• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.41-49
• /
• 2011

This study is to estimate the uniaxal compressive strength (UCS) for the weak rocks using needle penetrometer test. The appropriate ratio of the artificial rocks for this test was cement (C):bentonite (B):water (W) = 1.3:0.7:2.3 or 1.5:0.5:2.0. From the relationship between needle penetration resistance (NPR) measured by needle penetrometer test and an estimated UCS, NPR and UCS tended to increase with increasing the curing period. Also from the relationship between the measured NPR and the measured UCS, NPR-UCS was linearly increased with the curing periods of 3-day to 14-day regardless of the ratio, then in the curing periods of 14-day to 28-day it was nearly constant. In conclusion, the overall relationship between NPR and UCS shows a linear relation for the most part, it means that UCS is possible to be estimated from NPR by needle penetrometer test in the case of weak rocks.