In Situ Deformability of Rock

197

Suggested Methods for Determining In Situ

Deformability of Rock
(d) The effects of anisotropy can be determined by
orienting the thrust of the jacks in any desired direction. However, it is advisable that the thrust of the
jacks remains in a plane perpendicular to the axis of
the test tunnel.

PART 1. SUGGESTED METHOD

FOR DEFORMABILITY
DETERMINATION USING
A PLATE TEST
(SUPERFICIAL L O A D I N G )

EQUIPMENT
SCOPE
1. (a) The plate test which uses surficial loading, often
referred to as the uniaxial jacking test or plate jacking
test, is performed in small tunnels or test adits to
measure the deformation characteristics of a rock mass.
(b) Two areas, each approximately 1 m in diameter,
are loaded simultaneously using jacks positioned across
the tunnel. Rock mass deformations are measured in
boreholes behind each loaded area and across the tunnel between each loaded area. A typical test facility
is shown in Fig. 1.
(c) Incremental and cyclic loading provide data for
the calculation of elastic, deformation, and unloading
moduli. The creep characteristics of the rock mass can
be determined from graphs of displacement versus time.

2. (a) Equipment necessary for accomplishing the test

includes items for: preparing the test site, drilling and
logging the instrumentation hole, measuring the rock
deformation, applying and restraining test loads,
recording test data, and transporting various components to the test site.
3. (a) Test site preparation equipment should include
an assortment of excavation tools, such as drills and
chipping hammers. Blasting should not be allowed during final preparation of the test site.
4. (a) The drill for the instrumentation holes should,
if possible, have the capability of retrieving core from
depths of at least 10 m. Some type of borehole viewing
device is desirable for examination of the instrumentation holes to compare and verify geologic features
observed in the core.

PARTICLE BOARD

:LAT JACK, APPROX.

TOP PL

I M DIAMETER
*CONCRETE

4 RESTRAINT

TUNNEL ROCK

/
/

"-'-MPBX MEASURING ANCHORS

(5 OR MORE PER HOLE)

MPBX SENSOR HEAD

BASE PLATE--~

~UBBER SLEEVE OVER

LEAD WIRES

GAGE

NX, 76 MM DIAMETER,
CORE DRILL HOLE
APPROX. 6 FLATJACK
DIAMETERS D E E P ~

HYDRAULIC
LEAD WIRE

SCREWS FOR SET

UP AND REMOVAL

PREPARED DIAMETER
1.5 TO 2 TIMES
FLATJACK DIAMETEI
DATA ACQUISITION

MPa HYDRAULIC PUMP

STEM----~ 0 @ 0

Fig. 1. Uniaxialjackingtest.

NOTE:TtMBERPLATFORM
FOR SUPPORT DURING
ERECTION NOT SHOWN

198

International Society for Rock Mechanics

PROCEDURE

If blasting is required for initial test surface preparation, care should be exercised to produce surfaces
which are relatively free from blast damage. Detailed
site preparation procedures can be found in [2].
(b) An instrumentation hole should be core drilled
into each prepared test surface. Care must be exercised
to insure that the two holes are coaxial with each other
and with the restraint column assembly.
(c) Examination of the core and the instrumentation
hole itself will assist in locating anchor points for the
MPBX's. The anchors should be located so that they
are not placed on joints, and so they bracket zones
of structural or lithologic change. The deepest anchor
should be located approximately 6 flat jack diameters
below the rock surface in order to provide a fixed point
to which the movements of all other anchors can be
referenced. In general, the remaining anchors should
be concentrated in the zone of maximum stress between
the rock surface and a point approximately 3 jack diameters back from the surface. Figure 2 illustrates some
recommended locations. It is desirable for the sensor
head and all anchors to be attached to the side walls
of the instrumentation hole. This precludes the necessity of monitoring the movement of the test setup components, since all measurements will be referenced in
the rock.

6. Site preparation
(a) The area selected for testing should be carefully
prepared. All loose rock material should be removed
by using chipping hammers and drills. In order to
reduce the restraining influence of adjoining rock, an
area with a diameter 1 to 2 times that of the test
pad should be prepared. The two test areas should be
concentric with and in planes oriented perpendicular to the axis of the restraint column assembly.

7. Equipment installation
(a) The complete installation of a proposed type of
restraining and load applying setup together with
deformation measuring instrumentation is shown schematically in Fig. 1. A properly located wooden platform
(not shown in Fig. I) allows for alignment of all test
components. The space between the flat jack assembly
and rock should be filled with small aggregate concrete.

