DETERMINING THE RELATIONS BETWEEN MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ROCKS

7th International Scientific Conference - SGEM2007, www.sgem.org, SGEM2007 Conference Proceedings/ ISBN: 954-918181-2, June 11-15, 2007

ABSTRACT

Determination of mechanical parameters of rock materials and using them
as an input data-base are important in rock engineering design studies. The
standard test procedures to determine mechanical parameters of rocks have
been developed and they have been applied for up to 40 years. But these tests
require special samples and after preparation, the samples are tested by giving
damage to them. The electrical conductivity method has been used to determine
porosity, fault or discontinuity in rock mass without giving damage, especially
in underground gas, water or petroleum storage excavations or excavations
opened for waste dumping studies.
In this study, an alternative nondestructive measuring technique developed in
order to predict mechanical properties of rocks was presented. The electrical
conductivity and mechanical properties of rock materials were analyzed in
order to research whether there are relationships between mechanical and
electrical behaviors. Tests samples were prepared taking cores from eight
different rock blocks. The tests in laboratory were carried out in two different
stages: the first was electrical conductivity and the second was mechanical tests.
Electrical potential difference (EPD) values of 30 samples were measured. In
addition, the uniaxial compressive strength, indirect tensile strength, uniaxial
deformability, point load strength, Schmidt hammer, density and porosity tests
on 30 samples were carried out in laboratory. As a result, strong relationships
were found between electrical conductivity and mechanical properties.

Keywords: electrical conductivity, mechanical properties