Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of the needle penetration test to estimate the uniaxial compressive strength of gypsum rocks

  • Technical Note
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) is the most momentous parameter for designing and analyzing various geoengineering projects. Due to sample preparation, difficulties, and also UCS test procedure, some test methods have been developed in order to indirectly estimate the UCS. One of these tests that can be applied in both laboratory and field is needle penetration (NP) test. Gypsum rock is one of the problematic rocks in Iran, which covers substantially roughly all area in western and southern part of Iran. The purpose of this paper is to estimate the UCS of gypsum rock specimens based on samples obtained from various locations in Iran, using the NP test. The UCS and NPI values were evaluated using regression analysis, and strong linear relationships were found between the two parameters in dry and saturated conditions. R2 and RMSE in dry and saturated conditions for obtained equations were 0.80 and 4.68 and 0.75 and 5.59, respectively. The conversion factors for dry and saturated gypsum rocks were 0.49 and 0.56, respectively. Finally, the results showed that the UCS of studied gypsum rocks can be determined by the NPI value with acceptable accuracy.

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
Fig. 9

References

  • ASTM D4643 (2017) Standard test method for determination of water content of soil and rock by microwave oven heating. ASTM International, West Conshohocken www.astm.org

    Google Scholar 

  • Aydan O¨, Seiki T, Ito T, Ulusay R, Yu¨zer E (2006) A comparative study on engineering properties of tuffs from Cappadocia of Turkey and Oya of Japan. In: Proceedings of the Symposium on Modern Applications of Engineering Geology, Turkish National Group of Engineering Geology, Denizli, 425–433

  • Aydan Ö, Watanabe S, Tokashiki N (2008) The inference of mechanical properties of rocks from penetration tests. In: Majdi A, Ghazvinian A (eds) Proceedings of the 5th Asian rock mechanics symposium (ARMS5), vol 1. Namaye Panhan/Naghshe Goya, Tehran, pp 213–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Aydan Ö (2012) The inference of physico-mechanical properties of soft rocks and the evaluation of the effect of water content and weathering on their mechanical properties from needle penetration tests. Symposium of ARMA, Chicago, paper no. ARMA12- 639 (on CD)

  • Aydan O, Ulusay R (2012) Geomechanical evaluation of Derinkuyu antique underground city and its implications in geoengineering. Rock Mech Rock Eng 46:731–754

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aydan Ö, Sato A, Yagi M (2014) The inference of geo-mechanical properties of soft rocks and their degradation from needle penetration tests. Rock Mech Rock Eng 47:1867–1890

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper AH, Calow RC (1998) Avoiding gypsum geohazards: guidance for planning and construction. British Geological Survey, p 57

  • Erguler ZA, Ulusay R (2007) Estimation of uniaxial compressive strength of clay-bearing weak rocks using needle penetration resistance. Proceedings of 11th congress on Int Soc rock mechanics, Lisbon, 1: 265–268

  • Erguler ZA, Ulusay R (2009) Water-induced variations in mechanical properties of clay-bearing rocks. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 46:355–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Esmailian M (2006) SPSS 14 guide book. Tehran Dibagaran, Tehran (in Persian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Habibi T, Ruban DA (2017) Outstanding diversity of heritage features in large geological bodies: the Gachsaran formation in Southwest Iran. J Afr Earth Sci 133:1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2017.05.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heidari M, Mohseni H, Jalali SH (2017) Reliability assessment of needle penetration index for estimating compressive strength of some sedimentary rocks from the Qom Formation, Central Iran. Geopersia 7(1):103–116. https://doi.org/10.22059/geope.2017.215343.648271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hyndman RJ, Koehler AB (2006) Another look at measures of forecast accuracy. Int J Forecast 22(4):679–688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijforecast.2006.03.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ISRM (2007) In: Ulusay R, Hudson JA (eds) The complete ISRM suggested methods for rock characterization, testing and monitoring: 1974–2006. Ankara, Kozan Ofset, 628 pp

  • Maruto Co, Ltd. (2006) Penetrometer for soft rock: model SH-70 instruction manual. Tokyo, Japan

  • Uchida N, Etoh Y, Ono H, Miura N (2004) Strength evaluation of deep mixing soil-cement by needle penetration test. J Jpn Soc Soil Mech Found Eng 52(7):23–25 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ngan-Tillard DJM, Verwaal W, Mulder A, Engin HK, Ulusay R (2011) Application of the needle penetration test to a calcarenite, Maastricht, the Netherlands. Eng Geol 123:214–424

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okada S, Izumiya Y, Iizuka Y, Horiuchi S (1985) The estimation of soft rock strength around a tunnel by needle penetration test. J Jpn Soc Soil Mech Found Eng 33(2):35–38 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Park Y, Obara Y, Kang SS (2011) Estimation of uniaxial compressive strength of weak rocks using needle penetrometer. In: Qian Q, Zhou Y (eds) Proceedings of 12th ISRM international congress on rock mechanics, Beijing, pp 795–798

  • Takahashi K, Noto K, Yokokawa I (1998) Strength characteristics of Kobe formation in Akashi Strata (No. 1). Proc. of 10th Japan National Conf. on Geotech. Eng. The Japanese Geotechnical Society, pp 1231–1232 (in Japanese)

  • Ulusay R, Erguler ZA (2012) Needle penetration test: evaluation of its performance and possible uses in predicting strength of weak and soft rocks. Eng Geol 149–150:47–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ulusay R, Aydan O, Erguler ZA, Ngan-Tillard DJM, Seiki T, Verwaal W, Sasaki Y, Sato A (2014) ISRM suggested method for the needle penetration test. Rock Mech Rock Eng 47:1073–1085

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamaguchi Y, Ogawa N, Kawasaki M, Nakamura A (1997) Evaluation of seepage failure resistance potential of dam foundation with simplified tests. J Jpn Soc Eng Geol 38(3):130–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamaguchi Y, Nakamura Y, Nakamura M, Hakoishi N, Yamaya M, Kato Y (2004) In: Aoki (ed) Excavation management of soft rock foundations for embankment dams by needle penetration test: proceedings of the ISRM international symposium 3rd ARMS, 1. Millpress, Rotterdam, pp 803–706

Download references

Funding

This research was funded by a grant to Dr. S.D. Mohammadi by the Vice-President Research Office of Bu-Ali Sina University that is gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Mahdieh Ave., Hamedan, 65175-38695, Iran

    Mohammad Reza Rahimi, Seyed Davoud Mohammadi, Mojtaba Heidari & Seyed Hossein Jalali

Authors
  1. Mohammad Reza Rahimi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Seyed Davoud Mohammadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mojtaba Heidari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Seyed Hossein Jalali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Seyed Davoud Mohammadi.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Zeynal Abiddin Erguler

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rahimi, M.R., Mohammadi, S.D., Heidari, M. et al. Evaluation of the needle penetration test to estimate the uniaxial compressive strength of gypsum rocks. Arab J Geosci 13, 14 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4989-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4989-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation