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Influence of grain size or anisotropy on the correlation between uniaxial compressive strength and sound velocity

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Abstract

Uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) is a critical rock strength parameter, and sound velocity tests are often employed to estimate UCS. However, the equations relating UCS to the sound velocity are grain size or anisotropy dependent, and how such equations respond to these factors remains unknown. To provide guidance for using the sound velocity to predict the UCS of heterogeneous rocks, sandstone (fine- and coarse-grain) and gneiss (0°, 45°, and 90° inclined anisotropy) samples are used to explore the effect of grain size and anisotropy, respectively, on correlations between UCS and the sound velocity. Several significant formulas for predicting UCS can be developed via the sound velocity, except in the case of gneiss with vertical anisotropy. The coarse-grain size and 45° inclined anisotropy increase the discreteness of the UCS data but not the sound velocity. The varying grain size and anisotropy orientation exert a negative influence on the correlation degree between UCS and the sound velocity. UCS values estimated using fine-grain rocks have the lowest relative errors, while considerable relative errors in the estimated UCS occur when using the sound velocity from samples with multidirectional anisotropy. Using empirical equations while ignoring grain size and anisotropy may therefore yield considerable discrepancies in the estimated UCS. This study suggests that the P-wave velocity is the best choice for predicting UCS. Tests should take into consideration varying grain sizes and be performed on rocks with unidirectional anisotropy; however, tests should not be conducted parallel to the anisotropy because of the lack of significant correlation.

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Acknowledgements

Much work of this study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers 41877239, 51379112, 51422904, 40902084 and 41772298), Fundamental Research Funds of Shandong University (grant number 2018JC044), and Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation (grant numbers JQ201513 and 2019GSF111028).

Funding

The research was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers 41877239, 51379112, 51422904, 40902084 and 41772298), and Fundamental Research Fund of Shandong University (grant number 2018JC044), and Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation (grant number JQ201513).

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  1. Fanmeng Kong and Yiguo Xue contributed equally to this work

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geotechnical and Structural Engineering Research Center, Shandong University, Jinan, 250061, China

    Fanmeng Kong, Yiguo Xue, Daohong Qiu, Qian Song & Qiqi Chen

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  1. Fanmeng Kong
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  2. Yiguo Xue
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  3. Daohong Qiu
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Contributions

F. Kong provided writing—original draft preparation, reviewing, and editing. Y. Xue did conceptualization, methodology, and writing—original draft preparation. D. Qiu, Q. Song, and Q. Chen reviewed and edited the study.

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Correspondence to Yiguo Xue.

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Kong, F., Xue, Y., Qiu, D. et al. Influence of grain size or anisotropy on the correlation between uniaxial compressive strength and sound velocity. Bull Eng Geol Environ 81, 219 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-022-02697-w

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