Effect of surface void percentage (SVP) on the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of porous rocks

Abstract

In this paper, the effect of areal void size on unconfined compressive strength (UCS) depending on the core diameter is investigated and discussed in terms of obtaining more accurate and reliable strength values relating to the effect of the local increase in stress and corresponding decrease in area on the loading surface. According to the results obtained from UCS tests, the overall trend was a significant loss in the UCS with increasing surface void per cent. It can be concluded that the areal size of voids on loading surfaces is an important indicator of porosity as well as rock strengths when considering rock engineering in vuggy anisotropic rock masses.