ROCK MECHANICS
IND. ASSIGNMENT
MINING ENG.
DEPARTMENT
BY: TEMESGEN SILABAT
ID NO: 1215/13
STRESS AND
STRAIN
ANALYSIS
IN ROCK MASS
SUB-TOPIC:
COMPENSATION
METHOD
INTRODUCTION TO ROCK MASS & STRESS
.
• The rock mass is the total in-situ medium containing bedding planes, faults, joints, folds and other
structural features. Rock masses are discontinuous and often have heterogeneous and anisotropic
engineering properties.
• Underground rock masses- are subjected to compressive stresses which generally increases with
depth.
• Most data indicate that vertical stresses vary in a more predictable manner than horizontal stresses
as vertical stress is primarily affected by weight of overburden.
• Upon excavation in rock mass natural state of stress is disturbed locally as rock mass attain a new
state of equilibrium.
• Natural stress is in-situ stress which is likely or highly cause rock bursting , spalling, buckling,
heaving or other ground control problems.
Stress - pressure transmitted from the external face to an
internal location, also force per unit area
STRESS, STRAIN, ! Types of stresses
DEFORMATION
• Compressive - stresses of equal magnitude that act toward a
CHARACTERISTICS
ON ROCKS point from opposite directions
• Tensile - stresses of equal magnitude that act away from a
point.
• Shear - stresses that are offset from one another and act in
opposite directions
shear
Tesile compressive
DEFORMATION - RESPONSE TO STRESS
Application of stress causes a body of rock to yield or deform.
! The amount of deformation is called strain
! The type and amount of strain that a particular material experiences
depends on:
Type of stresses applied
Depth and temperature
Rock behavior is more complex than ideal materials
Common method of testing rock behavior is the unconfined
compression test.
GENERALIZED STRESS-STRAIN
ANALYSIS CURVE FOR ROCKS
Stress/strain relationships are generally not
linear
Usually show 3 distinct segments:
Region 1: closing of void spaces
Region 2: approximately elastic behavior
Region 3: approximately plastic behavior
Failure: rock breaks and loses all shear
strength
Different types of rocks vary considerably in their
stress-strain behavior
! Two types of responses
• Brittle - respond in a mostly elastic fashion until failure
• Ductile - respond elastically until the “Elastic Limit”,
then in plastic fashion until failure
COMPENSATION
METHOD
(FLAT JACK TESTS)
PRIMARY STRESS MEASUREMENTS ACCORDING TO THE
COMPENSATION METHOD (FLAT JACK TESTS)
This method is based on inducing an artificial condition of stress-relief in the rock with a saw
cut and taking simultaneous measurements of the resulting deformation. This deformation is
then reversed again by applying compensation pressure with suitable loading devices.
As a rule, the stresses needing to be induced in this process are equivalent to the original
stresses. Unlike test methods based purely on stress-relief, this method requires no
knowledge of the elastic constants of the rock at the measuring point.
The method has a number of advantages:
It does not assume a linearly elastic rock
It does not require knowledge of the rock's deformation characteristics
Measuring principle compensation method
A = Front view, B = Cross section
UE = relief-induced deformation
UK = Compensation of relief-induced deformation
PK = Compensation pressure
The evaluation of test results obtained by the
compensation method with flat jacks is based on
the following equation:
sn =p×Km×Ka
p = Oil pressure in the cell at full compensation
Km= Form constant of the pressure cell used
Ka = Ratio of cell area to cut area
FLAT JACK METHOD
Flat jack method represents some of the first in situ stress measuring methods available in rock
mechanics.
Flat jacks consist of two plates of steel that are welded together, usually of circular and square in
shape. They can operate at pressures of several thousand psi.
In general, flat jack method consists of measuring the displacement between (one or several sets
of) pins or strain gauges at the surface of an excavation created by cutting a nearby slot. The
slots can be cut by overlapping holes or by using a large saw.
A flat jack is inserted into the slot, grouted in place and pressurized until the pin or strain gauge
readings have returned to their original position, which is called as cancellation pressure. The
cancellation pressure is used as an estimate of the stress normal to the jack. To know the
complete state of stress in the area of interest, six flat jack tests need to be conducted in six
different directions.
Flat jack: consisting of two flat sheets of steel
plate or other suitable material welded together
around the edge to form a flat envelope of at
least a 0.1 square meter area & incorporating a
hydraulic inlet tube with connections to a
hydraulic hose and bleed valve.
Great care is put in the welding around the
edge of the flat jack & bleed tube inlet, so that
jack can expand flexibly without leaking when
installed & inflated to full test pressure.
Selected shape of flat jack – depends on the
method chosen to cut the slot.
Working principle of
compensation
method( flat jack test)
Significance and Use
1) Flat jack tests are useful to assess rock mass deformability and stresses in the design stages of projects as well as for issues
with existing projects; for example, stresses around an underground opening. The in situ stress values can be used as an important
parameter for interpretation and validation of test results and analytical models.
2) This test method has been successfully used for other applications such as concrete dams and masonry structures.
Scope
A) The flat jack test measures the natural or altered in situ stress at a rock surface either for a surface outcrop or an underground
excavation surface. The modulus of deformation and the long-term deformational properties (creep) may also be evaluated for the
applied stress range. B) This method covers square flat jacks that are placed in a rock slot and if required encapsulated in the slot.
C) Deformation readings are taken at the surface, but this standard does not exclude deformation readings being taken below the
surface, such as using a flat jack which is set up to obtain displacement data internally.
D) All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for significant digits .
Limitation—The flat jack test measures the average stress normal to the surface of the test chamber, underground excavation, or
outcrop. In situ stress levels must be determined by theoretical interpretations of these data.
ASSUMPTIONS AND FACTORS INFLUENCING THE DATA:
3 The flat jack is assumed to be
1. The stress relief is assumed 2 The equations assume that
100 % efficient. The design and
to be an elastic, reversible the rock mass is isotropic and
size requirements were
process. In nonhomogeneous or homogeneous. Anisotropic
determined to satisfy this
highly fractured materials, this effects may be estimated by
requirement to within a few
may not be completely true. testing in different orientations.
percent.
4 The jack is assumed to be aligned with
the principal stresses on the surface
being measured. Shear stresses are not
canceled by jack pressure. Orientating
the tests in three directions in each plane
tested prevents the misalignment from
being excessive for at least one of the
tests.