(b) Instruments for measuring deformations should

include a reliable multiple position borehole extensometer (MPBX) for each instrumentation hole, and
a tunnel diameter gauge. All instruments should be of
sufficient accuracyand sensitivity to be compatible with
anticipated deformations. Experimental errors in excess
of 0.01 mm can invalidate test results when the modulus
of the rock mass exceeds 3.5 x 104 MPa. A discussion
of the ramifications of experimental error can be found
in [1].
5. (a) The loading apparatus should be capable of
applying simultaneous uniform pressures to two areas
on opposite sides of the tunnel, each approximately 1 m
in diameter. As shown in Fig. 1, the equipment used
to apply the desired loads to the prepared and instrumented rock may consist of calibrated flat jacks and
restraint columns having the capability of sustaining
the maximum desired uniform pressure with a suitable
factor of safety. The hydraulic pump system with
necessary fittings, valves, gages, and hoses should have
sufficient pressure capability and volume to apply and
maintain desired pressures to within 3?/0 of a selected
value throughout the duration of the test.

.1 ROCK SURFACE
,=.,

SENSORH

~--~v~llllllr~7~

~'~

OD~

F,

OPEN JOINTS" ~ ~

3D~

r~

iii.!

.....
I

NO STRUCTURAL
OR LITHOLOGIC
FEATURES

JOINTS

LITHOLOGY
CHANGE
NOTE: NOT TO SCALE
Fig. 2. Typical anchor locations.

;OUGE
SEAM

6D-SCALE
D=Jack Diameter

In Situ Deformability of Rock

The concrete should be allowed to cure sufficiently to
obtain adequate strength prior to commencement of
the test. The space between the fiat jack and the base
and top plates should have a special partical board
filler (wood chips and resin) or other suitable material
fabricated to accommodate the flat jack configuration
on one side and the base plate on the other side.
8. Testing
(a) After all components of the instrumentation are
installed in the drill holes, they should be checked (electronically or mechanically). After the loading and restraining components are installed, another check
should be made of the instrumentation. A final check
of all mechanical, hydraulic, and electronic components
should be made after the concrete pads are placed and
again before the first load increment is applied.
(b) Tests should be conducted continually on a 24-hr
a day basis utilizing load ranges and increments compatible with the particular design considerations under
investigation.

199

(c) While the test is in progress, rock deformations

monitored by the instrumentation should be recorded
continuously or at sufficient intervals to obtain desired
data. If a noncontinuous recording system is utilized,
a minimum of four readings during the first hour of
each load increment or decrement is recommended.
(d) The maximum test pressure, number of cycles to
the maximum pressure, and number of pressure increments in each cycle will be determined by test conditions and desired information. A maximum pressure
of 1.2-1.5 times that imposed by the structure is usually
considered adequate. At least five pressure increments,
each followed by a period of zero pressure, should be
used for each cycle. A typical one-cycle loading
sequence is shown in Fig. 3.
(e) The duration of each pressure increment will be
determined by the creep characteristics of the rock
mass. Until the behavior of the rock mass is well understood, at least 48 hr should be allowed for each pressure
increment followed by 24 hr at zero pressure. Observations during the first pressure increments can be used

8.3

6.9

o
n

a,,

//
//

5.5

05
t/)
tO
ha.
t.9
Z

4.1

ILl
m

2.11

1.4

0
0

O.IOZ

o. 203

o.ao5

DEFORMATION,

0.406

MM

Fig. 3. Rock Surface deformation as a function of bearing pressure.

200

International Society for R o c k M e c h a n i c s

,, 1 3 S , ,

o ,~

~10
N~I~33V7dSIO 311SV73N]

=.

~D

#.
=E

C)

rm

._~

g.
r~

E
o3

g~
'5
g.

ill

""

,q.
0
J
O

IO

k
g_
0
IE

>-

.2"

to
od

d
ININ

~30V..-I~nS

d
J.V

NOII~'IAI~O.-13C]

>I30U

In Situ Deformability of Rock

cycles are utilized to compute deformation moduli

according to appropriate formulae. Because of their
simplicity, expressions based on the theory of elasticity
I-3] are normally used to approximate actual field conditions.
(c) For a uniformly distributed pressure on a circular
area, the displacement at any point beneath the center
of the area may be expressed:

to modify time requirements for successive increments.

Jack pressure should be maintained within 3% of the
target value for the duration of each increment. The
time frame for a typical test is shown in Fig. 4.
CALCULATIONS
9. (a) Data gathered during the test may be plotted to
provide a display of Deformation vs Time, Pressure,
or Depth. These plots aid in the analysis of the creep,
rebound, and permanent set characteristics of the rock
mass. Example plots are shown in Figs 3, 4, and 5.
(b) Deformation measurements for the various load
ROCK
o

0.102

2q(1 -/~2) 1-(a2 + z2) 1/2 _ z]

E

qz(1 + #)[z(a 2 + z2)_1/2 _ 1]

E

O. 305

0.406

)
O. 508

0.610

0.3

w=-

DISPLACEMENT (MM

0.203

201

0.6

0.9

1.2

1.5

1.8

o3
rr
tU 2.1
I-"hi
=E

2.4

Z
LU 2.7
/
0
1"
/
.J

5.0
ANCHOR

3.4

DEPTHS

SENSOR HEAD
0.0 M
ANCHOR ONE
0.5 M
ANCHOR TWO
I. I M
ANCHOR THREE
1.8 M
ANCHOR FOUR
2.4 M
ANCHOR FIVE
3.2 M
ANCHOR SIX
4.3 M
ANCHOR SEVEN 6. I M
O-DEPTHS WHERE
ROCK DEFORMATION
WAS MEASURED
WHEN LOADS WERE
APPLI ED AT SURFACE
(0- DEPTH )

3.7

I
4.0

123
4.3

4.6

4.9

5.2

5.5

561

I/DEEPEST
EXTENSOMETER
6jdr
I
~

ANCHOR
I

Fig. 5. Uniaxial displacement vs depth referenced to deepest anchor at 6.9 M P a bearing pressure.

