Experimental data on the relationship of the residual shear strength of rocks in closed cracks with the functional characteristics of intact rocks – the tensile and compressive components of adhesion, the roughness of the crack surfaces, and the level of normal stresses are presented. A unified integrated approach determines the shear strength of intact and destroyed rocks, the residual shear strength of closed rough cracks has been developed. The approach provides for the selection of stress intervals corresponding to different types of fracture, for each of which a strength criterion is proposed, expressed in terms of functional characteristics of intact rock. An express method for estimating the residual shear strength of rocks by cracks with a rough surface has been developed, in which an improved method of loading samples with spherical indentors is used as a basic test method. The express method implements the transition from the data of mechanical tests of samples with spherical indentors to the shear strength indicators for cracks in the rock mass, taking into account the level of normal stresses and the roughness of the crack surfaces measured in field conditions. In this case the roughness scale developed by Barton is used. The express method is informative and available in the fieldwork.
The paper presents results of an experimental study on strength characteristics of the rock mass as applied to the assessment of open-pit slope stability. Formulas have been obtained that describe a correlation between ultimate and residual strength of rock samples and residual shear strength along the weakening surface. A new method has been developed to calculate residual interface strength of the rock mass basing on data from the examination of small-scale monolith samples with opposing spherical indentors. A method has been proposed to estimate strength characteristics (structural weakening coefficients and internal friction angles) of the fractured near-slope rock mass. The method relies on test data from shattering small-scale monolith samples with spherical indentors, taking into ac- count contact conditions along the weakening surface, and can be applied in the field conditions. It is acceptable to use irregular-shaped samples in thetests.
A new technique has been developed for the determination of ultimate strength in uniaxial extension by testing results of samples of arbitrary shape. This technique consists in the sample failure with spherical indentors and measuring of sizes of rupture surfaces and zones of failured rocks at contacts with indentors for the subsequent estimation of ultimate stress state. The revised formulas were obtained for calculation of ultimate strength in uniaxial extension with using the method of sample failure with spherical indentors, essentially improving the accuracy of the technique.
The method has been developed for the determination of indices of strength certificate of rocks using the technique of specimen’s failure with oncoming spherical indentors. This method is based on the assessment of ultimate stresses acting in the tensile plane and within the zones of failured rocks under action of indentors at the moment of sample splitting. Formulas were obtained for calculation of indices of strength certificate, i.e. cohesion and angles of internal friction under tensile compression and nonuniform triaxial compression, ultimate strength in uniaxial compression and tension. This method is applicable in situ conditions.
