ASTM_D_6032_-_08.pdf

Designation:D603208Standard Test Method forDetermining Rock Quality Designation(RQD)of Rock Core1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6032;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope*1.1 This test method covers the determination of the rockquality designation(RQD)as a standard parameter in drill corelogging.1.2 All observed and calculated values shall conform to theguidelines for significant digits and rounding established inPractice D6026.1.2.1 The method used to specify how data are collected,calculated,or recorded in this standard is not directly related tothe accuracy to which the data can be applied in design or otheruses,or both.How one applies the results obtained using thisstandard is beyond its scope.1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as thestandard.The values given in parentheses are mathematicalconversions to inch-pound units that are provided for informa-tion only and are not considered standard.1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D653 Terminology Relating to Soil,Rock,and ContainedFluidsD2113 Practice for Rock Core Drilling and Sampling ofRock for Site ExplorationD3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for AgenciesEngaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock asUsed in Engineering Design and ConstructionD5079 Practices for Preserving and Transporting Rock CoreSamplesD6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits in GeotechnicalDataE691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study toDetermine the Precision of a Test Method3.Terminology3.1 For terminology used in this test method,refer toTerminology D653.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 core runin the most basic usage,the length of theinterval measured from the depth each core sample was startedto the depth at which drilling stopped and the sample wasrecovered from the core barrel.If required,the core run canalso be defined to cover a specific length or lithology in thecore samples.3.2.2 drill breakany mechanical or man-made break in thecore that is not natural occurring.3.2.3 intact coreany segment of core between two open,natural discontinuities.3.2.4 rock quality designation(RQD)a modified corerecovery percentage in which all pieces of sound core over 100mm are counted as recovery.3.2.5 sound coreany core which is fresh to moderatelyweathered and which has sufficient strength to resist handbreakage.4.Summary of Test Method4.1 The RQD denotes the percentage of intact and soundrock retrieved from a borehole of any orientation.All pieces ofintact and sound rock core equal to or greater than 100 mm(4in.)long are summed and divided by the total length of the corerun,as shown in Fig.1.Rock mechanics judgement may benecessary to determine if a piece of core qualifies as beingintact and sound.5.Significance and Use5.1 The RQD was first introduced in the mid 1960s toprovide a simple and inexpensive general indication of rockmass quality to predict tunnelling conditions and supportrequirements.The recording of RQD has since become virtu-ally standard practice in drill core logging for a wide variety ofgeotechnical investigations.1This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D18 on Soil andRock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.12 on Rock Mechanics.Current edition approved July 1,2008.Published July 2008.Originally approvedin 1996.Last previous edition approved in 2006 as D6032 02(2006).DOI:10.1520/D6032-08.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standardCopyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 5.2 The RQD values provide a basis for making preliminarydesign decisions involving estimation of required depths ofexcavation for foundations of structures.The RQD values alsocan serve to identify potential problems related to bearingcapacity,settlement,erosion,or sliding in rock foundations.The RQD can provide an indication of rock quality in quarriesfor concrete aggregate,rockfill,or large riprap.5.3 The RQD has been widely used as a warning indicatorof low-quality rock zones that may need greater scrutiny orrequire additional borings or other investigational work.5.4 The RQD is a basic component of many rock mass