(1)

202

International Society for Rock Mechanics

where:
wz = displacement in the direction of the applied
pressure
z = distance from the loaded surface to the
point where displacement is calculated
q = pressure
a = radius of loaded area
/2 = Poisson's ratio
E = modulus of elasticity
At the surface z = 0 and the expression reduces to:

(f) Plots of deformation versus depth referenced to

the deepest anchor as in Fig. 5. This deformation profile is used to identify anomalous areas with lower or
higher moduli than the average. Once such zones are
identified, they can be correlated with core from the
instrument holes. If MPBX anchors are located properly, the moduli of these zones can be calculated using
equation (5).
(g) Calculated moduli pertinent to design problems.
Care should be taken to identify the depth interval in
the rock mass and stress range for each modulus.

2(1 - / 2 2)
wz = o --

qa.

(2)
REFERENCES

(d) When loads are applied with a circular flat jack

with a hole in the center, the effect of the unloaded
area in the center must be subtracted. Using the
notation:
a 2 :
outer radius of flat jack
al = inner radius of flat jack or radius of hole
Wz

2q(1

2)

/2 [(a 2 + z2)l/E(a2 + z2) 1/2]

1. Benson R. P., Murphy D. K. & McCreath D. R. Modulus testing

of rock at the churchill falls underground powerhouse, Labrador,
from determination of the in situ modulus of deformation of rock,
American Society for Testing and Materials STP477, (1969).
2. Misterek D. L., Slebir E. J. & Montgomery J. S. Bureau of reclamation procedures for conducting uniaxial jacking tests, paper
presented at American Society for Testing and Materials Annual
Meeting, June 24-29, 1973, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
3. Timoshenko S. & Goodier J. N. Theory of Elasticity. McGrawHill, New York (1951).

E
+ z2q( 1 + /2) [(a 2 + Z2)- 1/2 _ (a 2 + z2) - 1/2].
E

(3)

After substituting appropriate values for al, a2,/2, and

Z, equation (3) reduces to:
Wz = E ( K z ) .

(4)

If displacements Wzl and Wz2 are measured at points

z I and z 2, the indicated deformation modt~lus of the
material between zl and Zz may be calculated from:

PART 2. S U G G E S T E D
M E T H O D FOR FIELD
DEFORMABILITY
DETERMINATION USING
A PLATE TEST
D O W N A BOREHOLE
SCOPE

Ea = q

W~,

W~2]"

(5)

REPORTING OF RESULTS
10. The report should include the following:
(a) A complete geologic description of the test site including core logs, photos of core, photos of prepared
test areas, and a description of local blast damage.
(b) A description of the testing apparatus including
photos of installed equipment, a schematic diagram of
the equipment, specifications for accuracy and sensitivity of all pressure and deformation instruments, and
calibration data for all instruments.
(c) Tabulations of unreduced data.
(d) Plots of deformation versus pressure such as in
Fig. 3. Information from this plot can be used to determine the shape of the stress strain curve, to obtain
values for calculation of various moduli, and to determine rebound and elasticity characteristics.
(e) Plots of deformation versus time as in Fig. 4. This
plot is useful for studying the creep characteristics of
the rock. It should be kept during testing to establish
time requirements for each load increment.

1. (a) This test is used to determine the in s i t u deformability characteristics of a rock mass. Successively higher
bearing pressures, in loading and unloading cycles, are
applied to the flattened end of a borehole and the
resulting rock displacements are recorded.
(b) Elastic and deformation modulae may be derived
from graphs of bearing pressure versus displacement.
Time dependent (creep) properties may be determined
from graphs of displacement versus time.
(c) The method allows the testing of several horizons
at various depths, with a minimum of expense to gain
access to each test horizon. In the limit a semi-continous log of deformability as a function of depth can
be obtained.
(d) The direction of loading necessarily coincides
with the borehole axis, usually near-vertical, so that
no information can be obtained regarding rock anisotropy. The size of the loaded area is limited by the
capabilities of available drilling equipment and is
usually smaller than in other plate tests (see PART 1).
(e) The method is usually employed to provide information for the design of foundations, as an alternative
to the method of P A R T 1 where access to the proposed
foundation level cannot readily by obtained by an exploratory trench or addit.

