1129634728isrm SM Rock Stress Determination 1987 PDF
1129634728isrm SM Rock Stress Determination 1987 PDF
1129634728isrm SM Rock Stress Determination 1987 PDF
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Printed in Great Brita:n Pergamon Journals Lid
CONTENTS
Technical Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Method 1: Suggested Method for Rock Stress Determination Using a
Flatjack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Method 2: Suggested Method for Rock Stress Determination Using the
Hydraulic Fracturing Technique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Method 3: Suggested Method for Rock Stress Determination Using a
USBM-Type Drillhole Deformation Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Method 4: Suggested Method for Rock Stress Determination Using
a CSIR- or CSIRO-Type Cell with 9 or 12 Strain Gauges 68
Joint Co-ordinators
K. Kim (U.S.A.) and J. A. Franklin (Canada)
The following persons contributed to the preparation and reviewed the drafts of these Suggested
Methods: A. J. Bowling (Australia); P. LeComte and J. H. L, Palmer (Canada); F. Cornet (France);
R. Ribacchi (Italy); K. Suzuki (Japan); J. Charrua Graca (Portugal); W. L. van Heerden (South
Africa); B. Bjarnason, B. Leijon and D. Stephansson (Sweden); P. Egger, H. Grob and K. Kovari
(Switzerland); B. Wareham (U.K.) and J. A. Aggson, D. C. Banks, M. L. Cramer, T. W. Doe. E. C.
Gregory, B. C. Haimson, W. Miller and G. Nicholson (U.S.A.). 25 individuals, 11 countries.
ISRM: SUGGESTED METHODS FOR ROCK STRESS DETERMINATION 55
Underground rock masses are subjected to compressive opening outwards, through a numerical model or anal-
stress which increases, in general, with depth. The rate ytical techniques; or measurements must be made via a
of increase, however, varies depending on various fac- drillhole that extends into an undisturbed region of the
tors. Worldwide in situ stress data indicate that vertical rock mass. When a drillhole is used, the stress deter-
stress varies in a more predictable fashion than horizon- mination method must allow for the disturbance caused
tal stresses because vertical stress is primarily affected by by the drillhole.
the weight of the overburden. Many endeavours have been made to arrive at a
When an opening is introduced in the rock mass, the reliable means of measuring in situ stresses. Tincelin [4],
natural state of stress is disturbed locally as the rock Obert et al. [3], Haimson and Fairhurst [1] and Leeman
mass attains a new state of equilibrium. The stress [2] have made significant pioneering efforts in developing
around an opening resulting from various man-made methods of stress measurement. Of the proposed
activities is termed "'induced stress" as opposed to methods, three have received wide acceptance: they
"virgin stress" or "absolute stress," which describes the include the flatjack method, overcoring and hydraulic
original, undisturbed state of stress. This natural state of fracturing. The techniques presented in these "Suggested
stress is often referred to as simply "in situ stress". The Methods" were selected on the basis of the degree of
"Suggested Methods" presented in this publication deal acceptance and application within the geomechanics
primarily with this natural state of stress. community. This, in turn, reflects the relative acceptance
Underground in situ stress is sometimes sufficiently of the theoretical basis of the various techniques avail-
high (relative to the rock mass strength) to cause rock able and the confidence in these methods that has
bursting, spalting, buckling, heaving, or other ground evolved from laboratory investigations, field research
control problems. In such cases, knowledge of the state and engineering practice.
of in situ stress is of critical importance to the design and It is important to emphasize that rock stress deter-
construction of engineering structures in a rock mass. mination methods complement each other: each offers
Even in cases where the effects of stress are less dramatic, different advantages and disadvantages with respect to a
the optimum shape, orientation and layout of under- particular application. Also, the increasing need for
ground structures, as well as the effectiveness and ulti- accurate and reliable rock stress determinations will
mate cost of rock support systems, can be significantly ensure that measurement techniques and data analysis
influenced by the in situ stress. procedures will continue to evolve and thereby resolve
Factors affecting the magnitudes and orientations of existing difficulties and uncertainties.
in sire stress include the weight of overlying materials,
geologic structures (on local and regional scales), tec-
Received 13 January 1986.
tonic forces within the earth's crust, residual stress and
thermal stress. The complexity of the relations between
these factors and the in situ stress usually prohibits REFERENCES
reliable estimation of rock stress. In addition, stress l. Haimson B. C. and Fairhurst C, Initiation and extension of
cannot be measured directly, and therefore, rock stress hydraulic fractures in rock. Soc. Petrol. Engrs J. 7, 310--318 C1967).
determination techniques rely on the measurement of 2. Leeman E. R. The CSIR doorstopper and triaxial rock stress
measuring instruments, Proc. ISRM Syrup. on the Determination
some response (e,g. displacement, strain, deformation) of Stresses in Rock Masses, pp. 578-616, L.N.E.C., Lisbon (1969).
that is induced by a disturbance of the rock mass. This 3. Obert L., Merrill R. H. and Morgan T. A. Borehole deformation
for determining the stress in mine rock. USBM RI 5978 (1962).
measured response of rock in a stress-disturbed zone
4. Tincelin M. E. Mesures des pressions de terrains dans les mines de
(e.g. the wall of a tunnel) is extrapolated, from t h e - fer de l'est..4nnls Inst. tech. B&irn. 58, 972-990 (1952).
APPARATUS
2. (a) A flatjack consisting of two fiat sheets of steel ,oo- _-
plate or other suitable material welded together around
the edge to form a flat envelope of at least a 0.1 m 2 area
and incorporating a hydraulic inlet tube with con-
nections to a hydraulic hose and bleed valve. The z
selected shape o f the flatjack will depend on the method
chosen to cut the slot. 2 Great care should be taken in the
welding carried out around the edge o f the flatjack and FXCAVATIOt~ TIME -- FLATJACK P~ESSL,~E b
around the bleed tube inlet, so that the jack can expand
flexibly without leaking when installed and inflated to {c) PIN SEPARATION VERSUS SLOT EXCAVATION TIME AND FLAT JACK
PRESSURE ¢NOTtCE IDENTIFICATION OF C~LCELLATION PRESSURE, P~
full test pressure.
(b) A hydraulic pump, operated either manually or Fig. [. The flatjack test [2]. (a) Flatjack. (b) Test configuration. (c)
electrically, with an attachment to a load maintainer. Pin separation vs slot excavation and flatjack pressure (notice
identification of cancellation pressure, P~).
The pressure should be measured on gauges having an
accuracy of at least 5% of the estimated stress. The
system connected by high pressure hoses should be measuring pins, installation o f the measuring pans and
capable of maintaining any pressure within the desired cutting o f the flatjack slot.
range for a period of at least 5 min. (g) Grout, grout mixing and grout placing equipment,
(c) Two or more pairs of measuring pins grouted into if required, 3 for the installation of measuring pins and
holes drilled in the rock on each side o f the flatjack slot. the flatjack. Grout should be of strength similar to that
The typical pin is 12ram dia and 150ram in length; o f the rock being tested. Portland cement or epoxy resins
actual dimensions will depend on rock quality. The are commonly employed. The latter gain full strength
exposed end of each measuring pin and the separation more rapidly and, therefore, are usually used to anchor
(d) between measuring pins (Fig. 1) should suit the measuring pins.
measuring instrument (see paragraph 2(d)). In addition
to surface measurement pins, borehole instrumentation PROCEDURE
(stressmeters) can be installed. When the near surface
rock appears damaged by the excavation works, it is Site selection
preferable to measure the displacements at a sufficient 3. (a) In the selection of a zone of rock for testing,
depth to avoid the damaged rock. consideration must be given to the number of tests to be
(d) A demountable mechanical or electric displace- carried out in this zone. A minimum o f six tests in
ment gauge with an average gauge length of between 150 independent directions are required if one is to obtain
and 220 mm or, for larger flatjacks, 1/3 to 1/2 the size the complete stress tensor, but usually, additional tests
of the flatjack. The measurement range should be at least are carried out at any one location to enable a best fit
5ram and resolution of each reading should be to be obtained, mathematically, following assessment of
0.002 mm or better. the results. The preferred test layout in a tunnel or adit
(e) An appropriate rock drill or saw to cut the flatjack is to carry out nine tests: three in the roof. three in the
slot. 2 Slots may be formed by cutting overlapping drill- sidewall and three in the face. An example layout of slots
holes (stitch drilling), by circular saw or by wire saw. -fOr flatjack tests is illustrated in Fig. 2. The tests should
When using overlapping drillholes, these slots should be as close as possible without interfering with one
have a diameter not exceeding 40 mm and should over- another and should be a minimum of five times the
lap by 1/3 to 1/2 of the full diameter. tunnel diameter away from any other heading:
(f) Mounting frames, templates, jigs and other equip- (b) Once the general position for the test zone has been
ment to facilitate accurate drilling of holes for the determined, the excavation in the area must be carried
out with maximum care. Presplitting of the test adit is
" Numbers in superscript refer to Notes followingthe text for each suggested, followed by careful hand excavation and
method. removal of all loose material.
ISRM: SUGGESTED METHODS FOR ROCK STRESS DETERMINATION 5":
Pro}ecl 3a~e
i
Eouiomeflt l Oete of
descriD~on S4full no ca~brlt~n
j
Pin lep4.'ltion medlngs
l~me P?essum
i i
i I i
h
• I l .
immediate vicinity of the opening. This information can (h) The type, manufacturer and calibration informa-
be extrapolated from the opening outward to the un- tion of the displacement gauge used.
disturbed virgin stress by application of the theory of 9. The report should include the following detailed
elasticity or by numerical modelling techniques. information for each flatjack test:
(a) Initial pin displacements prior to slot excavation.
(b) Pin displacements following slot excavation (im-
REPORTING OF RESULTS mediately following slot excavation and several times
8. The report should include the following general prior to flatjack pressurization).
information: (c) A tabulation and graphic history of pin displace-
(a) A description of the test site location. ment versus flatjack pressure.
(b) Details of the test location(s) within the test site. (d) Interpretation of test results along with the
(c) Rock type and local geological structure. method(s) used to estimate the virgin stress (if applic-
(d) A description, illustrated with diagrams and able).
photographs, of the procedure and equipment used. (e) Test results showing substantial discrepancies with
Reference may be made to these "Suggested Methods," ~iher data and giving possible or probable explanations
noting departures from the recommended equipment of the causes.
and procedures.
(e) Flatjack manufacturer, specifications and cali- NOTES
brations.
(f) Diagrams of flatjack and measurement pin geo- 1. A summary of the likely causes and magnitude of
metries. errors is given in Table 1.
(g) Details of the flatjack slot excavation method and 2. When overlapping boreholes are used to cut the
problems encountered (if any). slot, the flatjack shape may be chosen with consideration
ISRM: SUGGESTED METHODS FOR ROCK STRESS DETERMINATION 59
Table I. Errors and uncertainties in the measurement of in situ stress using t'tatjacks
Cause of error or Adjustment. calculation Liket? magnitude of
uncertainty or allowance error and or correction
(I) Disturbed ground at Careful excavation and Could invalidate the
test site testing of slot positions results completeI?
(2) Fit in slot. change Calibrations carefull? Correction 10-15% at
in contact area carried out in a modelled high stresses. Higher
during loading of slot ~ith displacement at low stresses
flatjacks measured and controlled
to rock stiffness
{3) Non-repeatable CycIing of flatjack loading Depends on rock type
stress-strain in order to determine its and in situ stress
behaviour extent. (Making allowances level. Could produce
for any' change in jack considerable errors at
characteristics if original low in situ stresses
jack dimensions not
recovered.) Further
experimental work needed
on this aspect
(4) Biaxial stress field Mathematical correction Depends on slot geometr~
based on linear elasticity but probably between 0-5°°
(5) Slot and flatjack Mathematical correction 0-5% as flatjack is
different dimensions based on linear elasticity fitted to slot in this case
(6) Measuring system Standard error for 5% with equipment noted
equipment in this paper
{7) Effect of flatjack Some influence charts 0 to > 10% depending on
rigidity available but a flatjack geometry and
mathematical study for the relative stift'nesses
equipment used is best
ruination technique that has been successfully applied to the designated test section is of suitable diameter for
deep drillholes. Thus. this technique has found applica- satisfactory seating of the packers.
tion in s~te characterization investigations wa vertical (c) The alignment and straightness of the drillhole may
drillholes from the surface. When access to the site be measured usmg an ortentation tool. if there is any
through shafts, tunnels or shallow drillholes is available. indication that deviation is excessive.
"'Suggested Methods" 1. 3 or 4 can also be applied (d) Magnetic compasses are generally used to orient
(b) Fluid pressure is applied to a test section of a cameras or televiewers for impression packers. Alternate
drillhole isolated by packers. The fluid pressures re- means of orientation must be used if the mineralogy of
quired to generate, propagate, sustain and reopen frac- the rock is likely to affect the compass reading Magnetic
tures in rock at the test horizon are measured and are rich rocks (e.g. Iron formations or basic igneous rocks)
related to the existing stress field. Directions of measured may be suspect. Gyroscopic compasses, which maintain
stress are usually obtained by observing and measuring the orientatton of the inspection device from the hole
the orientation of the hydraulically induced fracture collar, may be used.
(hydrofracture) plane.
(c) The method is. in general, more suited to mea- Packer equipment (Fig. 4) comprising
surements at depths > 50 m that are beyond the capabil- 4. (a) A system to isolate a test section of drillhole is
ities of most other techniques. It has the advantage of required. Inflatable packers, through which a water flow
requiring no advance knowledge of the elastic properties pipe runs, are used to seal the hole, enabling a test
of the rock and being able to be carried out without section to be pressurized. Double packer systems, which
difficulty below the water table. It tends to measure isolate a part of the hole. are generally used, but a single
stresses over a relatively large area, > 0.5-1.0 m dia. not packer, which isolates the base o f a hole. also may be
at a point. considered] Hydraulic or gas expansion is used to set the
(d) The method is most accurate when applied in packers and seal the test interval. The initial packer
materials whose behaviour approaches that of brittle, setting pressure depends on the packer type. If the
homogeneous, elastic, isotropic and non-porous media. interval pressure approaches the packer pressure, the
(e) The drillhole direction is assumed to be a principal packer pressure should be increased to a level sufficient
stress direction. Usually, this assumption is considered to prevent leakage past the packers.
valid from vertical holes drilled from the surface, in (b) The packers are separated by spacers.' The length
which case the vertical stress is calculated from the of the test section is chosen from the observation o f core
overburden weight. The accuracy of the test results will
be considered questionable if the drillhole direction ~a
deviates substantially (more than _ 15°), from a prin- TO PUMP.FLOWMETER. ~01
PRESSURETRANSDUCERS TO PUMP
cipal stress direction.
rO PUMP
APPARATUS
Inspection equipment !
iMPRESSION
PACKER "~'~
~ ]
~1.2 m
| -'~' \
3. (a) Knowledge of the directions of hydrofractures FRACTURE
INTERVAL*~09 m STRADDLE
is required in order to estimate principal stress direc- ~1 / . . . / / " PACKER
I
tions. Any of the following methods (all o f which are
capable of resolving to within + 5 °) may be used to find
these directions: DRILLHOLE
(i) Visual inspection using a drillhole periscope or
television camera. A video recording of a pre- ---J ~ / ORILLHOLE
/-
testing observation is advantageous for com-
parison purposes.
(ii) Examination of an acoustic televiewer image ob-
tained from reflected acoustic signals. Fig. 4. Se4aematicrepresentation of (a) hydrofracturing tool and [b)
(b) A drillhole caliper may be helpful to ensure that impression packer.
ISRM: SUGGESTED METHODS FOR ROCK STRESS DETERMINATION 61
a n d o r drillhole wall conditions by" means of the meth- (b) Rock cuttings a n d o r cores are examined in detail
ods described in paragraph 3. A minimum length five to determine rock characteristics at the test horizons.
times the drillhole diameter is commonly recommended. The choice of packers and inflation pressures may' be
(c) The packers must provide a complete seal over the affected by rock hardness and roughness of the drillhole
full range of test pressures, with no fluid leakage from wall.
the test section. (c) It is recommended that the hole be flushed to
remove debris a n d o r the drill bit may be lowered to the
FluM injection equipment, comprising test depth to clear the passage for the packer assembly.
5. (a) A high-pressure pumping system capable of (d) It is recommended that the positions, orientations
maintaining a constant flow over the range of pressures and apertures of geological discontinuities within the test
expected during the test. section be estimated and recorded, using, for example.
The pumping system should have sufficient capacity to the core, impression packers, a downhole camera or an
overcome the friction losses in the supply rods and to acoustic televiev,'er, if practicable. This also serves as a
initiate hydrofracture. pre-test run of the fracture orientation measurement.
(b) Sufficient supply rods, tubing or hose are needed (e) It may' be advisable to run a drillhole caliper log
for the required depth of measurement. These are usu- in order to avoid placing packers in oversized sections of
ally used to lower the packer into the drillhole. the hole.
if) The packer assembly' is inserted to the prede-
Measurinz equipment, including termined depth: the depth is recorded: and the packers
6. (a) Pressure transducers for measurement of fluid are inflated to a pressure sufficient to seal against the
pressure at the surlEce or immediately above the packer. applied fluid pressure.
A surface pressure transducer is sufficient for shallow (g) When filling the injection tubing, care must be
tests or low flow rate tests that do not have head loss taken to eliminate air from the system. Trapped air
problems in the tubing. Deep tests and high flow rate greatly increases the compressibility' of the system and
tests could be enhanced by using a downhole transducer has an adverse effect on the rate of pressure build-up
as well. during test interval pressurization.
