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Culture Documents
2010)
Abstract
This study examines drillability and strength characteristics of selected rocks in
Nigeria. Eight rock samples were selected from different locations in the country and
were tested in the laboratory for uniaxial compressive strength, tensile strength,
hardness, and Drilling Rate Index (DRI) using 1,100 kN compression machine, Schmidt
hammer, and miniature drill. The results of uniaxial compressive strength for the eight
selected rocks vary from 89.90 - 124.71 MPa and were classified as very high
compressive strength characteristics and the rock characteristics from Porphyritic
Hornblende-Granite to Medium Biotite-Granite on the basis of point load strength
index range from high to very high strength index. The hardness classification shows
that the rocks characteristics vary from very strong to extremely strong rocks. The
result of correlation showed that strong relationship exist between bit life and rebounds
hardness Value with coefficient of correlation of R2 = 0.926. The drillability
characteristics of the rocks vary from extremely low to low drillability based on the
Drilling Rate Index (DRI) and drill bit life range from very low to extremely low life
span.
Keywords: drillability, strength, characterization, rocks, hardness, schmidt
hammer.
drilling is a matter of applying sufficient force
with a tool to exceed the strength of the rock
(Hartman and Mutmansky 2002). The
behaviour of rock material under compression
is important as the uniaxial compressive
strength of intact rock is a basic parameter for
rock classification and rock mass criteria and
rock classification. Therefore, the strength
characteristics of rocks are usually considered
to be necessary for design of rock structures,
stability of rock excavations as well as
influence rock fragmentation in quarry and
working of mine rocks (Ojo and Olaleye 2002).
In addition Size of fragments may be
influenced drillabilty of rocks (Plinninger et al.
2002). Generally, coarse-grained rock can be
drilled more quickly than fine-grained varieties
or those in which the grain size is variable (Liu
et al. 2002) and it is a measure of brittleness
(Thuro and Spaun 1996).
Introduction
Drillability is the resistance of rock to
penetration
by
a
drilling
technique
(Kramadibrata et al. 2001) and it is a term used
to describe the influence of numbers of
parameters on the drilling rate (drilling
velocity) and the tools wear of the drilling rig.
Penetration of quarriable rocks is influenced by
rock properties as well as machine parameters.
Also, two key parameters have proved to be
most valuable: the (net) drilling rate in metres
per minute (the drilling performance, derived
from the time of drilling one single borehole);
and the bit life span in metres per drilling bit
that can be drilled in a homogeneous tunnel
section (Thuro 1997).
However, the Strength of a rock has an
appreciable influence on drilling force required.
Therefore, to cause rock to break during
Technical Report
56
57
Technical Report
life
against
unaxial
58
Name of rock
Porphyritic Hornblende-Granite
Micro Feldspar-Granite
Micro Granite
Medium Feldspar-Granite
Coarse Muscovite-Granite
Biotite- Hornblende Granite
Coarse Biotite-Granite
Medium Biotite-Granite
Brittleness
value (S20)
%
46.0
50.0
50.0
42.0
50.0
42.0
48.0
42.0
Siever
J-Value
(SJ)
0.7
1.0
0.5
0.5
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
Drilling
rate index
(DRI)
30
39
30
22
40
22
30
22
Drillability
characterization
term
Very low
Low
Very low
Extremely low
Low
Extremely low
Very low
Extremely low
Rock code
AD01
IK02
OR03
OS054
IF05
IB06
DE07
IJ08
Name of rock
Porphyritic hornblende-granite
Micro feldspar-granite
Micro granite
Medium feldspar-granite
Coarse muscovite-granite
Biotite-hornblende granite
Coarse biotite-granite
Medium biotite-granite
Strength
classification
Very high
Very high
Very high
Very high
Very high
Very high
Very high
Very high
Uniaxial compressive
strength (MPa)
91.47 - 91.54
89.90 - 90.03
120.86 -123.13
94.09 - 94.30
90.51 - 90.86
119.40 -119.60
124.55 -124.71
90.13 - 90.60
Rock Code
AD01
IK02
OR03
OS04
IF05
IB06
DE07
IJ08
Name of rock
Porphyritic hornblende-granite
Micro feldspar-granite
Micro granite
Medium feldspar-granite
Coarse muscovite-granite
Biotite- hornblende granite
Coarse biotite-granite
Medium biotite-granite
Strength
Classification
High
High
Very high
High
High
Very high
Very high
High
Table 5. Classification of bit wear rate and drill bit lifetime of selected Nigeria rocks.
Rock
code
AD01
IK02
OR03
OS04
IF05
IB06
DE07
IJ08
Name of rock
Porphyritic hornblende-granite
Micro feldspar-granite
Micro granite
Medium feldspar-granite
Coarse muscovite-granite
Biotite- hornblende granite
Coarse biotite-granite
Medium biotite-granite
Technical Report
Bit wear
rate/crown life
value (m/bit)
192
192
225
180
210
210
190
210
59
Extremely High
Extremely High
Very High
Extremely High
Very High
Very High
Extremely High
Very High
Extremely low
Extremely low
Very low
Extremely low
Very low
Very low
Extremely low
Very low
Conclusion
The results of the laboratory and field
measurements carried out on the selected rocks
from eight different locations in Nigeria have
shown that the properties of rock vary from one
location to another. Strength characterization of
the selected rocks shows that uniaxial
compressive strength range from 89.90 - 90.03
MPa for Micro Feldspar-Granite to 124.55 124.71 MPa for Coarse Biotite-Granite and are
all classified to have very high uniaxial
compressive. The bit life exhibit weak
correlation with uniaxial compressive strength
and strong correlation with rebounds hardness
value. Ultimately, understanding the drillability
and strength characteristics will give
quarry/mine operators the likely response of
rock to drilling and excavation.
References
ASTM. 2001. Standard test method for
determination of rock hardness by rebound
hammer method. Designation D 5873.
American Society for Testing and Materials
(ASTM) International, West Conshohocken,
PA, USA.
Bell, F.G. 1992. Engineering properties of
rocks and soils. Butterworth-Heinemann
Ltd., Oxford, UK, p. 101.
Borg, A. 1988. Hard rock tunnelling boring in
Norway. In: Norwegian Tunnelling Today,
Norwegian Soil and Rock Engineering
Association, Publication No. 5, Tapir
Publishers, Trondheim, Norway, pp. 109-12.
Brook, N. 1993. The measurement and
estimation of basic rock strength. In:
Hudson, J. (ed.-in-chief). Comprehensive
rock engineering. Principles, practice, and
Technical Report
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