An Investigation of the Mechanisms Involved in Plate Load Testing in Rock

Accurate determination of rock mass deformation modulus is very important in rock engineering projects. The plate loading test (PLT) is a method that is generally used in dam construction projects to determine rock mass modulus. Numerical simulation was used to investigate the mechanisms involved in...

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Main Author: Ali Mortazavi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-03-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/6/2720
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author Ali Mortazavi
author_facet Ali Mortazavi
author_sort Ali Mortazavi
collection DOAJ
description Accurate determination of rock mass deformation modulus is very important in rock engineering projects. The plate loading test (PLT) is a method that is generally used in dam construction projects to determine rock mass modulus. Numerical simulation was used to investigate the mechanisms involved in this test. The first objective of the paper was to employ 3D modeling in the interpretation of plate load tests conducted at the Bazoft dam site in Iran. Additionally, a parametric study of the effects of key parameters such as displacement measuring depth and loading plate diameter on the test results was another objective of the study. The moduli values determined numerically were compared against actual filed testing data determined from in-situ test data conducted at the Bazoft dam site, and the values determined from the ISRM suggested formula. The analysis showed that the optimum measurement depth for rock mass modulus calculation is approximately equal to the loading plate diameter and the data determined from measurement depths beyond one plate diameter can be unrealistic. Moreover, the plate diameter can have a significant effect on test results. As the measurement depth increases, the determined modulus values increase at a much more rapid pace when employing smaller size loading plates.
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spelling doaj.art-efa031b4eaaa4f128452d579c19add722023-11-21T11:00:28ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172021-03-01116272010.3390/app11062720An Investigation of the Mechanisms Involved in Plate Load Testing in RockAli Mortazavi0School of Mining & Geosciences, Nazarbayev University, 53 Kabanbay Batyr Ave., Nur-Sultan 010000, KazakhstanAccurate determination of rock mass deformation modulus is very important in rock engineering projects. The plate loading test (PLT) is a method that is generally used in dam construction projects to determine rock mass modulus. Numerical simulation was used to investigate the mechanisms involved in this test. The first objective of the paper was to employ 3D modeling in the interpretation of plate load tests conducted at the Bazoft dam site in Iran. Additionally, a parametric study of the effects of key parameters such as displacement measuring depth and loading plate diameter on the test results was another objective of the study. The moduli values determined numerically were compared against actual filed testing data determined from in-situ test data conducted at the Bazoft dam site, and the values determined from the ISRM suggested formula. The analysis showed that the optimum measurement depth for rock mass modulus calculation is approximately equal to the loading plate diameter and the data determined from measurement depths beyond one plate diameter can be unrealistic. Moreover, the plate diameter can have a significant effect on test results. As the measurement depth increases, the determined modulus values increase at a much more rapid pace when employing smaller size loading plates.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/6/2720rock deformation modulusnumerical modellingplate loading testBazoft dam
spellingShingle Ali Mortazavi
An Investigation of the Mechanisms Involved in Plate Load Testing in Rock
Applied Sciences
rock deformation modulus
numerical modelling
plate loading test
Bazoft dam
title An Investigation of the Mechanisms Involved in Plate Load Testing in Rock
title_full An Investigation of the Mechanisms Involved in Plate Load Testing in Rock
title_fullStr An Investigation of the Mechanisms Involved in Plate Load Testing in Rock
title_full_unstemmed An Investigation of the Mechanisms Involved in Plate Load Testing in Rock
title_short An Investigation of the Mechanisms Involved in Plate Load Testing in Rock
title_sort investigation of the mechanisms involved in plate load testing in rock
topic rock deformation modulus
numerical modelling
plate loading test
Bazoft dam
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/6/2720
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