Pressure must be continuously recorded during the
testing using analogue electrical devices (chart recorder), Testing
digital recording and/or, for downhole pressure gauges, 8. (a) When pressure is monitored at the ground
mechanical recording. A pressure-time record should be surface, the pressure in the test interval is increased
plotted as the test is performed. This record is vital for slowly to ensure minimal pressure losses in the tubing.
deciding when to pump and when to shut in the test When pressure is monitored within the test section,
interval. Transducers should be calibrated against re- pressure losses are unimportant. No standard for pres-
liable standards. Downhole transducers may also be surization rate or flow rate exists: however, a c o m m o n
checked using the pressure change that occurs as the range of pressurization rates is about 0.1-2.0 MPa/'sec.
transducer is lowered through the fluid in the hole. The pressurization rate is controlled by the constant flow
Monitoring of interval pressure should be carried out rate selected. The appropriate flow rate to achieve the
with an accuracy of no less than + 2 . 5 % of the maxi- desired pressurization rate will vary depending on the
mum expected applied pressure or with an accuracy overall compressibility of the test system, which largely
acceptable to a specific project requirement. reflects the elasticity of the tubing, the length of the
(b) A pressure gauge or transducer to measure packer tubing, the compressibility of the fluids and the volume
inflation pressure with a compatible level of accuracy to of fluid in the test system. In general, deep tests with
the interval pressure gauge. large diameter tubing wilt require higher flow rates than
(c) An instrument to record fluid flow with time. short-hole tests with smaller diameter tubing. The
Surface measurement of flow is sufficient, as only sudden packer pressure should be initially set well below the
changes of flow characteristics are required. A flow anticipated breakdown pressure; the packer pressure
metre, resolving to less than 0.2 l~min, should be used. should be increased at the same rate as the injection
pressure. This procedure reduces the possibility of frac-
PROCEDURE ture initiation caused by the packer pressure. The test
interval pressure is recorded against time. As pressure
Drilling and inspection increases, both tangential and vertical effective stresses
7. (a) Choice of hole diameter and size of downhole - C a n become tensile.
hydraulic fracturing equipment may be made based on Fracture will occur if the induced tensile stress reaches
the equipment available. Following determination of the the drillhole rupture strength. Evidence of failure may be
test location and depth, a drillhole should be sunk obtained from the pressure/'time curve. The dritlhole
beneath that depth to provide the test intervals. Final fluid pressure at the moment of drillhole rupture is
choice of test zone length and depth is made based upon termed the "fracture initiation pressure" (Pr) or break-
the fracture characteristics of recovered cores or on down pressure.
inspection of the drillhole wall by an optical or acoustic (b) After injecting a volume sufficient to propagate a
logging tool. fracture length equal to about three times the drillhole
62 ISRM: SUGGESTED METHODS FOR ROCK STRESS DETERMINATION
used to determine the "fracture reopening pressure" (Pr) SHUT IN ' ~' P~ = S H U T tN P R E S S U R E
mined by laboratory tests, the laboratory test results and 4. Gronseth J. M. Determination of the insta,".taneous shut-in
pressure from hydraulic fracturing data and its reliability as a
the method of data reduction, including equations used, measure of the minimum principal stress. Proc. 2_Zrd U.S. Syrup.
should be reported in sufficient detail. on Rock Mechanics. pp. t83-189, Berkele~ (19S21.
(e) Test results showing substantial discrepancies with 5. Haimson B. C. A simple method for estimating in situ stresses
at great depth. ASTM Special Technical Publications 554, pp.
other data and giving possible or probable explanations
156-182, Philadelphia (I974).
of the causes. 6. Haimson B. C. Near-surface and deep h,~drefracturing stress
measurements in the Waterloo quartzite. Int. J. Rock 5Iech..tlin.
Sci. & Geornech. Abstr. 17, 81-88 119_<0).
7. Haimson B. C. and Eairhurst C. Initiation and extension of
NOTES hydraulic fractures in rock. Soc. Pc,~rol. Engrx J. 7, 310-318
(1967).
1. Under some circumstances, the test interval may be 8. Hoek E. and Brown E. T. Underground Exc::::ztions in Rock,
isolated between a single packer and the base of the p. 384. IMM, London (1980).
9. Kim K. and Smith C. C. Hydraulic fracturing stress measure-
drillhole. However, the test results may then be inaccu-
ments near the Keweenaw fault in upper Michigan. Underground
rate because of stress concentrations at the base of the Rock Engineering. Proc. 13th Canadian Symp. on Rock Mechanics,
hole. Univ. of Toronto, pp. 24-30 (I980).
2. The spacer rod or tube between packers should be 10. Kim K., Dischler S. A , Aggson J. R. and Hard~ -"d. P. The state
of in situ stresses determined by' h~draulic fracturing at the
designed to carry the tension developed by application Hartford site, RHO-BW-ST-73. Rockwell Hanford Operations,
of the test pressure within the test section. Richland (1985).
11. Ratigan J. L. A statistical fracture mechanics determination of
3. The ISRM has formed a Commission on "Inter-
the apparent tensile strength in hydraulic fracture. Proc. Work-
pretation of Hydraulic Fracturing Pressure Records." shop on Hydraulic Fracturing Stress .~[easuremcn:. U.S. National
This Commission will prepare a document outlining the Committee on Rock Mechanics, Washington, DC, pp. 159-166
various interpretation procedures used by different in- (1982).
12. Roegiers J. C. and McLennan J. D. Factors influencing the
vestigators as well as the difficulties and problems prac- initiation orientation of hydraulicalb induced fractures. Proc.
titioners have encountered when attempting to interpret Workshop on Hydraulic Fracturing Stress Measurements, O F R
hydraulic fracturing pressure records. This will com- 82-1075, U.S. Geological Survey, Washington. DC, pp. 489-502
(1982).
plement the "Suggested Methods" presented herein. 13. yon Schonfeldt H. and Fairhurst C. Field experiments on
hydraulic fracturing. Soc. Petrol. Engrs J. 12(2), 69-77, also
printed in Soc. Petrol. Engrs Trans. Vol. 253 (1972).
I4. Wawersik W. R. and Stone C. M. Application of hydraulic
fracturing to determine virgin in situ stress state around waste
METHOD 2: B I B L I O G R A P H Y isolation pilot plant--in situ measurements. SAND 85-1776,
Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque (1985).
1. Bredehoeft L D., Wolff R. G., Keys W. S. and Shutter E. 15. Zoback M. D. and Haimson B. C. (Eds) Proc. Workshop on
Hydraulic fracturing to determine the regional in situ stress field Hydraulic Fracturing Stress Measurements, Open-File Rept
in the Piceance Basin, Colorado. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 87, 250-258 82-1075. U.S. Geological Survey, Washington. DC (1982a).
(1976). 16. Zoback M. D. and Haimson B. C. Status of the hydraulic
2. Doe T. W., Ingevald K., Strindell L. Leijon B., Hustrulid W., fracturing method for in situ stress measurements. Proc. 23rd
Majer E. and Carlson H. In situ stress measurements at the Stripa U.S. Syrup. on Rock Mechanics, pp. 143-156, Berkeley (1982b).
Mine, Sweden. Technical Information Rept No. 44, Lawrence 17. Zoback M. D. and Pollard D. D. Hydraulic fracture propagation
Berkeley Laboratory, Univ. of California, Berkeley (1983). and the interpretation of pressure-time records for in situ stress
3. Goodman R. E. Introduction to Rock Mechanics. p. I11. Wiley, determinations. Proc. 19th U.S. Syrup. on Rock Mechanics,
New York (1980). Stateline, pp. 14-23 (1978).
,4
remove shims. With proper shimming the gauge should
fit firmly into the pilot hole without being forced. The
f
a b cantilever tips should be placed at least 150 mm, and
preferably 225 mm, past the base of the larger drillhole.
This will ensure that the presence of the larger hole does
// I~ \\\ not significantly affect the in sire stress field at the point
il Ii
\
II II \\\ of measurement•
<,. . . . . ?.~-
(g) Take up excess slack in the gauge cable and
\x
\ , '// D \ /A 30 ~ 35 ~ i 3 o
• 35 ~ '
connect the drill stem to the drill. Turn on the drilling
• " 3 ', ~ R T I C , & L
water and allow approx. 10 min to elapse before over-
DO'ANHOL5
coring. This allows the gauge to reach temperature
equilibrium.
c :d
(h) Start the overcoring with chuck speeds of approx.
120 rev min-I and a penetration rate of around
D : D,AMETER OF MINE OaENING 20 mm/min. The water pressure should not fluctuate and
should be maintained as low as possible but should be
Fig. 7. Drillhole configuration.
sufficient to allow good clearing of the cuttings. Record
the gauge readings on all cantilever axes at every 10 or
[15]). Deformation measurements should be taken out- 20 mm of penetration. A typical field data sheet is shown
side the zone of influence of underground openings; the in Fig. 8.
extent of this zone is generally taken as one diameter (D) (i) Overcoring should proceed until the overcoring bit
of the opening, as indicated in Fig. 7. Four possible has passed over the cantilever tips and beyond, for a
drilling configurations are presented in Fig. 7. distance of at least 150 mm and preferably 225 mm. The
Configurations (a), (b) and (c) have the advantage that total length ofovercore is thus 3 0 0 4 5 0 mm (approx. 2-3
the drill rig does not have to be moved for each hole. times the diameter of the overcore hole). In any case. the
Configuration (d) has converging drillholes and, thus, overcore should be long enough to obtain gauge read-
samples the smallest volume of material. ings which do not change with further overcoring. 6 A
typical plot of gauge readings during the overcoring
DriEing, gauge insertion and overcoring operation is shown in Fig. 9.
6. (a) Unless the stress close to a free face of rock is (j) Upon completion of overcoring, disconnect the
to be studied, actual overcoring of the deformation drill stem from the drill. Using the placement rods,
gauge should not begin until the larger drillhole has retrieve the gauge and remove the drill stem and the core
penetrated beyond the influence of surface irregularities barrel from the hole. Carefully determine the orientation
or openings. of the core, then use the core breaker, core shovel or core
(b) Start the hole using the large overcore bit and drill puller to remove the overcore.
to the depth at which overcoring is to begin.
(c) Remove the large core and start the pilot hole using Measuring the rock modulus
a short pilot hole starter core barrel; then, extend the 7. (a) The overcore r should be tested inside the biaxial
pilot hole for approx. 2 m. It is important that the pilot modulus chamber (Fitzpatrick [7]) as soon as con-
hole remain within + 14mm of the centre of the over- venient, preferably on site within 24 h of overcoring.
core. 5 Any fracture zones encountered by the pilot hole This applies particularly to rock cores which deteriorate
should be avoided during placing of the instrument. with time. Place the rock core inside the modulus
(d) Insert the 150 mm core barrel into the drillhole but chamber so that the actual measurement point is
do not connect the drill. Thread the gauge readout cable opposite the middle of the chamber• Orient the gauge
through the drill chuck and special water swivel. sensors in the same directions as during the overcoring.
(e) Connect the gauge readout cable to the r e a d o u t - Usually, marks are left on the walls of the pilot hole by
box and take initial readings with the gauge outside the the buttons of the gauge so that resetting at the correct
hole. Gauge calibration information is normally sup- position and orientation is simplified. If biaxial testing is
plied by the manufacturer. However, direct methods of not to be done soon after overcoring the core should be
periodically checking the calibration are available (see wrapped and sealed in heavy plastic to prevent drying.
