Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Case study: using the point load test to estimate rock strength of tunnels constructed by a tunnel boring machine

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Rock strength is one of the most important parameters in geotechnical engineering. During excavation using a tunnel boring machine (TBM), a rapid and effective method to estimate rock strength is needed. The TBM muck produced during excavation contains blocky fragments which are suitable for a point load test (PLT). To use the PLT on blocky fragments to estimate rock strength, it is necessary to find the relation between the point load strength (PLS) of blocky fragments and uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of surrounding rocks. In the present study, PLT was performed on both blocky fragments and core samples of limestone for the Yinsong Water Conveyance Project, China. The UCS of limestone was acquired. The PLS of blocky fragments and core samples was compared. The results show that the blocky fragments’ PLS is lower than that of core samples; the declining ratio depends on the fractured degree of sampling sites; blocky fragments with width and thickness in a certain range are suitable for estimating rock strength; and when the size of the blocky fragment exceeds a certain range, it means the blocky fragment was not generated from the tunnel face. The limestone core samples simultaneously drilled from side wall have an average conversion factor from PLS to UCS of 24.61. The mean conversion factor from PLS of blocky fragments to UCS of limestone in the present study is 40.38.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • ASTM (2014) Standard test methods for compressive strength and elastic moduli of intact rock core specimens under varying states of stress and temperatures: D7012–14. Annual book of ASTM standards. ASTM International, West Conshohocken

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton N (2000) Tunnelling in jointed and faulted rock. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Basu A, Aydin A (2006) Predicting uniaxial compressive strength by point load test: significance of cone penetration. Rock Mech Rock Eng 39(5):483–490

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Basu A, Kamran M (2010) Point load test on schistose rocks and its applicability in predicting uniaxial compressive strength. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 47(5):823–828

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bieniawski ZT (1975) Point load test in geotechnical practice. Eng Geol 9(1):1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bilgin N (2016) An appraisal of TBM performance in Turkey in difficult ground conditions and some recommendations. Tunn Undergr Sp Tech 57:265–276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Broch E, Franklin JA (1972) The point load strength test. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 9(6):669–697

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brook N (1985) The equivalent core diameter method of size and shape correction in point load testing. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 22(2):61–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cargill JS, Shakoor A (1990) Evaluation of empirical methods for measuring the uniaxial compressive strength of rock. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 27(6):495–503

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chau KT, Wong RHC (1996) Uniaxial compressive strength and point load strength. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 33(2):183–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CRSRI (Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute) (2013) Standard for Test Method of Engineering Rock Mass

  • Edet AE, Teme SC (1990) Strength classification of some nigerian limestones using the point load testing technique. Bull Eng Geol Environ 41(1):97–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrokh E, Rostami J (2008) Correlation of tunnel convergence with TBM operational parameters and chip size in theGhomroud tunnel, Iran. Tunn Undergr Sp Tech 23(6):700–710

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fener M, Kahraman S, Bilgil A, Gunaydin O (2005) A comparative evaluation of indirect methods to estimate the compressive strength of rocks. Rock Mech Rock Eng 38(4):329–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ISRM (1985) Suggested method for determining point load strength. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 22(2):51–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaeger J, Hoskins E (1966) Stresses and failure in rings of rock loaded in diametral tension or compression. Br J Appl Phys 17(5):685–692

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karaman K, Kaya A, Kesimal A (2015) Use of the point load index in estimation of the strength rating for the RMR system. J Afr Earth Sci 106:40–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaya A, Karaman K (2016) Utilizing the strength conversion factor in the estimation of uniaxial compressive strength from the point load index. Bull Eng Geol Environ 75(1):341–357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kohno M, Maeda H (2012) Relationship between point load strength index and uniaxial compressive strength of hydrethermally altered soft rocks. Int J Rock Mech Min Eng 50:147–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kong XX, Liu QS, Zhao YF, Pan YC, Liu JP (2015) Numerical modeling of the effects of joint orientation on rock fragmentation by TBM cutters. J China Coal Soc 40(6):1257–1262 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee SW, Chang SH, Park KH, Kim CY (2011) TBM performance and development state in Korea. Procedia Engineering 14(1):3170–3175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu B, Liu Z, Li S, Nie L, Su M, Sun H, Fan K, Zhang X, Pang Y (2017) Comprehensive surface geophysical investigation of karst caves ahead of the tunnel face: a case study in the Xiaoheyan section of the water supply project from Songhua River, jilin, China. J Appl Geophys 144:37–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li D, Wong LNY (2013) Point load test on meta-sedimentary rocks and correlation to UCS and BTS. Rock Mech Rock Eng 46(4):889–896