In Situ Deformability of Rock

APPARATUS (e.g. Figs 1 and 2)
2. Equipment for drilling, cleaning and preparing the
test hole including:
(a) A drill or boring machine to produce a test hole
of diameter at least 500 mm 1. to the maximum depth
of investigation.
(b) Casing as necessary to stabilize the walls of the
hole.
(c) Groundwater lowering or other equipment to
allow preparation of the bearing surface and installation of the bearing plate in dry conditions.
(d) A bottom auger, reaming bit or hand tools to
prepare the bearing surface flat (+ 5 mm) and perpendicular to the hole axis (+3).
(e) Equipment to remove debris from the hole.
(f) Equipment for taking core samples to a depth
of at least 3 m below the bearing surface, the diameter
of the exploratory hole to be less than 109/o that of
the bearing plate.
3. Equipment for installing and bedding-in the bearing
plate including:
(a) equipment for lowering the plate into the test hole
(b) materials and ancilliary equipment for preparing
a bedding layer beneath the plate, for example of
cement mortar and plaster of paris.
4. A circular bearing plate of diameter at least 500 mm
and sufficiently rigid to distort by not more than 1 mm
under the test conditions. 2
5. A loading column to transmit the applied force from
the reaction system to the test plate, such that:
(a) it resists buckling and carries the applied load
without distortion sufficient to affect test results
(b) it is hollow to take the measuring column.
(c) the resultant load acts centrally to the bearing
plate ( + 3 mm) throughout the test.
6. A loading and reaction system including for example
a. hydraulic jack, reaction piles or anchors and ancillary
equipment, such t h a t
(a) load is applied axial to the loading column.
(b) loads can be varied throughout the required range
and can be held constant to within 2~o of a selected
value for a period of at least 24 hr.
(c) the travel of the loading jack should be greater
than the sum of anticipated displacements of the test
plate and reaction beam.
(d) the reaction system should be of appropriate
materials, design and construction to satisfy these requirements and to ensure safe operation of the test
equipment.
(e) reaction anchors should if used be located further
than l0 test hole diameters from the bearing plate.
7. Load measuring equipment, for example a load
cell or proving ring, to measure the applied load with
an accuracy better than __+2 ~ of the maximum reached
in the test.
8. Equipment to measure displacement of the centre
of the bearing plate 3 in a direction axial to the test
* N u m b e r s refer to N O T E S

a t t h e e n d o f the text.

203

hole, such that:

(a) The system should have a range greater than the
maximum plate displacement in the test, and an overall
accuracy better than + 0.05 mm.
(b) The system reference beams, columns and clamps
should when assembled be sufficiently rigid to meet this
requirement.
(c) The reference anchors for displacement measurements should be rigidly installed at a distance greater
than 10 test hole diameters from the loading plate and
reaction anchors.
9. A timing device to measure test durations of up to
48 hr, reading to l see.

PROCEDURE

10. Test site selection

(a) The test site is selected to allow testing at the
actual foundation level with loading in the direction
of foundation loading, alternatively testing of rock considered typical of anticipated conditions.
(b) Attention should be given not only to the test
hole location, but also to suitable locations for reaction
and reference anchors, to groundwater and other conditions that may influence the conduct of the test.
(c) Selection of horizons for loading should be
checked before the test starts, by examining in detail
a core taken from beneath the proposed bearing surface.
11. Drilling and preparation
(a) Test hole and anchor locations are accurately
marked out and the holes drilled to the required elevations. The test hole is cased as necessary to ensure
stability throughout the test. Exploratory core is taken
to a depth of at least 3 m below the proposed test horizon, and the choice of horizon confirmed or modified.
Detailed geotechnical logs of all boreholes should be
prepared by examining core and/or the walls of the
hole.
(b) When groundwater is encountered in the test
hole, steps should be taken to lower the water table
(for example by pumping from well points surrounding
the test area) for long enough to allow installation of
the bearing plate.
(c) The bearing surface is trimmed flat (___5 ram), and
its elevation recorded. All debris should be removed.*
One or more layers of mortar or plaster scree, total
thickness less than 30 mm, are placed to cover the bearing surface and the bearing plate installed before the
last layer of scree has set. The delay between excavation
of the bearing surface and installation of the equipment
should not exceed 12 hr. 5
(d) Reaction and reference anchors are installed and
the equipment assembled and checked. A small seating
load (approximately 5 ~ of the maximum test value)
is applied and held until the start of testing.
(e) The water table should be allowing to return to
its normal elevation before the start of testing.

CONCRETE BLOCKS

'I

,I

COLUMN

COLUMN

LOADING

REFERENCE

LOCKINGKEYS

PILES

"a-~

--I

"2

ti

[I

MEASUREMENT

SETTLEMENT

FRAME

SUBSIOIARYLOADING

Fig. i. Vertical section through the plate loading test equipment.

