Sediment flux to the coastal zone is conditioned by geomorphic and tectonic influences (basin area and relief), geography (temperature, runoff), geology (lithology, ice cover), and human activities (reservoir trapping, soil erosion). A new model, termed “BQART” in recognition of those factors, accounts for these varied influences. When applied to a database of 488 rivers, the BQART model showed no ensemble over‐ or underprediction, had a bias of just 3% across six orders of magnitude in observational values, and accounted for 96% of the between‐river variation in the long‐term (±30 years) sediment load or yield of these rivers. The geographical range of the 488 rivers covers 63% of the global land surface and is highly representative of global geology, climate, and socioeconomic conditions. Based strictly on geological parameters (basin area, relief, lithology, ice erosion), 65% of the between‐river sediment load is explained. Climatic factors (precipitation and temperature) account for an additi...

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Geology, Geography, and Humans Battle for Dominance over the Delivery of Fluvial Sediment to the Coastal Ocean

The development of the Brazilian disc test for determining indirect tensile strength and its applications in rock mechanics are reviewed herein. Based on the history of research on the Brazilian test by analytical, experimental, and numerical approaches, three research stages can be identified. Most of the early studies focused on the tensile stress distribution in Brazilian disc specimens, while ignoring the tensile strain distribution. The observation of different crack initiation positions in the Brazilian disc has drawn a lot of research interest from the rock mechanics community. A simple extension strain criterion was put forward by Stacey (Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 18(6):469–474, 1981) to account for extension crack initiation and propagation in rocks, although this is not widely used. In the present study, a linear elastic numerical model is constructed to study crack initiation in a 50-mm-diameter Brazilian disc using FLAC3D. The maximum tensile stress and the maximum tensile strain are both found to occur about 5 mm away from the two loading points along the compressed diameter of the disc, instead of at the center of the disc surface. Therefore, the crack initiation point of the Brazilian test for rocks may be located near the loading point when the tensile strain meets the maximum extension strain criterion, but at the surface center when the tensile stress meets the maximum tensile strength criterion.

The Brazilian Disc Test for Rock Mechanics Applications: Review and New Insights

The Schmidt hammer in rock material characterization

A review of the tensile strength of rock was conducted to determine the relationship between direct tensile strength (DTS) and Brazilian tensile strength (BTS) and to examine the validity of estimating tensile strength from other measured properties, such as the crack initiation (CI) threshold. A data set was gathered from the existing literature where tensile values could be reliably correlated with unconfined compressive strength or CI values. It was determined that the BTS obtained in standard testing is generally greater than the equivalent DTS and that this relationship is rock type dependent. CI yields a reasonable estimate of tensile strength and this correlation is improved when the BTS values are reduced to DTS values by rock type specific correlations. The factor f, in DTS = f BTS, can be considered to be approximately 0.9 for metamorphic, 0.8 for igneous and 0.7 for sedimentary rocks. The relationships presented demonstrate that there is wide scatter in the available data for estimating tensile strength likely due to both specimen variability and testing configuration, including platen geometry and relative stiffness. Estimates of tensile strength should only be used for preliminary design purposes and measurements should be made to confirm preliminary assumptions for each design.

A Review of the Tensile Strength of Rock: Concepts and Testing

Prediction of uniaxial compressive strength of rock samples using hybrid particle swarm optimization-based artificial neural networks

Estimation of uniaxial compressive strength of rock materials by index tests using regression analysis and fuzzy inference system

A weathering classification for granitic rock materials from southeastern Brazil was framed based on core characteristics. The classification was substantiated by a detailed petrographic study. Indirect assessment of weathering grades by density, ultrasonic and Schmidt hammer index tests was performed. Rebound values due to Schmidt hammer multiple impacts at one representative point were more efficient in predicting weathering grades than averaged single impact rebound values, P-wave velocities and densities. Uniaxial compression tests revealed that a large range of uniaxial compressive strength (214–153 MPa) exists in Grade I category where weathering does not seem to have played any role. It was concluded that variability in occurrences of quartz intragranular cracks and in biotite percentage, distribution and orientation might have played a key role in accelerating or decelerating the failure processes of the Grade I specimens. Deterioration of uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus and increase in Poisson’s ratio with increasing weathering intensity could be attributed to alteration of minerals, disruption of rock skeleton and microcrack augmentation. A crude relation between failure modes and weathering grades also emerged.

A. Basu

Papers

The Schmidt hammer in rock material characterization

Estimation of uniaxial compressive strength of rock materials by index tests using regression analysis and fuzzy inference system

Evaluation of rock mechanical behaviors under uniaxial compression with reference to assessed weathering grades

A method for normalization of Schmidt hammer rebound values

Use of the block punch test to predict the compressive and tensile strengths of rocks