ASTM D7012-14e1

5.1 The parameters obtained from Methods A and B are in terms of undrained total stress. However, there are some cases where either the rock type or the loading condition of the problem under consideration will require the effective stress or drained parameters be determined.

5.2 Method C, uniaxial compressive strength of rock is used in many design formulas and is sometimes used as an index property to select the appropriate excavation technique. Deformation and strength of rock are known to be functions of confining pressure. Method A, triaxial compression test, is commonly used to simulate the stress conditions under which most underground rock masses exist. The elastic constants (Methods B and D) are used to calculate the stress and deformation in rock structures.

5.3 The deformation and strength properties of rock cores measured in the laboratory usually do not accurately reflect large-scale in situ properties because the latter are strongly influenced by joints, faults, inhomogeneity, weakness planes, and other factors. Therefore, laboratory values for intact specimens must be employed with proper judgment in engineering applications.

1.2 Methods A and B can be used to determine the angle of internal friction, angle of shearing resistance, and cohesion intercept.

1.3 Methods B and D specify the apparatus, instrumentation, and procedures for determining the stress-axial strain and the stress-lateral strain curves, as well as Young's modulus, E, and Poisson's ratio, υ. These methods make no provision for pore pressure measurements and specimens are undrained (platens are not vented). Thus, the strength values determined are in terms of total stress and are not corrected for pore pressures. These test methods do not include the procedures necessary to obtain a stress-strain curve beyond the ultimate strength.

1.4 Option A allows for testing at different temperatures and can be applied to any of the test methods, if requested.

1.5 This standard replaces and combines the following Standard Test Methods: D2664 Triaxial Compressive Strength of Undrained Rock Core Specimens Without Pore Pressure Measurements; D5407 Elastic Moduli of Undrained Rock Core Specimens in Triaxial Compression Without Pore Pressure Measurements; D2938 Unconfined Compressive Strength of Intact Rock Core Specimens; and D3148 Elastic Moduli of Intact Rock Core Specimens in Uniaxial Compression. The original four standards are now referred to as Methods in this standard.

1.6 For an isotropic material in Test Methods B and D, the relation between the shear and bulk moduli and Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio are: