An investigation of the effect of moisture content on the uniaxial compression strength of Malaysian rock / Mohd Fairuz Muhamad

The uniaxial compressive strength of rock is determined by loading a cylindrical or prismatic specimen to failure in a compression machine. The compressive strength is the most common method for determining the rock strength and the procedure used by most laboratories in making this measurement is virtually identical. Theoretically the compressive strength test is deceptively simple, but in practice mere are a number of factors which can significantly affect the test results, such as the flatness of the bearing surfaces, the specimen size and shape, the moisture content in the specimen, the effects of friction between the bearing platens and the specimen, the alignment of the swivel head, and the rate of loading. Most rocks contain moisture between 1% to more than 35% for porous rocks (such as sandstone). In most mines tunnelling and other underground works, the rock is almost saturated which subsequently explains for the leaky tunnels and water seeping through and dripping into the openings of fractures, faults, and joints.