Date of Award
12-2016
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science - Geology
Department
Geology
First Advisor
Wesley Brown
Second Advisor
Chris Barker
Third Advisor
R. LaRell Nielson
Fourth Advisor
Kent Riggs
Abstract
The estimation of rock mass strength is a key parameter in geotechnical engineering which is used in the design of geotechnical structures like tunnels, dams and slopes. Geotechnical engineering is the branch of civil engineering which works on the principles of soil and rock mechanics to evaluate subsurface conditions, stability of slopes, foundations of structures and construction of earthworks. The main focus of this study was to calculate the strength of Lower Cretaceous Travis Peak Formation rocks of East Texas and to check the accuracy by comparing it with Regression analysis. The parameters which were used were the Uniaxial Compression Test (UCS) and tensile strength.
Core samples were collected at Stephen F. Austin State University Core Lab Repository. Strength tests were conducted at the lab facilities of University of Houston.
Parameters such as load for UCS and tensile strength were experimentally determined using procedures outlined by the International Society of Rock Mechanics (ISRM, Rock characterization testing and monitoring, 1981). In this study, a linear regression analysis was also performed to predict and compare the strength values of the core rock samples from the Travis Peak Formation.
Based on previous studies, it was shown that regression analysis is accurate in providing the strength of rocks. The results obtained from the tests are useful in predicting the strength of rocks from the Travis Peak Formation.
Uniaxial compression and tensile strength tests were performed for 12 samples at the Department of Civil Engineering’s Laboratory at the University of Houston. Before the tests, the samples were cut before into the size of 7.2 to 3.6 in ratio of length to diameter to maintain a 2:1 ratio.
The average value of UCS for the 12 samples was 27.43 MPa. Similarly, the average value for tensile strength for 12 samples was 4.05 MPa. Based on the values which were calculated, these samples were classified as medium strength rocks which belongs to Class D.
Linear Regression analysis was performed using MATLAB software for predicting the strength of core rock samples. The equation for linear regression was in the form of , where y is the tensile strength and x is UCS. The root mean square generated for regression analysis was 0.6378.
Repository Citation
Kakarla, Pawan, "Geotechnical Properties Of the Travis Peak (Hosston) Formation in East Texas: A Compressive and Tensile Strength Analysis using Regression Analysis." (2016). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 62.
https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/62
Creative Commons License
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