AUTHOR: GODFREY MOENG MONYAKENG

YEAR: 3
COURSE: MINING ENGINEERING
ST ID: 17000196
LECTURER: DR YENDAW
EXPERIMENT TITLE: POINT LOAD STRENGTH TEST

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................................................... 2
ABSTRACT............................................................................................................................................ 3
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 4
Diametral Point load Test ................................................................................................................... 4
Axial Point Load Test ........................................................................................................................... 5
Theoretical considerations.................................................................................................................. 6
Types of Loading Conditions on rock core specimens ................................................................... 7
Axial Stress Loading......................................................................................................................... 7
Unaxial Stress Loading .................................................................................................................... 7
Tri-Axial Stress Loading ................................................................................................................... 8
Direct Shear Stress Loading ............................................................................................................ 8
PROCEDURE ........................................................................................................................................ 9
i) Apparatus .................................................................................................................................... 9
ii) Methodology............................................................................................................................... 9
a) Diametral test ......................................................................................................................... 9
b) Axial test.................................................................................................................................... 10
RESULTS ............................................................................................................................................ 12
i) Sample Calculations .................................................................................................................. 13
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................ 15
i) Errors associated with the Diametral test ................................................................................ 15
ii) Errors associated with the Diametral test .............................................................................. 15
iii) Concluding remarks .............................................................................................................. 15
REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................................... 17

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ABSTRACT
An experiment involving Point Load Strength test was carried out on core specimens which
were retrieved from core sampling. The aim of this experiment was to determine the strength
index of a rock material.
The type of specimen which was used to carry out the whole experiment were core samples of
rock type………………….and it was assumed that the core samples were Isotropic. The nature
of the core samples was 5 Diametral and 5 Axial test types depending on the ratio of L/D.
The aims of the experiment were as follows:
• To investigate the effects of axial loading on the core samples
• To determine the rock strength index.
The value of the rock strength index was then used to estimate other strength parameters which
were un-axial tensile and compressive strengths of the samples.
After the experiment was carried, in its last stages it was found out that in the Diametral test
the longitudinal ends of the specimen did not play any significance in the final outcome of the
test results. It was also found out that the Point load strength index of Diametrial specimens
was very high with the largest value being 16.92 compared to the Axial specimens whose
largest value was 7.214.

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INTRODUCTION
In engineering applications it is very vital for engineers to study the behavioural effects of a
material. This if for the purpose of knowing in what orientations will the material likely fail,
and at what values of applied loads will the material also fail. This data is very useful for
engineers to use as a point of reference when they make geological structures such as
tunnelling, excavations etc. Index tests are a very useful means of determining certain
properties by referencing certain samples that are used to represent a larger geological area.
There are many criteria used for these tests.
In this experiment the focus was on Rock strength which is the ability of a rock to absorb
energy or stress without deformation. This characteristic is dependent on so many factors such
as the isotropic or anisotropic character of type of material, machine used for testing, the
geometrical nature of material etc. Different materials/rocks exhibit this behaviour in different
manners due to the complexity of the type of bonding/crystalline that they have.
The correct test which is effective and efficient for determining the strength of a material is
called ‘’Point Load Test’’ as said by (Broch, 1972). Prof. Broch also says that there were a
number of different types of tests which existed before the conventional Point Load Test but
were disregarded for technical reasons such as the fact that some of the test types could not
exactly reveal the factors that influence a strength of a material.
Prof. Broch further explains that the Point Load Tests are more tolerant on irregularities of core
sampling than the older types of tests. He says that the actual specimen geometry has influence
on the strength results. ‘’This means that types of point load test may be selected to suit the
shapes of samples commonly available’’ (Broch, 1972) which can be either core samples or
irregular lumps. The only disadvantage of this system is that there is requirement of machining
of those core samples to be carried out. Prof. Broch also says that the Point Load test depends
on the geometrical measurements/ properties of the samples. He says that there exists a Point
load test that can be carried in 2 manners which are:
• Diametral test type
• Axial test type