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Q, Huang X, Gong Q, Du L, Pan Y, Liu J (2016) Application and development of hard rock TBM and its prospect in China. Tunn Undergr Sp Tech 57:33–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rusell AR, Wood DM (2009) Point load tests and strength measurements for brittle spheres. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 46(2):272–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saroglou H, Tsiambaos G (2006) Point load strength determination of anisotropic rocks. In: Cotthem V, Chailier R, Thimus JF, Tshibangu JP (eds) EUROCK 2006-multiphysics coupling and long term behaviour in rock mechanics. Taylor & Francis Group, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Serati M, Alehossein H, Erarslan N, Williams DJ (2013) 3D elastic solutions for point load and Brazilian indirect tensile strength tests. Proccedings of the 2013 ISRM International Symposium (EUROCK 2013), Wroclaw, Poland, 21–26 September, 887–892

  • Serati M, Alehossein H, Williams DJ (2014) 3D elastic solutions for laterally loaded discs: generalised Brazilian and point load tests. Rock Mech Rock Eng 47(4):1087–1101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Serati M, Alehossein H, Williams DJ (2016) Theoretical treatment of disc cutters subjected to general cutting forces. J Eng Math 100(1):141–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith H (1997) The point load test for weak rock in dredging applications. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 34:3–4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vallejo LE, Walsh RA, Robinson MK (1989) Correlation between unconfined compressive and point load strength for appalachian rocks. In the proceeding of the 30th U.S. symposium on rock mechanics: 461-468

  • Wijk G (1980) The point load test for the tensile strength of rock. Geotech Test J 3:49–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yao JC (1969) Long cylindrical tube subjectedto two diametrically opposite loads. Aeronaut Q 20:365–381

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang XP, Wong LNY (2012) Cracking processes in rock-like material containing a single flaw under uniaxial compression- a numerical study based on parallel bonded-particle model approach. Rock Mech Rock Eng 45:711–737

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang XP, Wong LNY (2013) Crack initiation, propagation and coalescence in rock-like material containing two flaws: a numerical study based on bonded-particle model approach. Rock Mech Rock Eng 46(5):1001–1021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang XP, Wu S, Afolagboye LO, Wang S, Han G (2016) Using the point load test to analyze the strength anisotropy of quartz mica schist along exploration adit. Rock Mech Rock Eng 49:1967–1975

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang XP, Zhang Q, Wu S (2017) Acoustic emission characteristics of the rock-like material containing a single flaw under different compressive loading rates. Comput Geotech 83:83–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang XP, Ji PQ, Liu QS, Liu Q, Zhang Q, Peng ZH (2018) Physical and numerical studies of rock fragmentation subject to wedge cutter indentation in the mixed ground. Tunn Undergr Sp Tech 71:354–365

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the support provided by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (Grant Nos. 2014CB046904 and 2015CB058102) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41130742).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Key Laboratory of Safety for Geotechnical and Structural Engineering of Hubei Province, School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China

    Quan-Sheng Liu, Yi-Fan Zhao & Xiao-Ping Zhang

Authors
  1. Quan-Sheng Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yi-Fan Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xiao-Ping Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiao-Ping Zhang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, QS., Zhao, YF. & Zhang, XP. Case study: using the point load test to estimate rock strength of tunnels constructed by a tunnel boring machine. Bull Eng Geol Environ 78, 1727–1734 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-017-1198-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-017-1198-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation