ASTM_D_4543_-_08.pdf

Designation:D454308Standard Practices forPreparing Rock Core as Cylindrical Test Specimens andVerifying Conformance to Dimensional and ShapeTolerances1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4543;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 These practices specify procedures for laboratory rockcore test specimen preparation of rock core from drill core andblock samples for strength and deformation testing and fordetermining the conformance of the test specimen dimensionswith tolerances established by this practice.Cubical,rectangular,or other shapes are not covered by this practice.However,some of the information contained with in thispractice and in standard Test Method C170 may still be of useto preparing other test specimen shapes.1.2 Rock is a complex engineering material that can varygreatly as a function of lithology,stress history,weathering,moisture content and chemistry,and other natural geologicprocesses.As such,it is not always possible to obtain orprepare rock core specimens that satisfy the desirable toler-ances given in this practice.Most commonly,this situationpresents itself with weaker,more porous,and poorly cementedrock types and rock types containing significant or weak(orboth)structural features.For these and other rock types whichare difficult to prepare,all reasonable efforts shall be made toprepare a specimen in accordance with this practice and for theintended test procedure.However,when it has been determinedby trial that this is not possible,prepare the rock specimen tothe closest tolerances practicable and consider this to be thebest effort(Note 1)and report it as such and if allowable ornecessary for the intended test,capping the ends of thespecimen as discussed in this practice is permitted.NOTE1Best effort in surface preparation refers to the use of awell-maintained surface grinder,lathe or lapping machine by an experi-enced operator in which a reasonable number of attempts has been madeto meet the tolerances required in this procedure.1.3 This practices covers some,but not all of the curatorialissues that should be implemented.For curatorial issues thatshould be followed before and during specimen preparationrefer to Practices D5079 and to the specific test standards insection 2.1 for which the specimens are being prepared.1.4 This practice also prescribes tolerance checks on thelength-to-diameter ratio,straightness of the elements on thecylindrical surface,the flatness of the end bearing surfaces,andthe perpendicularity of the end surfaces with the axis of thecore.1.5 The requirement for specifying the moisture conditionof the test specimen is also stated.However,the requirementsin the specific test standards in section 2.1 should be followedtoo.1.6 All observed and calculated values shall conform to theguidelines for significant digits and rounding established inPractice D6026,unless superseded by this standard.1.6.1 The practices/procedures used to specify how data arecollected/recorded and calculated in this standard are regardedas the industry standard.In addition,they are representative ofthe significant digits that generally should be retained.Theprocedures used do not consider material variation,purpose forobtaining the data,special purpose studies,or any consider-ations for the users objectives;and it is common practice toincrease or reduce significant digits of reported data to becommensurate with these considerations.It is beyond the scopeof this standard to consider significant digits used in analysismethods for engineering design.1.7 UnitsThe dimensional values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units are to be regarded as standard,such as4 to 12 in.or 100 to 300 mm.The values stated in each systemmay not be exact equivalents;therefore,each system shall beused independently of the other.Combining values from thetwo systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.(Note,when mass measurements are added to determinedensities or unit weights,add the following.)1.7.1 Only the SI units are used for mass determinations,calculations and reported results.However,the use of balancesor scales recording pounds of mass(lbm)shall not be regardedas nonconformance with this standard.1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is the1These practices are under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D18 on Soil andRock and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.12 on Rock Mechanics.Current edition approved Jan.1,2008.Published February 2008.Originallyapproved in 1985.Last previous edition approved in 2007 as D4543 07.DOI:10.1520/D4543-08.*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standardCopyright ASTM International,100 B