Diametral Point load Test

’’In the Diametral point-load test the failure load P is independent of the length of core provided
that the distance L is sufficiently large’’ (Broch, 1972). He also says that with this condition
satisfied, the strength index is not influenced by the irregular geometry of the end faces. This
then means that the Diametral point load test does not require the end faces to be machined as
shown below:

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Figure 1.0 Showing diametral test specimen. Collected from (Broch, 1972)
‘’The Point Load strength test is based on the indirect tensile strength test or rock core by
fracturing a specimen of rock using a machine equipped with conical platens and a load
measuring system’’ (Friedrich, 2012).He also says that the test provides measurement values
which are Point Load Strength (Is) for different size samples which is then corrected to a
standard 50 mm size equivalent, the Point Load Strength Index (Is(50)), for comparison with
other test results.’’ The test is applicable to core samples, blocks and irregular specimens with
a minimum dimension in the range 25 mm to 100 mm’’ (Friedrich, 2012).

Axial Point Load Test

Figure1.1 Showing axial test specimen. Collected from (Friedrich, 2012)

The diagram below shows the probabilities of fracture for both the Diametral and Axial tests:

Figure 1.2 showing the probability natures of failure. Collected from (Friedrich, 2012)

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The following table shows the ranking of various point load strength indexes which can be
obtained as a result from various numbers of point load tests:
Table 1.0 showing Point Load Strength Index (Is(50)) rankings and corresponding abbreviations.
Collected from (Friedrich, 2012)
Is(50)
(Mpa) Term Abbreviation
Extremely high
>10 strength EH
03-10 Very high strength VH
1-3 high strength H
0.3-1 Medium strength M
0.1-0.3 Low strength L
0.03-0.1 Very low strength VL
Extremely low
<0.03 strength EL

Advantages of Point Load test as mentioned by (Broch, 1972)

-Only a small machine is needed because only small forces/loads need to be applied to the
specimen
-More tests can be made at the same cost even when the specimen conditions are varying.
-The results show less scatter than those for uniaxial testing
-Measurement of Strength anisotropy is simplified

Theoretical considerations
There are important factors or considerations that have to be put in place to make sure of best
results and minimize errors as said by (Zacoeb, 2009). These considerations arise from the fact
that every experiment should have an error or uncertainty in its measurements. (Zacoeb, 2009)
says that therefore in the Point Load test, certain corrections need to be made when collecting
measurements as shown below
Uncorrected load strength
Is=(P/D2)
Where Is= Uncorrected point load strength
D=diameter of specimen in mm
P=load in kN
After finding the uncorrected load strength, the specimen size and shape now have to be
considered which now brings about a term called corrected mean point load strength Is(50).
(Zacoeb, 2009) says that this value is meant to account for the geometrical properties of the
specimen/ core sample. He further states that the corrected mean value strength is found by
reducing the IS value to Is(50) by first finding the correction factor F as shown below
F=(De/50)0.45 , Then Is(50)=F x Is

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Types of Loading Conditions on rock core specimens

Axial Stress Loading

Figure 1.3

Unaxial Stress Loading

F F

Figure 1.4

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Tri-Axial Stress Loading
F

Figure1.5

Direct Shear Stress Loading

Fs

Fs

Figure2.6

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PROCEDURE
i) Apparatus
• Point Load Tester which consisted of the following components:
-Loading frame
-Pump
-Hydraulic Jack
-Conical end Platens
-Digital pressure gauge
-Ruler on the frame
• 10 core specimens
The experiment involved 2 tests which was the Diametral and Axial test of which the
procedures were different. The first stage of the experiment involved the geometrical
measurements of the 10 core samples. These geometrical measurements were measurements
of the length of the cores and their respective diameters. The purpose for taking these
geometrical measurements was for the purpose of measuring the cores’ L/D ratios to determine
which sample is suitable for the Diametral or Axial test.
In this experiment, 5 core samples were geometrically measured for the Diametral test whereas
5 other core samples were geometrically measured for the Axial test.

ii) Methodology
a) Diametral test
Specimens which were taken for the Diametral test were those which the L/D ratio was less
than 1.0 as shown below:

