Differentiating natural rock joints from drilling breaks

• Main Author: Chai, Lip Jun
• Other Authors: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Civil engineering::Geotechnical
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/45392
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

There is currently no proper method for identifying the type of break found on rock cores. Breaks on cores occur in two main forms: natural breaks and artificial breaks. The project aims to find a method of differentiating the type of breaks found on cores through the use of water evaporation. The first part of the project involves adding moisture to numerous rock core samples and creating a log of their drying process. The second part utilises the scanning electron microscope to examine the microscopic state of the core samples. Results from the two parts are then compared to find their relation. It is found that natural rock breaks contains more cracks and are able to hold more water, taking longer to dry. Artificial breaks are cleaner and dry rapidly comparatively. Such a relationship can be used to sort out the type of breaks cheaply and rapidly.