ABSTRACT
This chapter examines common relationships found by correlation analysis of laboratory tests. The development of the research into wear processes during rock cutting leads away from relying entirely on the results of laboratory abrasion tests on rock samples. The assessment of abrasiveness of rock can be based on a combination of rock strength testing and petrographic examination. Although many remain positive about using abrasion tests for the assessment of abrasiveness of rocks, most would probably agree with F. F. Roxborough who states that correlation of laboratory test results with real scale machine cutting is fortuitous. The wear prediction is therefore less reliable at small penetration rates of the cutting machine. The coefficient of variation has been used to compare the relative sensitivity of the wear prediction equations to a ten percent variation of the standard deviation and of the mean value of the rock parameters.
