less than 0.1 mm/min in
the 10-min period before taking a set of readings. This rate may
be increased to not more than 0.5 mm/min between sets of
readings, provided that the peak strength itself is adequately
recorded.
• After reaching peak strength, take readings at increments of from 0.5 to 5
mm shear displacement, as required to adequately define the force-
displacement curves (FIG 1.). The rate of shear displacement should be
0.02 to 0.2 mm/min in the 10-min period before a set of readings is taken,
and may be increased to not more than 1 mm/min between sets of
readings
• It may be possible to establish a residual
strength value when the specimen is sheared
at constant normal stress and at least four
consecutive sets of readings are obtained
which show not more than 5 % variation in
shear stress over a shear displacement of 1
cm.
• Having established a residual strength, the
normal stress may be increased or reduced
and shearing continued to obtain additional
residual strength values. Reconsolidate the
specimen under each new normal stress and
continue shearing in accordance with
previous step.
• After the test, invert the block, photograph in
color, and fully describe . Measurements of
the area, roughness, dip, and dip direction of
the sheared surface are required.
Equations involved are below and the cohesion and friction may be
calculated as shown in fig 2.
It is the test conducted for building tunnels that can bear high
pressure , it can be for water supply, low pressure sewer , air
flow etc.

THIS TEST IS CONDUCTED TO TEST

• Water inflow
• Air flow pressure ie. air velocity
Measurement of air velocity. To regulate tunnel ventilation, the speed and
direction of airflow in the tunnel must be measured: during normal
operation and especially in the case of a fire.
A tunnel management system has to guarantee safe and sound conditions at a
low cost. Road and railway-tunnels have to allow for the wellness of human
beings. Under normal conditions a sufficient amount of fresh air needs to be
supplied. The air supply will be generated in four ways:
1. Natural wind
2. Traffic
3. Passive Ventilation
4. Active Ventilation.
Information about the different airflows allows for optimized ventilation
schemes and can save a lot of costs. The information about the different airflows
allow to predict the pollution of the air in the tunnel and to generate a good
value for the visibility and CO2, without blowing lots of fresh air into the tunnel.
In tunnels that are divided into several ventilation sections the information on
the different airflows can be used to prevent the airflows from crossing the
section borders and to reduce the amount of polluted air, that is carried through
the tunnel. In case of fire the information about the airflows is important for the
rescuing operations. So, without doubt, the information about the airflows in a
tunnel is a very important parameter for the tunnel management system.
There currently are four different types of airflow sensors used in road
tunnels:
1. Propellers
2. Heat transport sensors
3. Ultrasonic wave sensors
4. Pressure tubes
The sensors have to measure the airflow velocity and the bivalent direction
of the airflow with respect to the tunnel-axis. Furthermore, they have to be
reliable and robust enough for the severe tunnel conditions and – in
emergency cases – they should keep functioning as long as possible.
PROPELLER -The propeller drives a small AC-generator. Using a flag, whose
position operates several mechanical switches (reed contacts) or a
potentiometer measures the direction of the airflow. This sensor is also used
for measuring the wind outside for meteorological purposes. It is not very
good adapted to the tunnel conditions
HEAT TRANSPORT SENSOR - Heat-transport sensors consist of a heater and
two temperature sensors, one upstream and one downstream. Without
airflow the heater will cause an equal temperature rise in the two
temperature sensors. With airflow one of the temperature sensors will get
more heat as the other will. Comparing the temperatures the direction and
the velocity of the airflow can be calculated.
ULTRASONIC-WAVE SENSOR -Ultrasonic-wave sensors use the dependency
of the speed of sound on the velocity of the air. Sonic waves move faster
along with the wind and slower against the wind. The speed of sound is
about 300 m/s. In order to detect the airflow velocity, the speed of sound has
to be measured very precise. More, the speed of sound depends strongly on
temperature, barometric pressure and humidity. Making two measurements
in opposite directions and calculating the differences in the measured
speed of sound can eliminate all of these influences. The ultrasonic sender
and receiver are mounted at the tunnel walls and the ultrasonic waves
travel across the road . The angle between the ultrasonic wave and the
airflow can be included in the calibration of the sensors.
PRESSURE TUBE -Pressure tubes are a very well known method for
measuring airflow. A special directional pressure tube also detects the
direction of the airflow in a tunnel. The small pressure differences can be
sensed by micropressure-sensors commonly available today. The pressure
tube signal has to be linearized and corrected by using the density of the
air (barometric pressure and ambient temperature). These signal
conversions can easily be made by modern microprocessor electronics. An
advantage of the pressure tube is, that all electronics can be placed outside
of road area, leaving only the stainless steel tube and the temperature
sensor in the tunnel. This makes this sensor very robust.
 • Estimating water inflow is major issue in design of rock tunnels.
• Heuer’s method is commonly employed for this.
• Heuer (1995, 2005) proposes a statistical method for predicting tunnel
groundwater inflows based on an assessment of the frequency
distribution of the rock mass hydraulic conductivity, as evaluated through
water absorption packer tests within a respective geological unit. The
methodology considers three possible models, based on the tunnel
depth and ground conditions, in order to assess the statistical
distribution of potential water inflows into the excavation. These three
models comprise:

“ Accuracy of estimate will be limited by the nature of the preconstruction exploration program.”
Vertical recharge. Applicable for tunnels where a recharge source of large
water volume at constant head is close to the tunnel, such as beneath a large
water body or within a highly permeable aquifer.
Radial flow. Comprises the standard equation for a fully penetrating well in
a confined aquifer and is applicable to tunnels where water flows from all
directions and the recharge source is far away.
Lateral flow. Applicable for tunnels where the predominant direction of
water flow towards the tunnel is along lateral features such as weathered
profiles or bedding. In this case the groundwater table is usually sufficiently
close to the tunnel, and the water recharge sufficiently limited, such that
tunnelling could result in notable drawdown of piezometric levels above the
tunnel alignment.
 2𝜋𝐻
𝑄 = 1/8 (K∆𝑃)
ln 2 𝑧Τ𝑟

Where
K= Rock permeability
Q= water inflow
∆P= Applied pressure
r= radius of borehole
Z= over burden height