Laboratory testing

Comprehensive analyses are carried out in the IfG's rock mechanical laboratory to determine the physical properties of rocks and all rock mechanical parameters. This information is crucial for the rock mechanics characterization of the rock samples under investigation and usually forms the basis for deriving material model parameters. The investigations focus on various aspects, including deformation-controlled triaxial strength and shear tests—each with dilatance measurement at different jacket pressures or normal loads—durability tests in triaxial creep test rigs, displacement investigations in the oedometer cell, and permeability measurements.

The IfG's rock mechanical laboratory offers comprehensive testing and experimental methods. The specific implementation of the tests, adjustments to the test procedure, and other types of tests and boundary conditions can be flexibly coordinated.

Studies and experiments

• Density determination
• Measurement of ultrasonic wave velocity (p-wave and s-wave)
• Determination of elastic and dynamic parameters
• Determination of water content
• Porosity determination
• Determination of gas and solution permeability
• Uniaxial compression testing
• Determination of tensile strength
  
  • Direct tensile strength
  • Indirect tensile strength
  • modified tensile strength tests
• Deformation-controlled, triaxial strength tests up to the post-fracture range
  
  • for compression and extension loads
  • with dilatancy measurement
  • at different temperatures
  • with intermediate permeability measurement
  • with relaxation phases and cyclic stress
• Deformation-controlled shear tests up to the post-fracture range
  
  • at different normal stresses
  • with dilatancy measurement
• Pillar model tests to determine the pillar limit stress
• Backfill pressure test
• Continuous testing in triaxial creep test rigs
  
  • for compression and extension loads
  • at different temperatures
  • with measurement of permeability
• Swelling pressure tests, including solution permeability

Test rigs