15ram OF PLASTER

LOADINGPLATE

CEI

LINEOF5

MAIN LOADINGFRAME
~

HYDRAULIC
JACK

100 TONNE
PROVINGRING

7.Sin

REFERENCE SEAM

]]__
E~-----

gi

'~

t~

'3

,-<

4~

In Situ Deformability of Rock

205

Jack

Dial

-I

To reference
beam

Measuring
column support
Measuring
Loading column

ht liner

......"
~ P l a s t e r of Paris
;ement mortar
Fig. 2. Details of plate-test equipment.

12. Testing
(a) With the seating load applied (paragraph lid),
load and displacement should be observed and
recorded over a period not less than 48 hours to establish datum values and to assess variations due to
ambient conditions. 6
(b) Loads and load increments to be applied during
the test should be selected to cover a range 0.3-1.5 qo,
where qo is the stress intensity produced by the proposed structure, v
(c) Load is increased in not less than five approximately equal increments to a maximum of approximately 1/3 the maximum for the test. At each increment
the load is held constant (___3~) and displacement
recorded as a function of time until it stabilizes. 7 The
procedure is continued for decreasing load increments
until the seating load is again reached.
(d) The procedure 12(c) is repeated for maximum
cycle loads of approximately 2/3 and 3/3 the maximum
for the test.

13. The equipment is removed from the test hole and

further tests may be carried out on deeper horizons
by re-drilling in the same hole (paragraphs 11 and 12).

CALCULATIONS
14. (a) Graphs are plotted of incremental settlement
(or uplift in the case of unloading) against the logarithm
of time (Fig. 3).
(b) Bearing pressure versus settlement curves are
plotted for each test (Figs 4 and 5).
(c) Deformation modulae may be determined from
tangents to the pressure-settlement curve. In Fig. 6
three such moduli are defined where
Ei is the initial tangent modulus
E e is the elastic modulus obtained from a reloading cycle
and
Ey is a "yield" modulus.

206

International Society for Rock Mechanics

'"

451 k P a

71~ k P a

Qli

-~__1180 kPa

0
Illl,

U
i

e-

10

100

1000

Time (minutes)
Fig. 3. Typical relationships between incremental displacement and time for various load-intensities.

(d) The modulus is calculated from the formula

E =

dq ~ D ( 1 - v 2) I~

in their derivation. Variations with depth in the ground

should also be shown graphically as 'deformability profiles' superimposed on the geotechnical log of the test
hole.

where
q
p
D
v

is the applied pressure

is the settlement
is the plate diameter
is Poissons's ratio (between 0.1 ar/d 0.3 for
most rocks)
lc is a depth correction factor given in Fig. 7.

NOTES
1. The test hole should preferably be of sufficient
diameter to allow manual inspection, and preparation
of the bearing surface. Where the hole is insufficiently

(e) A time-dependent parameter R (known as the

creep ratio) is determined for each load increment. The
parameter R is defined as the incremental settlement
per cycle of log time divided by the total overall settlement due to the applied pressure. The relationship
between R and applied pressure may be presented
graphically (Fig. 8).

/
;
t
tt
t
t
/

0.

REPORTING OF RESULTS

t!

15. The report should include the following

(a) Diagrams and detailed descriptions of the test
equipment and methods used for drilling, preparation
and testing.
(b) Plans and sections showing the location of tests
in relation to the generalized topography, geology and
groundwater regime.
(c) Detailed geotechnical logs and descriptions of
rock at least 3 m above and below each tested horizon.
(d) Tabulated test results, graphs o f displacement
versus time for each load increment, and graphs of load
versus displacement for the test as a whole (e.g.
Fig. 4).
(e) Derived values of deformability parameters,
together with details of methods and assumptions used

it

#
/

i /

//

I
/

/!
J

i 1/
/
,,
/

,/
/

/"

/
/

/.

0.1

0 2

0"3

0 4

Displacement (ram)

o!s

Fig. 4. Typical plate-test results for Grade II chalk.

In Situ Deformability of Rock

207

Load intensity (k Pa )
0

200

400

600

800

I000

1200

~o

.1

i~=0.49

~ ~ _

E
E
v

t_

..4

0
0
0

o-5

s,--O.O
I
o.71- I

1
I

o.
._.R

i~:0.5
""l ,,,,.4f._"1. . . .
tO
15

~ '""I
5

~o.52
o _,.IDI.,-

C36

i-case (bl
20

Z/D
~

Fig. 7. (a) Uniform circular load at base of unlined shaft. (b) Uniform
circular load within semi-infinite solid (case treated by Fox, 1948).

Fig. 5.

large for manual inspection it must be core-drilled to

provide adequate samples for a detailed geotechnical
log of ground conditions.
2. The bearing plate, if of steel unreinforced by webs,
should be at least 2 0 m m thick for a diameter of
500 mm.
3. If required, the displacement of rock at any level
below the bearing plate may be monitored, using rods
passing through a hole in the centre of the plate and
rigidly anchored in the exploratory drillhole.

L00d intensity

_'_

case la)

=, 0.25

..,

~Ey

4. When the test hole is large enough, rock trimming

and installation of the bearing plate should be carried
out by hand. When this is not possible, cleaning may
be carried out with an auger or similar device operating
at the end of a drill rod assembly, and the mortar scree
placed using a tremie or bottom opening bucket.
5. Particularly when testing weaker rocks there'will
be rebound, loosening and possibly swelling associated
with excavation of the bearing surface and changes in
groundwater conditions. This may be minimized by
reducing the delay between excavation and testing to
a minimum.
6. Small fluctuations in displacement are likely to
result from changes in the groundwater regime, temperature and other environmental effects.
7. At higher applied loads the displacement may not
completely stabilize in a rcasonab!c ',imc: a criterion
I

&

150(
I~l
+ ;
~l

,- I 0 0 (

+ X~ A

_o
o.

o T4.1
iT4.2
x T4.3
+ T2.1
A T2.3

t
.m
m
=..

X ~0

5o

C3

"10

.J

~0

20

30

40

50

6b

R(per cent)
Fig. 6. Idealized pressure-displacement curve for plate-loading test.

Fig.8. Relationship bctween load-intensity and creep ratio R fromplate

tests.

208

International Society for Rock Mechanics

that readings should continue until the rate of displacement is less than 2~o of the incremental displacement
per hour may be used. This criterion may be modified
to suit the purpose of the test. The final increment in
any one cycle should be held for as long as practical
if the displacement is still increasing.

PART 3. S U G G E S T E D
M E T H O D FOR
M E A S U R I N G ROCK MASS
DEFORMABILITY U S I N G
A RADIAL JACKING TEST
SCOPE
1. (a) This test measures the deformability of a rock
mass by subjecting a test chamber of circular cross section to uniformly distributed radial loading; the consequent rock displacements are measured, from which
Elastic or Deformation modulae may be calculated. 1.
(b) The test loads a large volume of rock so that
the results may be taken to closely represent the true
properties of the rock mass, taking into account the
influence of joints and fissures. The anisotropic deformability of the rock can also be measured.
(c) The results are usually employed in the design
of dam foundations and for the proportioning of pressure shaft and tunnel linings.

APPARATUS
2. Equipment for excavating and lining the test
chamber including:
(a) Drilling and blasting materials or mechanical
excavation equipment, z
(b) Concreting materials and equipment for lining the
tunnel, together with strips of weak jointing material
for segmenting the lining. 3
3. A reaction frame usually comprising steel rings of
sufficient strength and rigidity to resist the force
applied by flat jacks or pressurising fluid. 4 The frame
must also act as a waterproof membrane when load
is applied by water pressure. When load is applied with
flat jacks the frame must be provided with smooth surfaces; hardwood planks are usually inserted between
the flat jacks and the steel rings.
4. Loading equipment to apply a uniformly distributed
radial pressure to the inner face of the concrete lining,
including:
(a) A hydraulic pump capable of applying the
required pressure and of holding this pressure constant

* Numbers refer to NOTES at the end of the text.

to within 5% over a period of at least 24 hr, together

with all necessary hoses, connectors and fluid.
(b) Flat jacks, when used for load application
(Fig. la), should be designed to load the maximum of
the full circumference of the lining, with sufficient separation to allow displacement measurements, and
should have a bursting pressure and travel consistent
with the anticipated loads and displacements.
(c) Water pressure, when used for load application
(Fig. l b) requires water seals to contain the pressurized
water between the concrete lining and the reaction
frame. Special water seals are also required to allow
the passage of extensometer rods through the lining
and reaction frame; pressurized water should not be
allowed to escape into the rock since this will greatly
affect the test results.
5. Load measuring equipment comprising one or more
hydraulic pressure gauges or transducers s, of suitable
range and capable of measuring the applied pressure
with an accuracy better than _+2~o.
6. (a) Displacement measuring equipment to monitor
rock movements radial to the tunnel with a precision
better than 0.01 ram. Single or multiple position extensometers conforming with the ISRM "Suggested
Methods for Monitoring Rock Displacements" should
be used. Directions of measurement should be chosen
with regard to the rock fabi'ic and any direction of
anisotropy.
(c) Measurements of movement should be related to
reference anchors rigidly secured in rock, well away
from the influence of the loaded zone. When using multiple position extensometers the deepest anchor may
be used as a reference provided it is situated at least
2 test chamber diameters from the chamber lining.
Alternatively the measurements may be related to a
rigid reference beam passing along the axis of the
chamber and anchored at a distance of not less than
1 chamber diameter from either end of the chamber
(Fig. 1).

PROCEDURE

7, Preparation
(a) The test chamber location is selected taking into
account the rock conditions, particularly the orientation of the rock fabric elements such as joints, bedding and foliation in relation to the orientation of the
proposed tunnel or opening for which results are
required.
(b) The test chamber is excavated to the required
dimensions. 2,6
(c) The geology of the chamber is recorded and specimens taken for index testing as required.
(d) The chamber is lined with concrete) The reaction
frame and loading equipment are assembled.
(e) The extensometer holes are accurately marked out
and drilled, ensuring no interference between loading
and measuring systems. The extensometers are installed
and the equipment is checked.

