Predicting the unconfined compressive strength of vesicular basalt as a function of the specific gravity of the basalt

Brian Kuhn, Mary Maclaughlin, Nick Hudyma

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

The presence of gas pockets called vesicles within basalt has a negative impact on the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of the basalt, and also reduces the bulk specific gravity of the material. Previous research by Gates (2008) found that a comparison of the bulk specific gravity to the unconfined compressive strengths of vesicular basalts from three different sites demonstrated an exponential relationship. The objectives of this study were to prepare and test a set of 40 vesicular basalt cores in order to validate the equation proposed by Gates, or propose a new formula for our specimens. The results of the 10 laboratory tests preformed to date suggest that while the general trend of increasing UCS with increasing specific gravity is clear, for our specimens, Gates' formula underpredicts UCS. We propose an alternative exponential formula for our dataset, which will be validated upon testing of the remaining 30 specimens.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication42nd Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Engineering Symposium and 14th Intermountain Conf. on the Environment
Subtitle of host publicationGeotechnics, Environment, Energy, and Economics (GE) - The Links for Sustainability
Pages20-25
Number of pages6
StatePublished - 2009
Event42nd Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Engineering Symposium and 14th Intermountain Conference on the Environment: Geotechnics, Environment, Energy, and Economics (GE) - The Links for Sustainability - Pocatello, ID, United States
Duration: 5 Nov 20096 Nov 2009

Publication series

Name42nd Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Engineering Symposium and 14th Intermountain Conf. on the Environment: Geotechnics, Environment, Energy, and Economics (GE) - The Links for Sustainability

Conference

Conference42nd Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Engineering Symposium and 14th Intermountain Conference on the Environment: Geotechnics, Environment, Energy, and Economics (GE) - The Links for Sustainability
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPocatello, ID
Period5/11/096/11/09

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