Hooker and Bickel [9]). (b) Apply radial pressure to the rock core using the
(f) Using the placement rods, insert the gauge through hydraulic hand pump. Record drillhole diameter
the drill rods and into the pilot hole. Orient the gauge changes at various increments of applied pressure. Cal-
so that one cantilever pair lies in a known plane (using culate secant values of the biaxial elastic modulus from
R3,1MS 24t E
66 ISRM: SUGGESTED METHODS FOR ROCK STRESS DETERMINATION
Gage tacto, us
DEFORMATION TiME
Gage Hole I IND,CATORu,
I uzREADING i Gage O. . . . . . De,. . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . ]
t [
-' ~Zerol U3 Set Star~ Read I R
; 1 1 I '!
g" F I c e ' I~IIS
/
~ ,j t I
[ I :
/' 1 ! / , ,
,,,,1 I I I , ' j
1
"*
8':2" ~
Ir i[ i I '
13 '/i" j 4 !
! 1
i
15" t
15'/*" i
18"
16111. '
17"
17'/~"
18"
plots of applied pressure versus drillhole diameter testing procedures that minimize the effects of elastic
changes using the unloading curves. nonlinearity can be used to determine anisotropic elastic
If possible, biaxial test pressures should be selected parameters (Aggson [I]).
such that biaxial test deformation magnitudes are com-
parable to the overcoring deformation magnitudes. CALCULATIONS
However, this is not always possible because the biaxial
test does not confine the ends of the core and failure can 8. (a) Calculations of in situ stresses involve varying
occur at relatively low biaxial pressures. Triaxial core degrees of complexity depending on whether stresses are
two or three dimensional in character and depending on
the degree of elastic anisotropy present.
-O.OOfi (b) Where the stress along the dritlhole a~s is zero(i.e.
j.f '~
stress conditions such as mightoccur close to the ground
surface or close to the wall of an opening), the defor-
o u, I mation or change in diameter (U) of the pilot hole is
given by the equation:
i o.,~ /x .....
o d p
-- U=-~[( +Q)+2(P-Q)]cos20 (1)
° t
where P and Q are the applied major and minor
~0o. ,,,., o,
MEASUREMENT
\ 1 secondary principal stresses in the plane perpendicular
FOR EACH CURVE
to the axis of the hole, d is the diameter of the pilot hole
0.020 1100 200 300 400 500
and 0 is the angle between the direction of P, the major
DEPTH OF OVERCORING BIT Imml secondary principal stress, and the direction of U, the
Fig. 9. Typical plot of drillhole deformation vs overcoring bit measured deformation. In the case of the USBM-type
position [11]. gauge which has three sensor axes, U~, U2, and U3,
ISRM: SLGGESTED METHODS FOR ROCK STRESS DETERMINATION 67
spaced 6 0 apart in a counterclockwise direction (look- treated statistically to yield the least squares estimates of
ing into the drillhole), the major and minor principal the stress components and their standard error.
stresses and their orientations are given by the equations: (e) Young's modulus values are obtained by inserting
the biaxial chamber readings (P and U) in the following
E { -g
P=~/ {U,+ U . + U ~ ) + > S,2 [_( U - U : ) : thick-walled cylinder equation:
D: 2dP
E=
- - I U . - L ~ ) : + ( U ~ - Ut):] 1:} D:-d:" U
O =~d
E { .v"2
JUt+ U . + U 3 ) - ~ - [ ( U , - U : ) :
where:
D = diameter of the overcore;
d = diameter of the pilot hole:
P = applied radial pressure;
_;_ ( L"2 -- ~r 3 )2 _[_ ([/"1 -- ~J'l )2]1 2}
U = measured change in pilot hole diameter.
In cases where the rock is anisotropic, the measured
oo = tan ./7(u_, - values of U along variously oriented diameters will be
' 2 Ul- U,- U3 seen to differ. The effect of anisotropy on the calculated
where the angle 0e is measured from Ut to P in stresses depends on the relative magnitude of elastic
the counterclockwise direction. Depending on relative parameters and other considerations. If required, the
magnitudes of deformation, the range of this angle is degree of anisotropy can be calculated and allowed for
determined as follows: following the procedures outlined in the publications
given in the Bibliography (Amadei [2], Becker and
U : > U~ and ( U : + U ~ ) < - O") i .r
Hooker [4] and Becker [3]).
Op is in range 0°-45:
DRILLHOLE
t
p I L
COLLAR OF ~ ~/" ~
1
- GAUGES
'K X HORIZONTAL
Fig. 11. Strain gauge configuration for each rosette ~iewed from axis
Fig. 10. Position of the three rosette gauges. of drillhole.
with exhaust control provisions (e.g. scrubbers, etc.) and This arrangement of gauges yields an additional three
anti-spark provisions if the underground workings to six strain measurements which may be used for
present a gas ignition hazard. cross-checking or for error estimation.
(b) Coring bits and centralizing guides, to allow (c) Each individual strain gauge should have a gauge
drilling of a pilot hole (38 mm dia) into the end of the length of at least 10 ram. s
overcore hole and concentric with it.
3. A "strain cell" designed to glue a number of strain Installation equipment, including
gauges onto the sidewall of the pilot hole. The strain cell 4. (a) An installing tool into which the strain cell (Fig.
should meet the following requirements: 3'4 12) can be plugged to facilitate electrical connection of
(a) To avoid difficulties caused by the non- the various strain gauges to a multi-conductor cable and
homogeneous, anisotropic nature of most rocks, the t o hold the strain cell while it is inserted into the pilot
electric resistance strain gauges should be glued as close hole. The installing tool should also contain a device for
together as possible so that only a small volume of rock orienting the strain cell and another device (usually gas
is involved] operated) for pushing the strain gauge rosettes out into
(b) The strain gauges should be mutually orientated in contact with the sidewalls. The dimensions of the install-
such a way that six independent strain measurements ing tool should be such that it can be easily pushed into
may be obtained, (e.g. using three standard strain gauge the pilot hole. A sufficient number of installing rods and
rosettes, each consisting of three or four gauges in an a length of electrical cable and gas supply hose should
arrangement such as shown in Figs 10 and 11). be included.
