Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Statistical evaluation of CERCHAR Abrasivity Index (CAI) measurement methods and dependence on petrographic and mechanical properties of selected rocks of Pakistan

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

Abstract

Forty-six rock units selected from various locations of Pakistan comprising of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks were subject to a comprehensive laboratory testing program consisting of two parts. The first part included CERCHAR abrasivity tests and measurement of physical rock properties including uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), Brazilian tensile strength (BTS), dry density, porosity, and P-wave velocity (V p). The second part involved petroghraphic thin section analyses of 40 selected abrasive and non-abrasive rock samples along with the determination of wear factors such as Schimazek’s F value and Rock Abrasivity Index (RAI). The CERCHAR abrasivity tests were conducted on sawn (CAIs) and freshly broken (CAIfb) rock surfaces employing top and side viewing methods for the measurement of wear flat of the stylus tip. This paper statistically confirms the previous work on the influence of wear flat measurement methods and rock surface conditions on the CERCHAR Abrasivity Index (CAI) values. It was found statistically that CAIs and CAIfb values measured from top view of the test stylus were 17 and 19 % higher, respectively, in comparison to CAIs and CAIfb values measured using side viewing stylus measurement technique. Further the correlations of CAI with RAI, Schimazek’s F value, petrographic, and physico-mechanical rock properties are also discussed.

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

  • Abu Bakar MZ (2006) A critical review of rock abrasivity measurement methods. M.Sc. Dissertation, University of Leeds

  • Abu Bakar MZ, Gertsch LS (2012) Radial pick cutting performance in dry and saturated sandstone. Soc Min Metall Explor 332:396–405

    Google Scholar 

  • AFNOR (2000) Determination du pouvoir abrasive d’une roche-Partie 1: Essai de rayure avec une pointe (NF P 94-430-1) Paris

  • AL-Ameen SI, Waller MD (1994) The influence of rock strength and abrasive mineral content on the Cerchar Abrasivity Index. Eng Geol 36:293–301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alber M (2008) Stress dependency of the Cerchar abrasivity index (CAI) and its effects on wear of selected rock cutting tools. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 23:351–359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alber M, Yarali O, Dahl F, Bruland A, Kasling H, Michalakopoulos TN, Cardu M, Hagan P, Aydm H, Ozarslan A (2014) ISRM suggested method for determining the abrasivity of rock by the CERCHAR abrasivity test. Rock Mech Rock Eng 47:261–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ASTM-D4543 (2008) Standard practices for preparing rock core as cylindrical test specimens and verifying conformance to dimensional and shape tolerances. Amer Soc Test Mater Int 1–9. doi:10.1520/D4543-08

  • ASTM-D7625-10 (2010) Standard test method for laboratory determination of abrasiveness of rock using the CERCHAR method. Amer Soc Test Mater Int 1–6. doi:10.1520/D7625-10

  • Atkinson T, Cassapi VB, Singh RN (1986a) Assessment of abrasive wear resistance potential in rock excavation machinery. Int J Min Geol Eng 3:151–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson T, Denby B, Cassapi VB (1986b) Problems associated with rock material properties in surface mining equipment selection. Trans Inst Min Metall Section A Miner Ind 95:A80–A86

    Google Scholar 

  • Bisschop F (1991) The analysis of a laboratory cutting and abrasion test to be applied in rock cutting dredging. Classified internal report, Memoirs of the Centre for Engineering Geology in the Netherlands. Delft University of Technology, pp 81–105

  • Bruland A (2000) Hard rock tunnel boring. PhD. Dissertation, vol. 3, Advance rate and cutter wear, Norwegian University of Sciences and Technology of Trondheim (NTNU), Report No. 1B-98

  • CERCHAR (1986) Centre d’Etudes et des Recherches des Charbonages de France. The CERCHAR abrasiveness index, CERCHAR, Verneuil

  • Deketh HJR (1991) Determination of optimum conditions for the modified pin-on-disc test. Mem Cent Eng Geol Neth 85:27

    Google Scholar 

  • Deliormanli AH (2012) Cerchar abrasivity index (CAI) and its relation to strength and abrasion test methods for marble stones. Constr Build Mater 30:16–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dipova N (2012) Investigation of the relationships between abrasiveness and strength properties of weak limestone along a tunnel route. J Geol Eng 36:23–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Fowell RJ, Abu Bakar MZ (2007) A review of the Cerchar and LCPC rock abrasivity measurement methods. In Proceeding of the 11th Congress of the International Society for Rock Mechanics 155–160

  • Gharahbagh EA, Rostami J, Ghasemi AR, Tonon F (2011) Review of rock abrasion testing. In: Proceeding of the 45th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, pp 11–141

  • Ghasemi AR (2010) Study of Cerchar abrasivity index and potential modifications for more consistent measurement of rock abrasion. M.Sc. Dissertation, Pennsylvania State University

  • Hair JF, Black WC, Babin BJ, Anderson RE (2009) Multivariate data analysis, 7th edn. Prentice Hall, Newyork

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamzaban MT, Memarian H, Rostami J (2013) Continuous monitoring of pin tip wear and penetration into rock surface using a new Cerchar abrasivity testing device. Rock Mech Rock Eng. doi:10.1007/s00603-013-0397-4

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamzaban MT, Memarian H, Rostami J, Ghasemi-Monfared H (2014) Study of rock-pin interaction in Cerchar abrasivity test. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 72:100–108

    Google Scholar 

  • ISRM (1978a) Suggested methods for determining tensile strength of rock materials. Int J Rocks Mech Min Sci Geomech 15:99–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ISRM (1978b) Suggested methods for determining sound velocity. Int J Rocks Mech Min Sci Geomech 15:53–58

    Google Scholar 

  • ISRM (1979a) Suggested methods for determining the uniaxial compressive strength and deformability of rock materials. Int J Rocks Mech Min Sci Geomech 16:135–140

    Google Scholar 

  • ISRM (1979b) Suggested methods for determining water content, porosity, density, absorption and related properties and swelling and slake-durability index properties. Int J Rocks Mech Min Sci Geomech 16:141–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaeger W (1988) An investigation into the abrasive capacity of rock. Mem Cent Eng Geol Neth 52:99

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson ST, Fowell RJ (1986) Compressive strength is not enough (assessing pick wear for drag tool-equiped machines). In: Proceedings of the 27th US Symposium Rock Mechanics, Tuscaloosa, Ala., USA, pp 840–845

  • Kahraman S, Alber M, Fener M, Gunaydin O (2010) The usability of Cerchar abrasivity index for the prediction of UCS and E of Misis Fault Breccia: regression and artificial neural analysis. Expert Syst Appl 37:8750–8756

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karakus M, Kumral M, Kilic O (2005) Predicting elastic properties of intact rocks from index tests using multiple regression modeling. Int J Rocks Mech Min Sci Geomech 42:323–330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kasling H, Thuro K (2010) Determining abrasivity of rock and soil in the laboratory. In 11th IAEG Congress. Auckland. New Zealand, 1973–1980, p 235

  • Kennedy P (2008) A guide to econometrics, 6th edn. Willey Blackwell, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Khandelwal M, Ranjith PG (2010) Correlating index properties of rocks with P-wave measurements. J Appl Geophys 71:1–5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Labas M, Krepelka F, Ivanicova L (2012) Assessment of abrasiveness for research of rock cutting. Acta Montan Slovaca 1:65–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyman R, Longnecker M (2010) An introduction to statistical methods and data analysis, 6th edn. Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning, Canada

    Google Scholar 

  • Michalakopoulos TN, Anagnostou VG, Bassanou ME, Panagiotou GN (2006) The influence of steel styli hardness on the Cerchar abrasiveness index value. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 43:321–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muftuoglu YV (1983) A study of factors affecting diggability in British surface coal mines. PhD. Dissertation, University of Nottingham

  • Paschen D (1980) Petrographic and geomechanical characterization of Ruhr area carboniferous rocks for the determination of their wear behavior. PhD dissertation, Technische Unversitat Claustahl 202

  • Plinninger RJ (2002) Klassifizierung und Prognose von Werkzeugverschleiß bei konventionellen Gebirgslösungsverfahren im Festgestein. Münchner Geologische Hefte, Reihe B—Angewandte Geologie 17:147

    Google Scholar 

  • Plinninger RJ, Kasling H, Thuro K, Spaun G (2003) Testing conditions and geomechanical properties influencing the CERCHAR abrasiveness index (CAI) value. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 40:259–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plinninger RJ, Kasling H, Thuro K (2004) Wear prediction in hard rock excavation using the CERCHAR Abrasiveness Index (CAI). In: Proceeding of the EUROCK and 53rd Geomechanics Colloquium, Schubert, pp 599–604

  • Rostami J, Ozdemir L, Bruland A, Dahl F (2005) Review of issues related to Cerchar abrasivity testing and their implications on Geotechnical investigations and cutter cost estimates. In: Proceedings of the RETC, pp 738–751

  • Rostami J, Ghasemi AR, Gharahbagh EA, Dogruoz C, Dahl F (2013) Study of dominant factors affecting Cerchar Abrasivity Index. Rock Mech Rock Eng. doi:10.1007/s00603-013-0487-3

    Google Scholar 

  • Samaranayake VA (2009) Statistical data analysis. STAT-353 course, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, USA

  • Schimazek J, Knatz H (1970) The assessment of the cuttability of rocks by drag and roller bits. Ertzmetall 29:113–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Schumacher L (2004) Auslegung und Einsatzbedingungen von Tunnelvortriebsmaschinen im Hartgestein. Felsbau, 22. Essen (Glückauf) 3:21–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh RN, Hassani FP, Elkington PJ (1983) The application of strength and deformation index testing to the stability assessment of coal measures excavation. In: Proceeding of the 24th US Symposium of Rock Mechanics, pp 599–609

  • Stanford J, Hagan P (2009) An assessment of the impact of stylus metallurgy on Cerchar abrasiveness index. In: Proceedings of the coal operators conference, pp 348–355

  • Suana M, Peters T (1982) The cerchar abrasivity index and its relation to rock mineralogy and petrography. Rock Mech 15:1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • US Army Corps of Engineers. http://www.wes.army.mil/SL/MTC/handbook/RT/RTH/116-95.pdf. Accessed 15 May 2010

  • Verhoef PNW (1993) Abrasivity of Hawkesbury sandstone (Sydney, Australia) in relation to rock dredging. Q J Eng Geol Hydrol 26:5–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verhoef PNW (1997) Wear of rock cutting tools (Implications for the site investigation of rock dredging projects). Balkema, A.A

    Google Scholar 

  • Verhoef PNW, Vanden Bold HJ, Vermeer ThWM (1990) Influence of microscopic structure on the abrasivity of rock as determined by the pin-on-disc test. In: Proceedings 6th International Congress IAEG, Amsterdam, pp 495–504

  • West G (1981) A Review of Rock abrasiveness testing for tunnelling. In Proceedings of international symposium on weak rock, Tokyo, 21–24 September, pp 585–594

  • West G (1986) A relation between abrasiveness and quartz content for some Coal Measures sediments. Int J Min Geol Eng 4:73–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • West G (1989) Rock abrasiveness testing for tunneling. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 26:151–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yarali O, Yasar E, Bacak G, Ranjith PG (2008) A study of rock abrasivity and tool wear in coal measures rocks. Int J Coal Geol 74:53–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yilmaz NG, Yurdakul M, Goktan RM (2007) Prediction of radial bit cutting force in high-strength rocks using multiple linear regression analysis. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 44:962–970

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zum Gahr KH (1987) Microstructure and wear of metals. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 560

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mining Engineering Department, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan

    Y. Majeed

  2. Geological Engineering Department, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan

    M. Z. Abu Bakar

Authors
  1. Y. Majeed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Z. Abu Bakar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Y. Majeed.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Majeed, Y., Abu Bakar, M.Z. Statistical evaluation of CERCHAR Abrasivity Index (CAI) measurement methods and dependence on petrographic and mechanical properties of selected rocks of Pakistan. Bull Eng Geol Environ 75, 1341–1360 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-015-0799-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-015-0799-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation