CORRELATION BETWEEN VOIDS INDEX AND COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF ROCKS

ABSTRACT

In a practical context and with a tendency to generalize the dependence between monoaxial and triaxial compressive strength of rocks and qualitative characteristics and also properties of connection between the elements that form the skeleton of studied rocks were analyzed. This qualitative connection was highlighted by means of void index and apparent specific weight. The obtained correlation can be generalized to any type of rock, if it takes into account the amount of adsorbed and absorbed water, the direction of load and predisposition of rock to failure. The analyzed rocks are different types of andesites, from heavily fissured to intense hydrothermal metamorphosed. Based on the determination of physical characteristics a practical analysis immediately applicable was carried out for the conditions of studied rock massif and also a generalization that can be extended to the formations with identical or similar properties.

Keywords: andesite, alteration, anisotropy, void index, apparent specific weight, compressive strength, correlation