J'q , - ELECTICAL
X / l ~,
2., ,,._ ;
: D U M M Y G&LGE UNIT
PLUGGED ~%TO BODY UNIT
COVER UNIT
(b) Cleaning materials and tools to allow the pilot hole horizontal to facilitate drainage of all drill and other
to be dried (e.g. by spraying with alcohol) and primed water from the point of installation of the cell.
to give good bonding with the strain gauge adhesive. (b) The end of the hole is flattened with the facing bit.
(c) A plug to seal the pilot hole during overcoring. (c) A 550 mm long pilot hole is drilled into the end of,
and concentric with, the 90 mm drillhole (Fig. 13b).
Measurement equipment, including (d) If the core obtained from drilling the pilot hole is
5. (a) One or several strain bridges capable of in one piece and is free from planes of vveakness, the
measuring to the nearest 5 x 10-6mm/mm. measurement can be carried out. The pilot hole core
(b) Electrical connectors and switches so that the must be carefully marked for identification later. If the
strain on each gauge may be measured by a strain bridge. core is broken, the 90mm drillhole should be drilled
(c) Temperature monitoring device (e.g. thermocouple about 0.5 m deeper and the steps in paragraphs 7b, c and
or thermistor) to monitor the temperature to the nearest d repeated until a position is found where solid un-
1°C at the sensor location when initial readings are broken core can be obtained. Intervals with fractured
taken. pilot hole core should be examined with a drillhole
6. Appropriate solvent(s), primer(s) and strain gauge periscope or TV camera to determine the extent and
adhesive(s) for the rock conditions. Strain gauges must severity of fracturing, before rejecting a potential test
remain securely bonded to the rock throughout the zone.
drilling and measuring phases for the results to be
considered valid. Installation
8. (a) The pilot hole is Rushed clean with water
through a hose or hollow drill rods. After washing, the
PROCEDURE6 part of the drillhole where the strain cell is to be
cemented is dried (e.g. with solvent) and sprayed with a
Drilling primer suitable for the adhesive to be used.’
7. (a) A hole, approx. 90 mm dia, is drilled into the (b) The strain cell is plugged into the installing tool
rock mass to the point where the stress in the rock is to which is connected by means of a multi-core cable to a
be measured, as shown in Fig. 13a. The hole should be strain bridge. The rosette gauges are carefuily cleaned
drilled as straight and as accurately as possible by using with a solvent, and a check is made to ensure that all
a long core barrel (minimum length 1.5 m) and the cores gauges are in working condition and that a balance on
should be recovered and fully logged. The hole is the bridge may be obtained.
generally drilled from underground at slightly above the (c) The operation of the strain cell is checked by
rotating the tool to make sure &hat the orienting device
is in order and, by determining if all three gauges are
pushed out, when the appropriate controls are activated.
(d) A 2- to 3-mm thick layer of adhesive is smeared
on the surface of each rosette gauge.
(e) The installing tool, with the strain cell plugged into
it, is pushed up the large diameter drillhole and into the
pilot hole by means of installing rods. Once inside the
pilot hole, the strain cell is oriented by rotating the rods,
and the gauges are then pushed into contact with the
sidewalls of the hole. Pressure on the gauges is main-
tained for sufficient time to allow full setting of the
adhesive.*
TEST N O DR~LL W A T E R T E M P
HOLE DIP - r y e up i
EX HOLE L E N G T H D E P T H TO EX C O L L A R
9
I
WIRE COLOUR BLACK O R A N G E ! PURPLE GBLUE-
REEN WHITE i YELLOW RED GREY BLUE
REMARKS i A,O'I, ACirc~ i A,45:~ i BI45 ~ , B(135% BCirc~ C,GI, C{Circ) Ct45 ~ }
' i !
INITIAL R E A D I N G [ i
5 MINUTES DRILLING I
I i
WATER ! I
10 M I N U T E S D R I L L I N G
WATER
[
I i
'
I
COMMENCEMENT OF : i
DRILLING cm !
: i
om
!
[ !
i i
J ] !I ,
5 M t N U T E S A F T E R OVER.
CORE COMPLETE cm i i
!
i
I 10 M I N U T E S A F T E R OVER- ; i
CORE COMPLETE cm i [
! =
FINAL STRAIN CHANGES {
FOR D A T A R E D U C T I O N ] [
10. Measurements at greater depth m a y then be made isotropic. In cases where there is any indication that the
as required by extending the large diameter drillhole and rock is significantly anisotropic, an alternative data
repeating the operations in p a r a g r a p h s 7b to 9c. reduction method, described by Amadei [1], should be
considered.
where )t’ and B are defined in Figs 10 and I 1, E is the another method, requiring no core or for uhich shorter
Young’s modulus and 1?is the Poisson’s ratio of the rock. pieces of core would suffice. should be used.
These values are normally obtained by laboratory testing 3. The “triaxial strain cell.” devleoped by the South
of specimens taken from the cores, using the ISRM African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
“Suggested Method for Laboratory Determination of (CSIR). fulfills the requirements of these “Suggested
Rock Deformability.” Alternatively. the elastic con- Methods”. Details of gauge orientation, etc. are specific
stants can be obtained from a biaxial or triaxial test of to a given model of strain cell and are supplied by the
the core containing the strain cell. manufacturer to assist in stress computation.
(e) Tensor components, G.~,fly, err,T,,. TV:and Tcr.which 4. The procedure and calcuIations described in these
best fit the measured data, are obtained by means of a Suggested Methods” are based on the triaxial strain cell
least squares fitting procedure. identified in Note 3. Another device that is similar in
(f) Principal stresses, Go, G?and g3, and their direction concept and fulfills the requirements of these “Suggested
cosines are then to be calculated from the tensor com- Methods” has been developed by the Commonwealth
ponents of best fit by means of elasticity equations, Scientific and Industrial Research Organization
usually with the aid of a computer (Vreede [ll]). (CSIRO) of Australia. This device, shown in Figs 15 and
16 and known as the CSIRO Hollow Inclusion (Hi) cell.
is available commercially. It consists of three, three-
REPORTING OF RESULTS component strain gauge rosettes encapsulated in a thin-
walled epoxy pipe. One of the major differences between
12. The report should include the following general
the CSIR cell and the CSIRO HI cell is that the CSIRO
information:
HI cell is permanently attached to the readout cable.
