DEFINING THE LEGALITY OF GRAY SANDSTONE ROCK STRENGTH

TESTING IN A COMPLEX STATE OF STRESS*

1
Milenko Ljubojev, 1Ratomir Popović, 2Melvudin Avdić,
1
Lidija Đurđevac Ignjatović, 1Vesna Ljubojev
1
Minig and Metallurgy Institute, Bor, Zeleni bulevar 35, 19210 Bor, Serbia,
2
University of Tuzla, Mining, Geology and Faculty of Civil Engineering
E-mail: milenko.ljubojev@irmbor.co.rs

Abstract
The paper presents experimental contribution to defining the legality of strength gray sandstone with the
route of the tunnel "Krivelj’s river", examined in the complex state of stress. Experience has shown, and
experiments confirm, that all materials and rocks have a limited ability of accumulation mechanical energy, or to
oppose unlimited deformations. In isothermal loading process, the two extreme states of all material behavior can
be observed. The first is extension, which is based on a material attribute that becomes more plastic. The second
is rigidity; changing the materials structure at certain border loads. Testing the legality of gray sandstone
strength, from the route of the "Krivelj’s river" tunnel, was made on twelve samples with dimensions d x h = 5.4 x
8.1 [cm]. Seven samples were examined in the complex stress condition in 2=3=2,0 ; 5,0 ; 10,0 ; 20,0 ; 30,0 ;
40,0 ; 55,0 [MPa] and five samples of the 2=3=0
Keywords: rock strength, complex state

INTRODUCTION

Modern development of techniques and technologies in the mining industry

requires a qualitative increase in knowledge about the structure, properties and the
condition of the rocks and rock massive. From above comes the importance of
defining the legality of the destruction of rocks in the underground construction and
under ground exploitation of mineral raw materials. The problem of determining the
legality of strength of rocks has been and remains the subject of study of many
researchers.
Position in the wider sense has been accepted that the strength properties of
materials are in the process of deformation with a development gap. Hence there is a
fundamental question: what is the deformation of material without the crack, which in
fact is one of the types of flow.
Load, in which the cracks appear in the rock with the sound effects and is
related to the change of external form, is called the border.
Strength criteria, derived from any strength theory, are a record of boundary
conditions in the form of stress - deformation state of material and its mechanical
properties. Scientific basis of the strength theory, distinguishing on logically designed
and evidence character, was set by Galileo Galilee in the XV century.
In the basis of strength theory, it can be catch sight of three basic directions of
development:
- Experimentally – phenomenological.
It is based on the experiment, studying real materials under the influence
external load to collapse.

__________________________________________
*This paper is produced from the project no. 17004 which is funded means the
Ministry of Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia.
 - Computing – analytical.
It is based on the general mathematical model which study strength criterion
of continuous environment taking into consideration the viscous -- elastic, plastic and
rheology phenomenon without entering the physics of process.
- Structural - physical.
Study legislative structural changes in the loaded material.

1. Criteria of rock material strength

Experience has shown, and experiments confirm, that all materials and rocks
have a limited ability of accumulation mechanical energy, or to oppose unlimited
deformations.
In isothermal loading process, the two extreme states of all material behavior
can be observed. The first is extension, which is based on a material attribute that
becomes more plastic. The second is rigidity; changing the materials structure at
certain border loads.
Rocks complex, that build rock massive, classified in the group of rigid
material and the basic characteristic is that the mono axial compressive strength is
higher than stretching resistance.
Strength of rocks in the mono axial stress can be set without difficulty through
the appropriate testing of representative samples in the laboratory.
The problem of strength of rocks in triaxial stress condition is considerably
more complex and difficult. The marking is not a single, and in some cases even its
implementation is not possible.
On the basis of the stated objections, which are only a small part of
consideration of rock strength, criteria term strength or hypothesis will be set, which
allows simplification of results of laboratory research, and theoretical considerations
in the direction of reducing the complex stress state to balance mono axial state (on
the edge of breaking). Through the strength criteria can be understood the break of
continuum because of the cracks appearing and the occurrence of large irreversible
deformations that lead to loss of stability or functionality of mining tunnels or
underground facilities. Such phenomena are often good in rock massif, and its
prediction is task for mining geomechanic. Similarly as in the branches that deal with
strength and stability of the building construction and in geomechanic is determined
by some function of stress tensor or deformation of rock massive in complex state.

1.1. Saint - Venant's criterion of strength

It is based on assumption that the rock fractures cause the largest of the three
main deformations.
1
1   1     2   3  
E
1
 2    2     3  1   (1.1)
E
1
 3    3    1   2  
E

The highest deformation (the assumption is that it is 1) should be equal to the
maximum deformation at breakage in mono axial stress condition.
 1
1     Rc (1.2)
E
1     2   3    R c (1.3)

- Rc, mono axial resistance of the pressure

- , Poisson's ratio

1.2. Theory of maximum shearing stress

This theory starts from the assumption that the maximum shearing stress or
plastic flow leads to a loss of rocks form. This hypothesis is essentially in the theory
of plasticity.

In the complex condition:

1
 max   1   3  (1.4)
2

The mono axial condition:

1
 max  Rc (1.5)
2

Equalizing the right sides of the equations (1.4) and (1.5) gives:
1   3  R c . (1.6)

This means that, if the difference between main stresses in the rock massif exceeds the
value of mono axial current strength, comes to fracture of the rock massif structure.

1.3. Theory of strength energy

This theory has been formulated for the first time in 1904 by M.T.Hubera, and
in fact represents the energy criterion. This criterion is often called by authors Mises-
Hencki who have published independently of one another ten years after Huber.
According to this criterion, strength has been defined by deformation energy of form.
The complex stress condition is defined by:

1 
6E
 
  x   y  2    y   z  2    z   x  2  6  2xy   2yz   2zx  (1.7)

The mono axial stress condition:

1 
  2 R c2 (1.8)
6E

Equalizing the right sides of the equations (1.7) and (1.8) gives:
Rc 
1
2
 
  x   y  2    y   z  2    z   x  2  6  2xy   2yz   2zx  (1.9)

In case, where the complex stress state is defined by the main stresses 1, 2 i
3, criteria Huber - Mises - Hencky has the following form:
1
2
 
 1   2  2    2   3  2    3  1  2  R c (1.10)
1.4. Legality of gray sandstone strength, from the tunnel "Krivelj’s river"

Testing the legality of gray sandstone strength, from the route of the "Krivelj’s
river" tunnel, was made on twelve samples with dimensions d x h = 5.4 x 8.1 [cm].
Seven samples were examined in the complex stress condition in 2=3=2,0 ; 5,0 ;
10,0 ; 20,0 ; 30,0 ; 40,0 ; 55,0 [MPa] and five samples of the 2=3=0 (Figure 1).
From the diagram (Figure 1) it is clear that the border stress state is non-linear.

Nonlinear fracture criterion is defined by the following terms:

1   3  m   c   3  s   c2 (1.11)

Expression (1.11) can be written in the following form:

y  m   c  x  s   c2 (1.12)

where:
y   1   3 
2

x=3
m and s – material constants

For the undisturbed rock s = 1, while the mono axial resistance to pressure c
and material constant m is determined in the following way:
  x   y 
 c2 
 y  
 x  y 
n  
x
(1.13)
n 
 x  2  x
2

 n

 n 

 xy    
 x y
1 n
m    (1.14)
c 
 x 2  x
2


 n 

Coefficient of determination r2 is determined by expression:

xy    
2
 x y
 n 
r2   
(1.15)
 x 2    x   y 2    y 
 2
 2


 n 
 n 
  
The link between shearing resistance , the normal stress  and main stresses
1 and 3 is defined by the following terms:
 2m
  3 
 (1.16)
m  m  c
8
 c
     3   1  m (1.17)
4 m
1
m   1   3 
2
On the basis of experimental researches in the triaxial stress state of the gray
sandstone, values of  and  were calculated and shown in table 1.
c=95,25 [MPa]
m=4,68
s=1,0 ; r2=0,95

Table 1
[MPa
23,57 31,80 41,50 72,42 89,33 114,08 132,20
]
[MPa] 39,58 46,83 53,10 79,35 87,62 104,82 108,40
Figure 1 Border stress state of gray sandstone from the route of the "Krivelj’s river" tunnel
presented by modified anvelope of Mohr’s circles
Figure 2 Diagram of vertical force increase and deformation in function of the sample
height, during the side pressure of 30, 40 and 55 [MPa]

On figure 2 is shown the diagram of vertical force and deformation in function

of the sample height, during the side pressure of 30, 40 and 55 [MPa]. First dash-dot-
dash line presents the beginning of plastification. The other dash-dot-dash line
presents plastic fracture limit.
 Figure 3 Breakage of gray sandstone samples in triaxial stress
condition by 3=2; 5; 10 and 20 [MPa]

Figure 4 Breakage of gray sandstone by slipping on the

tangent stress plane without the occurrence of cracks
by 3=30; 40 and 55 [MPa]

On figures 3 and 4 is shown the look of the gray sandstone breakage in

different conditions. Figure 3 shows breakage of gray sandstone samples in triaxial
stress condition. On the other hand, figure 4 shows breakage of the same kind of
samples by slipping on the tangent stress plane without visible cracks.
 Figure 5 View of the main and the shearing stresses which causes the
appearance of cracks of gray sandstone from
the route of the “Krivelj’s river” tunnel

1.5. Conclusion

Analysis of the above mentioned strength criteria, points to the limited

possibilities for their application to the rocks in which the mono axial resistance of
tightening is several times less than mono axial resistance to pressure. This fact does
not take into account any Saint - Venant or Huber - Mises - Hencky.
Criterion for the largest tangent stress max, do not take into account the
influence of the main intermediary strength stress 2, as numerous experiments prove.
The other lack of criteria max is that from it results illimitedness of strength in the
state of hydrostatic stress. Mentioned criteria don’t take into account the defects, as
well as rock anisotropy, which cannot be ignored. In such cases, the investigated rock
samples examined in the complex state of stress by the significant side pressures,
which confirms the modified Mohr’s diagram of stress in Figure 1.
Anvelope of these circles, which shows the fracture stress, can be considered
for the curve, composed from three different arches.
Arch 1, with the largest inclination angle of tangent to the stress axe ,
corresponds to the loss of rock continuum by sliding.
Arch 2, corresponds to brittle breakage of rock structure.
Arch 3, has the least inclination angle of tangent to the  axe and corresponds
to a plastic rock deformation, which is confirmed by the diagram in Figure 2. The
experiment found that the rock samples in triaxial cell, by side pressures from 2 to 20
[MPa], breaking is caused by shearing stress with the observed angle of fracture
Figure 3. By the side pressures from 30 to 55 [MPa], breakage of the samples of gray
sandstone is caused by slipping in the tangent stress plane without the occurrence of
cracks image 5. This means that with the increasing of the half-sum of the main
   3 
stresses  1  , increases the general resistance to shearing.
 2 

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