In Situ Deformability of Rock

0)

209

(91

181

(21 '

",

(1) ~ i

(tO)

(161
(151
J

~----@
Fig. la. Radial jacking test; flat jack loading alternative.
1. Measuring profile. 2. Distance equal to the length of active loading. 3. Control extensometer. 4. Pressure gauge.
5. Reference beam. 6. Handpump. 7. Flat jack. 8. Hardwood lagging. 9. Shotcrete. 10. Excavation diameter. 11. Measuring
diameter. 12. Extensometer drillholes. 13. Dial gauge extensometer. 14. Steel rod. 15. Expansion wedges. 16. Excavation
radius. 18. Inscribed circle. 19. Rockbolt anchor. 20. Steel ring.

8. Testing
(a) The test is carried out in at least three loading
and unloading cycles, a higher maximum pressure
being applied at each cycle, v
(b) For each cycle the pressure is increased at an
average rate of 0.05 MPa/min to the maximum for the
cycle, taking not less than 3 intermediate sets of loaddisplacement readings in order to adequately define a
set of pressure-displacement curves (e.g. Fig. 3).

(c) On reaching the maximum pressure for the cycle

the pressure is held constant (___2% of maximum test
presstlre) recording displacements as a function of time
until approximately 80% of the estimated long term
displacement has been recorded (Fig. 4). 8 Each cycle
is completed by reducing the pressure to near-zero at
the same average rate, taking a further three sets of
pressure-displacement readings.
(d) For the final cycle the maximum pressure is held
constant until no further displacements are observed. 8

International Society for Rock Mechanics

Approx 4 m

:';. ~i

-:~:..-,,::~"'"a:.'

"

'

..
""

T F,:
..~:,.::r..i!-:
. .-... ~:
*

"

"

"i-'i'

'

"

"

"

'

"'

i
i

"':.."~
...

...r:"""..

::': :'~: " .~:::..~ ""~

II
,.'.

,..

,. .,..

LSj:-: ;'ff~..~l%"j "*'q

[i)

""7,

~;5i

14

"

,;j:

~,o

Fig. lb. Radial jacking test equipment; i alternative loading system using water pressure.

The cycle is completed by unloading in stages taking

readings of pressure and corresponding displacements.
(e) The test equipment is then dismantled, or further
tests may be required having grouted the rock. 6

(b) If flat jacks are used, the applied load values are
first corrected to give an equivalent distributed pressure
Pl on the test chamber lining:
Pl = distributed pressure on the
lining at radius rl

CALCULATIONS
9. (a) A solution is given only for the case of a single
measuring circle with extensometer anchors immediately behind the lining. This solution, which also
assumes linear-elastic behaviour for the rock, is usually
adequate in practice although it is possible to analyse
more complex and realistic test configurations using
for example finite element analysis.

~b
Pl = 2 . r c . r 1 .P,.-

p., = manometric pressure in the

fiat jacks
b = fiat jack width
(see Fig. 5)

The equivalent pressure P2 at a "measuring radius" i"2

just beneath the lining is calculated, this radius being

211

In Situ Deformability of Rock

I

(c) Superposition of displacements for two "ticticious" loaded lengths is used to give the equivalent
displacements A for an "infinitely long test chamber". 9

l?
L Ill lll Illlllllll

O
A

A -- AA1 + AA2 + AA3 = AA1 + 2. An1

(see Fig. 2 to give symbols)

L
-l,

[-. . . . . .

"i
~

I
,F---

--i

///I- 1

(d) The result of the long duration test (Ad) under

maximum pressure (max P2) is plotted on the displacement graph (Fig. 3). Test data for each cycle are proportionally corrected to give the complete long term
pressure-displacement curve. The elastic component
(A,,) and the plastic component (Ap) of the total deformation (A,) are obtained from the deformation at the
final unloading:

A
(see Fig. 3)

At=Ap+A,,

i
\

IIIIIIIIIIIIlUlIIIII
I

"/

(e) The elastic modulus E and the deformation

modulus V are obtained from the pressure-displacement graph (Fig. 3) using the following formulae based
on the theory of elasticity"
E-P2"r2 m+ 1
Ae
m

A
A

I_

= AAI A&2+~A3=AAI

+2ABI

v-P2"rz

m+ 1

At

L!
I
i

i
I

Fig. 2. Method of superposition to give displacements for equivalent

uniformally distributed loading (elimination of end effects).

where P2 is the maximum test pressure and m is an

estimated value for Poissons Ratio.
(f) Alternatively to (e) above, the moduli of undisturbed rock may be obtained taking into account the
effect of a fissured and loosened region by using the
following formulae:

=p2.rz(m__++ l

outside the zone of irregular stresses beneath the flat

jacks and the lining and loose rock.