Figure 1.7 Showing Diametral test measurements. Collected from (Friedrich, 2012)
The Diametrical specimen were all taken for a series of insertions into the jaws of the point
load tester one at a time. The platens of the point load tester were closed so that the specimen
can fit into the jaws of the point load tester. This process or stage required full precision because
the specimen was fit into the jaws of the machine such that the jaws perfectly clip onto the
specimens diameter. This was also done by ensuring that the distance L between the contact
points and the nearest free end of the core was at least 0.5 times the core diameter.
Ensuring that all the above practices were carried out, the distance D was measured and taken
by visual on the ruler on the frame and recorded before the actual loading began. The loading
was then initiated by applying a force on the hydraulic jack to conventionally apply a loading

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to the specimen. This was done in a very slow gentle manner for the purpose of closely cross
examining the precise amount of force/loading P which was applied to the specimen to initiate
its rupture/crack/failure.
Another way of ensuring the proper test results was by making sure that the failure fracture
does not pass through only one loading point.

b) Axial test
The specimens which qualified or were suitable and taken for the axial test were the core
samples whose L/D ratio was between 0.3 and 1.0 as shown below:

Figure 1.8 Showing Axial test measurements. Collected from (Friedrich, 2012)
The Axial test specimen were all taken for a series of insertions into the jaws of the point load
tester one at a time. The platens of the point load tester were closed so that the specimen can
fit into the jaws of the point load tester. This process or stage required full precision because
the specimen was fit into the jaws of the machine such that the jaws perfectly clip onto the
specimen diameter.
The nature of the loading was different from the Diametral test because in the Axial test the
specimen was loaded such that the platens/jaws of the machine make contact along a line
perpendicular to the core end faces.
The distance D was then recorded from the ruler on the frame along with the measurement
width W which was perpendicular to the loading direction just before the actual loading began.
After making sure of the above practices, the loading was initiated by gently and slowly
applying a force on the hydraulic jack to conventionally apply a loading to the specimen. This
was done in a very slow gentle manner for the purpose of closely cross examining the precise
amount of force/loading P which was applied to the specimen to initiate its
rupture/crack/failure.
Another way of ensuring the proper test results was by making sure that the failure fracture
does not pass through only one loading point. If it happened, due to certain reasons, the test
was then rejected and a carried out again with a proper specimen.

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RESULTS
The following are the results which were obtained from the Diametral and Axial Point load test
Table 1.1

L/D Is Size Mean Tensile

ratio 2 (Mpa) correction Is(50) strength
Specimen Diameter( D P=Load
Sample length Px1000 factor F
Type mm) (mm2) (kN)

0.47 1.007 0.963 0.970

1 22 46 2116 2.13 2130
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Axial 2 23 46 0.5 2116 15.85 15850 7.491 0.963 7.214
specimens 3 23 46 0.5 2116 5.64 5640 2.665 0.963 2.566
4 23 46 0.5 2116 10.71 10710 5.061 0.963 4.874
5 23 46 0.5 2116 11.482 11482 5.426 0.963 5.225
6 56 28 2.0 784 17.236 17236 21.98 0.770 16.92
7 46 23 2.0 529 3.078 3078 5.819 0.705 4.102
Diametral
8 54 27 2.0 729 5.67 5670 7.778 0.758 5.896
Specimens
9 54 27 2.0 729 8.836 8836 12.12 0.758 9.187
10 46 23 2.0 529 2.864 2864 5.414 0.705 3.817

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The following is a graph entailing the values of Is against the core diameter

Graph of Is Against core Diameter

25

20

15
Is(Mpa)

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50
Diameter(mm)

Figure 1.9. Showing the relationship of uncorrected point load strength and core diameter of
both Axial and Diametral
The following is a graph entailing information on corrected point load strength against core
diameter

18
16
14
12
10
Is(50)(Mpa)

8
6
4
2
0
0 10 20 30 40 50
Diameter (mm)

Figure 2.0. Showing the relationship between corrected point load strength and core diameter
of both Axial and Diametral

i) Sample Calculations

Calculation for uncorrected Point load strength( Is)

Is= (Px1000)/D2
For sample 1
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Is=(2.13x1000)kN/2116mm=1.007Mpa

Calculation for Size correction factor

F=(De/50)0.45
For sample 1
F=(46/50)0.45=0.963
Calculation for point load strength index Is(50)
Is(50)=F x Is
For sample 1
Is(50)=0.963 x 1.007
Is(50)=0.970

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DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
i) Errors associated with the Diametral test
-The measurements of D in the Diametral test had an uncertainty measurement of +/-2%
meaning that the Point loader machine itself does have an error associated with it which could
have affected the results.
-When the specimens were inserted into the contact jaws of the point load tester, there was a
human error associated with the imperfect alignment of the diametral of the specimen and the
jaws of the point loader. This error had to be considered because it affects the immature failure
of the test specimen as the crack propagations in the material would be null.
-Moisture content which could have pre existed in the core samples or existed due to the
moisture absorption from the surrounding environments played a role in the test results.
Moisture weakens a rock sample. Hence rocks with no moisture content do not fracture easily.
Which is why even though there were samples which were geometrically similar still produced
different results.

ii) Errors associated with the Diametral test

-The measurements of D in the Diametral test had an uncertainty measurement of +/-2%
meaning that the Point loader machine itself does have an error associated with it which could
have affected the results.
-There is an error(human error) associated with the specimens being inserted upright with their
geometrical axis imperfectly aligned with the direction of the loading. Due to this error, this
meant that the loading does not axially occur in the specimen which causes the results to be
compromised.
-Moisture content which could have pre-existed in the core samples or existed due to the
moisture absorption from the surrounding environments played a role in the test results.
Moisture weakens a rock sample. Hence rocks with no moisture content do not fracture easily.
Which is why even though there were samples which were geometrically similar still produced
different results.

iii) Concluding remarks

-For the graph as shown in the results figure 2.0, it indicates that the point load strength is
dependent on the core diameter such that when the core diameter is high, the point load strength
is low. This agrees with the theory that big sized objects are unable to sustain huge amounts of
stress when compared to small sized objects.
-The same graph as shown in Figure 2.0, also indicates that the Axial specimens easily
fractured/failed at lower applied loads when compared to the Diametral specimen. The axial
specimens were unable to absorb lots of applied stress before fractures occurred. This agrees
with the theory stated in the beginning of the report that a load is effective when it is applied
along the geometrical longitudinal axis, meaning that the specimen is unable to absorb more of
the load before deformation than if it was applied perpendicularly to the geometrical axis.
-In the Axial specimens, the sample with the highest value of point load strength index was
sample 2 with a value of 7.214 whereas in the Diametral specimens the sample with the highest
value of point load strength index had a value of [Link] results or agrees with the theory

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that when a material of a particular geometry is subjected to a load that is concentrated along
its longitudinal axis, the stress induced will spread along its geometry hence causing a fail
quickly at lower loads whereas if a loading is applied perpendicular to a materials’ longitudinal
axis, it will more likely fail at higher loads.
Referring to table 1.0 which shows the Point Load Strength Index (Is(50)) rankings and
corresponding abbreviations as Collected from (Friedrich, 2012), the point load strength index
of the Diametral specimens was Extremely High (EH) as it ranged greater than 10 with a value
of 16.92 whereas the point load strength index of the Axial specimens was very high as it
ranged between 3 and 10 with a value of 7.214.

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REFERENCES
Friedrich, J., 2012. Test method T223 -Determination of the point load strength. [Online]
Available at: [Link]
suppliers/documents/test-methods/[Link]
[Accessed 08 JUNE 2020].
Broch, E., 1972. The Point Load Strength Test. [Online]
Available at: [Link]
load_strength_test
[Accessed 08 June 2020].
Friedrich, J., 2012. Test method T223 -Determination of the point load strength. [Online]
Available at: [Link]
suppliers/documents/test-methods/[Link]
[Accessed 08 JUNE 2020].
Zacoeb, A., 2009. ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences. [Online]
Available at: [Link]
[Accessed 09 06 2020].

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