ABSTRACT
Abstract:Rock mechanics involves characterizing the strength of rock material and the geometry and mechanical properties of the natural discontinuities of the rock mass. Rock engineering is concerned with specific engineering circumstances, for example, howmuch load will the rock support and whether reinforcement is necessary. Since the establishment of the International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM) in the 1960s, there have been important scientific developments and technological advances both in rock mechanics and rock engineering. Particularly, modeling of rock behavior, design methodologies for rock structures and rock testing methods are the main issues in these developments and advances. The models developed depend considerably on the input parameters such as boundary conditions and material, discontinuity and rock mass properties. For this reason, establishing how to obtain these input parameters for a particular site, rock mass and project is important. In this chapter, first, a brief historical account of material testing is given with a special emphasis on the evolution of testing of rocks. Next, rock mechanics testing methods including those for rock material, discontinuities and rock masses are critically reviewed in terms of laboratory and in-situ tests. Then, standardization of rock testingmethods is mentioned within the context of the Suggested Methods (SMs) by the ISRM. Finally, current developments and future trends in rock testing methods are briefly discussed.