Ae \

lnra~

r2/

rl
Eb
P2 = - - " Pl = - - "
Pm"
r2
2./t. r 2

L
I~

AA'2AB

Ad

-I

9p
.

,/

6,0

3,0

I00
50

-17

mm

Fig. 3. Typical graph of applied pressure versus displacement.

R.M.M.S. 16/3

I00

- A

International Society for Rock Mechanics

212
O/o A

I00

80

Prr~x

I/A
//
L

btime

Fig. 4. Typical form of graph for displacement versus time at constant

applied pressure.

where i"3 is the radius to the limit of the assumed fissured and loosened zone, and In is the Naperian
(natural) logarithm.
(g) The dimensions of pressure linings can be determined directly by graph. 1 Use the load line of the
greatest displacement as shown in Figs 3, 6 and 7.

/
Fig. 6. Typical graph showing total and plastic displacements as a
function of direction perpendicular to the test chamber axis.

\
IO

P,

T
\\

~6
o.

E5

b~
Pi

o.

=T-

~o

P~

/
5

i0

~5

Pi = Pr + Ps
1.0

(o = gap between steel

and concrete

i '

lq
pro' ~ b = p1.2.~,7r

5O

Pro" 7-b

: 2.T.~

I00

rI
p~: p,' -j-

-;

2O0

o~t
500

~!

Fig. 5. Scheme of loading showing symbols used in the calculations.

Fig. 7. Design chart for direct estimation of pressure tunnel lining

thicknesses (from Lauffer & Seeber, see N O T E 1).

In Situ Deformability of Rock

R E P O R T I N G O F RESULTS

213

(e) The graphs showing displacements as a function

of applied pressure (e.g. Fig. 3) should be annotated
to show the corresponding elastic and deformation
moduli and data from which these were derived.

10. The report should include the following:

(a) A diagram giving all dimensions, photographs
and detailed description of the test equipment, full description of the methods used for test chamber preparation, lining and testing.
(b) Geological plans and section of the test chamber
showing the relative orientations of bedding, jointing,
faulting and any other features that may affect the test
results, preferably with index test data to give further
information on the mechanical characteristics of the rock
tested.
(c) Tabulated test observations together with graphs
of displacement versus applied pressure Ps or P2, and
displacement versus time at constant pressure for each
of the displacement measuring locations. Tabulated
"corrected" values together with details of the corrections applied. See Figs 3, 4 and Table 1 (graphs are
usually drawn only for the maximum and minimum
displacements).
(d) Transverse section of the test chamber showing
the total (At) and plastic (Ap) displacements resulting
from the maximum pressure (e.g. Fig. 6). The orientations of significant geological fabrics should be shown
on this figure for comparison with any anisotropy of
test results.

NOTES
1. For the design of pressure tunnel linings, the lining
thicknesses in the full scale tunnel may be determined
directly from the results of the test on the "model"
tunnel. (Lauffer, H. and Seeber, G. "Design and control
of linings in pressure tunnels and shafts." 7th Int. Conf.
on Large Dams, Rome 1961, R91, Q25).
2. The recommended diameter is 2.5 m, with a loaded
length equal to this diameter. Blasting is only permitted
if the test results are applied directly as a "model" test
to the case of a blasted full scale tunnel (see NOTE
1). Otherwise the chamber should be excavated with
as little disturbance as possible.
3. When testing only the rock, the lining should be
segmented so that it has negligible resistance to radial
expansion; in this case the composition of the lining
is relatively unimportant, and it may be of either shotcrete or concrete. Alternatively when it is required to
test the lining together with the rock, the lining should
not be segmented and its properties should be modelled
according to those of the prototype.

TABLE 1. SUGGESTED LAYOUT FOR TEST DATA SHEET

P2

AA

As

4+5

4+5+7

Ad

NR time

AA+Aa

Ad

corr.

2
3a
3b
3c
4

5
6a
6b
6c
7
8

9a
o0

E-P2"r2
Ae

v-P2"r2
At

m+ 1
m

m+ 1
fir/

At

Ae

Ap

214

International Society for Rock Mechanics

4. Either flat jacks or a pressurizing fluid may be

used to apply radial pressure to the test chamber; the
two alternatives are illustrated in Fig. la and b.
5. Measurements are usually by means of mechanical
guages. Particular care is required to guarantee the
reliability of electric transducers and recording equipment when used.
6. To assess the effectiveness of grouting, two test
chambers are usually prepared adjacent to each other.
Grouting is carried out after completion of testing in
the ungrouted chamber, and the equipment is then
transferred to the grouted chamber.

7. Typically the maximum pressure applied in this

test is from 5-10 MPa.
8. In the case of "creeping" rock it may be necessary
to stop loading even though the displacements continue. Not less than 80Y/o of the anticipated long term
displacement should have been reached.
9. This superposition is made necessary by the comparatively short length of test chamber in relation to
its diameter. Superposition is only strictly valid for elastic deformations but also gives a good approximation
if the rock is moderately plastic in its behaviour.