(a) The locations, directions and length of drillholes.
Thus, stress relief data is obtained and monitored during
(b) A geotechnical log of core from each drillhole
the overcoring process.
showing the depths of measurement, with particular
5. The maximum length of the strain gauge is re-
attention given to geological and structural character-
stricted by the size of the drillhole; 10 mm is the mini-
istics of the rock at locations of stress determination.
mum length that should be used.
(c) A description, illustrated with diagrams and photo-
6. The procedure described here is based on the
graphs, of the procedure and equipment used. Reference
triaxial strain cell mentioned in Note 3. If another
may be made to these “Suggested Methods,” noting
instrument is used, drillhole sizes and other dimensions
departures from the recommended equipment and
should be changed to suit this instrument.
procedures.
13. The report include the following detailed depth
information for each location of measurement:
(a) A tabulation of orientation and strain relief read-
ings for each gauge.
(b) The Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio values
used in the calculations and an account of how these
were determined.
(c) The six computed components of the strain relief
tensor at that location to the nearest 0.1 MPa.
(d) Standard deviation and error estimates for the
regression calculations described in paragraph 1le.
(e) Computed principal stress magnitudes and direc-
tions referred both to the drillhole axis system (para-
graphs 1lb and c) and to the global axis for the project.
(f) Test results showing substantial discrepancies with
other data and giving possible or probable explanations
of the causes.
NOTES
7. Water is normally used for cooling and flushing ments, Lectures Notes in En~it, eerin~, Vo[ 2, 4-8 pp. Springer,
during drilling. The surface of the hole is, therefore, wet New York I1983).
2. Duncan Fama M. E. and Pender M. J. Analysis of the hollow
alter drilling and very few strain gauge cements adhere inclusion method for measuring in situ rock stress, htt, J. Rock
to wet rock. To overcome this problem primers are Mech. $lin. Sei. & Geomech. ,4bstr. 17(3), [37-I46 (1980).
available such as Silane Coupling Agent No. A1120 or 3. Gray W. M. and Toews N. A. Optimization of the design and use
of the CSIR triaxiaI strain ceil for stress determination, field
A1 I00 from Union Carbide Corporation. A mixture of testing and instrumentation of rock. ASTM STP 554, pp.
10% (by volume) of sitane in alcohol has, for example, 1l(~134, American Society for Testing and Matenals, Philadel-
been used as a primer. phia (1974).
4. Hiltscher R. Beitrag Zur gebirgsspannungsmessung nach dem
8. The adhesive to be used depends on the conditions bohrlochboden-cntspannungsverfahren. Pro& h;t. Syrup. on the
prevailing at the site where measurements are carried Determination qf Stresses in Rock Masses. pp. 200 229, Lisbon
out. Any standard strain gauge adhesive can be used (1971).
5. Leeman E. R. The measurement of stress in rock--I, II, tII. Jl S.
provided that it bonds well to the rock and to the gauges. AJh. bzst. Min. Metall. 65, 45-I 14 and 254 284 ¢I964).
The best adhesive normally' has to be found by trial and 6. Leeman E. R. The CSIR doorstopper and triaxiat rock stress
error. measuring instruments. Proc. 1SRM Syrup. on the Determination
q/" Stresses in Rock Masses, pp. 578-616, L.N.E.C., Lisbon
A quick-setting adhesive, for which the pot life after (1969).
mixing is less than 5 min, can be used when the installa- 7. Leeman E. R and Hayes D. J. A technique for determining the
tion time is shorter than 5 rain. This means that the complete state of stress in rock using a single borehole, Proc. 1st
hzt. Congr. on Rock ),lechanics. VoI. lI, pp. 17 24. Lisbon (1966).
measurement drillhole must be short ( 1 0 m or less) and 8. Rocha M., Silverio A., Pedro J. O. and Delgado J. S. A new
the rock temperature should be below 15~C. The follow- development of the LNEC stress tensor gauge. Proc. 3rd Int.
ing quick setting adhesives may, for example, be used Congr. on Rock Mechanics, Vol. 2A, pp. 464-46-. Denver (1974).
9. Stepanv V. and Batugin S. Assessing the effect of the anisotropy
under these conditions: Philips strain gauge cement type of rocks on the accuracy of stress determination by the relief
9244 04; Hottinger quick-setting strain cement type method. Societ Min. Sci. 3, 312 315 {1967).
X-60. 10. Van Heerden W. L. Practical application of t?,e CS1R triaxial
strain cell for rock stress measurements. Proc. l S R M Syrup. on
Epoxy, a slow-setting adhesive, can, for example, be the lnz'esti~ation of Stress itt Ro('k--A~h'ance, ',n Stress ),[ea-
used when measurements are carried out in longer surement, pp. 1~5, S?dney (1976).
drillhotes and where the rock temperature is above 11. Vreede F. A. Instruction manual for the use of the CSIR triaxial
rock stress measuring equipment. CSIR Rept ME 1763, Pretoria
1 5 C (the setting time is reduced as the temperature is (1982).
increased). 12. Worotnicki O. and Walton R. d. Triaxiat hollo~ inclusion gauges
{CSIRO) for determination of rock stresses in ;itu. Proc. I S R M
METHOD 4: B I B L I O G R A P H Y Syrup. on the lncest~ation o[Stress in Rock--.qdcanees in Stress
Measurement, Supplement, pp. 1-8, S,,dney {1976)
1. Amadei B. Rock anisotrop5 and the theory of stress measure-