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Rock Index Classification - Engineering Manual

The document discusses standards and requirements for geotechnical investigations and existing conditions reports. It specifies that laboratory tests to determine engineering properties should be performed on undisturbed soil and rock samples. Index testing is mostly done on disturbed samples and aims to determine properties like grain size, liquid limit, and moisture content. The contractor must properly sample, seal, and ship samples to laboratories for testing according to the specified procedures and cover all necessary stratigraphic units.

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kapsarc
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29 views

Rock Index Classification - Engineering Manual

The document discusses standards and requirements for geotechnical investigations and existing conditions reports. It specifies that laboratory tests to determine engineering properties should be performed on undisturbed soil and rock samples. Index testing is mostly done on disturbed samples and aims to determine properties like grain size, liquid limit, and moisture content. The contractor must properly sample, seal, and ship samples to laboratories for testing according to the specified procedures and cover all necessary stratigraphic units.

Uploaded by

kapsarc
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHAPTER 4 PROJECT SUBMISSION STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS

SECTION 4.4 FIELD INVESTIGATIONS AND EXISTING CONDITIONS


SUBSECTION 4.4.2 GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION

Most index testing is performed on disturbed samples that have not had any special
handling to preserve structural integrity (grain size distribution, liquid limit, etc.). It is
important that samples are properly sealed to prevent drying when collected for
moisture content to be determined in the laboratory. Soils can be sealed in metal
tubes, plastic bags, or glass jars; rock samples are normally coated in a thin layer of
wax.

Laboratory tests to determine engineering properties (consolidation, triaxial


compression, etc.) shall be performed on undisturbed samples. The geologist or
engineer responsible shall be responsible for specifying laboratory testing
requirements. The Contractor undertaking the geotechnical investigation for the
project shall have control over the sampling and shipping of samples.

Refer to SBC 303 Section 2.5 for proper sampling procedures for expansive, sabkha
and collapsible soils.

To satisfy project requirements, a suitable number of index and engineering property


tests need to be planned to adequately cover the proposed site. If it is found during
the sampling program that the field coverage is uneven, or lacking in certain
stratigraphic units, field procedures shall be revisited.

3. Index and Classification Tests


a. Rock
The following index and classification tests are commonly performed on rock
samples obtained from geotechnical field investigations (including both intact
and crushed rock samples):

TABLE 4.4.2 C: ROCK INDEX CLASSIFICATION TESTS


Applicable
Test Purpose Significance
Procedure
Specific gravity and absorption
To determine the bulk or
provide valuable insight into a
Specific gravity apparent specific gravity
ASTM D 6473 rocks ability to withstand
and absorption and absorption of a rock
weathering and evaluating
specimen.
potential deterioration.
Provides an indirect indication
To determine the water
of porosity of a specimen, or
Water content ASTM D 2216 (moisture) content of a
clay content of a sedimentary
rock specimen by mass.
rock.
To determine the pulse
velocities of compression Useful for characterizing the
Pulse velocities
and shear waves through effects of uniaxial stress and
and elastic ASTM D 2845
a rock specimen, as well water saturation on pulse
constants
as the ultrasonic elastic velocity.
constant.
To determine the rebound A simple and quick index test
Rebound
ASTM D 5873 hardness number of a of hardness, especially useful
hammer
rock specimen. in the field.

RCJ Guiding Engineering Manual


Rev. 1 4.4 - 81
CHAPTER 4 PROJECT SUBMISSION STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS
SECTION 4.4 FIELD INVESTIGATIONS AND EXISTING CONDITIONS
SUBSECTION 4.4.2 GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION

Applicable
Test Purpose Significance
Procedure
To determine the
permeability (hydraulic
conductivity) of a small Hydraulic conductivity is
Permeability ASTM D 4525 rock specimen (and a important to characterizing
liquid permeability fluid flow through a rock mass.
equivalent through
extrapolation).
Porosity is intrinsic to
To determine the
permeability, affecting things
Effective porosity ASTM D 7063 effective porosity of a
such as fluid flow and drill
rock specimen.
penetration rate.
Provides an indication of rock
To determine the physical
type, minerals present,
Petrographic and chemical
ASTM C 295 chemical reactivity (alkali-
examination characteristics of the rock
carbonate etc.) among other
specimen.
properties.
These tests characterize
To determine the freeze/thaw durability of rocks
ASTM D 4644
durability of a rock (D 5312 & D 5240), the slake
ASTM D 5240
Durability specimen exposed to a durability of shales and weak
ASTM D 5312
variety of physical and rocks (D 4644) and
ASTM D 5313
chemical conditioning. wetting/drying durability of
rocks (D 5313).
Provides an indication of
To determine a coarse relative quality of various
LA Abrasion ASTM C 535 aggregate’s resistance to sources of aggregate that
degradation. share similar mineral
compositions.
A simple and quick index test
To determine the point- of strength, especially useful in
Point load testing ASTM D 5731 load strength index of the the field. Can be correlated to
rock specimen. unconfined compressive
strength.
b. Soils
The following index and classification tests are commonly performed on
overburden samples obtained from geotechnical field investigations:

TABLE 4.4.2.D: SOIL INDEX CLASSIFICATION TESTS


Applicable
Test Purpose Significance
Procedure
Provides significant information
To determine the water
about the soil when combined
Water content ASTM D 4959 (moisture) content of a
with data obtained from other
sample of soil.
tests.

RCJ Guiding Engineering Manual


Rev. 1 4.4 - 82

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