5873-00 agp Designation: Standard Test Method for Determination of Rock Hardness by Rebound Hammer Method! 1s sandal intr nde ne Ee ection D S87 the umber emedsey Cloning desation indeates Ce year of rig acai once of revision, yer oft ein, A win parabetetisde ye of et ean ‘pepe pion fe ates a ater chenge ce ne et von prove, 1. Seope* 1.1. This test method covers the testing apparatus, sampling, test specimen preparation, and testing procedures for detecminr ing the rebound hardness number of rock material using & spring-driven steel hammer, refered to variously as a rebound Tamme, impact tet hammer, o concrete text harimer. 12 This test method is best suited for rock material with ‘uniaxial compressive strengths (soz Test Method D2938) ranging between approximately 1 and 100 MPa. 1.3 The portable testing apparatus may be used in the laboratory or field to provide # means of rapid assessment of rock hardness or to serve as an indicator of rock hardness. 1A The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard, 13 This standand does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if amy, associated ‘with its use, It is the responsitilty of the user of this standard to establish appro- priate safety and health practices and determine the applica. bility of regulatory limitations prior 0 use 2 Referenced Documents 24 ASTM Standards: C805 Test Method for Rebound Number of Hardened Concrete? D420 Guide to Site Characterization for Bnginesting, De- sign, and Consteaction Purposes? 1D 653 ‘Terminology Relating to Rock, Sol, and Contained Fluids? 1D 2938 Test Method for Unconfined Compressive Stength ‘of Intact Rock Care Specimens? 13740 Practice for Minimum Requitements for Agencies ‘Engaged inthe Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Constructo? 4543 Practice for Preparing Rock Core Specimens and Determining Dimensional and Shape Tolerances* 4879 Guide for Geotechnical Mapping of Lange Under ‘round Openings in Rock* 2.2 ISRM Standards: "Tht thd is unde te acon of ASTM Commies DI 09 Soland ack endive gon of Subsnutee DIS 2 on Rack Mecane ‘Curet eden apron Joe 10,2008 Fabled Sepenter 200. Orally bled ae D S873. Lat prvi iin SEIS 35, Atel Book of AST Sands, i O62, anal Bock of ASTM Soon i 8, Suggested Method for Determination of Schunidt Rebound Hardness* ‘Suggested Method for Quantitative Description of Discon- tinuities in Rock Masses 3. Terminology 3.1 For commen definitions of terms in this standard, refer to Terminology D 653, 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific o This Standard: 3.2.1 rebound hammer—a portable, spring loaded, piston- type, steel hammer used to classify the hardness of rock inthe field or laboratory. 3.2.2 rebound hardness number—Hq, a dimensionless aunn- ber representing empirically determined, relative hardness of tock material or other hard substance by use of a rebound ‘haramer, 4, Significance and Use 4.1 The rebound hardness method provides a means for rapid classification of the hardness of rock during site charac~ terization for engineering, design, and construction purposes {Gee Guide D 420), geotechnical mapping of large underground ‘openings in rock (see Guide D 4879), or reporting the physical siesciption of rock core (see Practice D 4543), The rebound hardness number, H ,. can serve in a variety of engineering applications that require characterization of rock material ‘These applications inclu, for exemples, the prediction of penetration rates for tunnel boring machines, determination of rock quality for construction porposes, and prediction of hydraulio erodibility of rock. 4.2. This test method is of limited use on very soft rock ot very hard rock (unconfined compressive strengths less than ‘approximately 1 MPa or greater than 100 MPa). 43 The results of this test method are not intended for conversion to stiength data suitable for design. om \~-Severa ype of rhoand hammers are commercially avait Able to seconde testing of various sacs and Opes of concrete construction (See Test Method C 805) aod wok matral ‘Nore 2—The quality of the est produced by thie standard is Aependent on the competence of the personnel pesfomming and the oro, &. Tob, Sheed Mtns: Rack Cherecoton Tsing, ond Moptaring,iwmaical Sect of Rack Methnie Pinon Ties, Les, toe *A Summary of Changes section appear tthe end of this standard CaprAPC AST, 10 Bar Har Ol Contec, PBR, Uned as, Copyright by ASTD int all ights reserved Reproduction authorized per License Agretimem with THOMAS VARGHESE (GULF LABORATORIES CO); Tue Nay 25 062307 EDT 2004 1h 0 5873 sti ofthe ecuipmont and fais used. Ayencis chat meet the ‘rtera of Pratce D 3740 are generllycorider capable of competent sd bjetive testing and sampling, Users ofthis tendard are cautioned that compliance wth Practice D 3740 does note self mnate rehab ‘esuts. Reliable results depend ox many factors; Practice D 3140 provides «4 means of exeating some of those factors. 5. Apparatus 5.1. Rebound Hammer, consisting of a spring-loaded piston, ‘or hammer, which is projected against a metal anvil in contact with the rock surface. The hammer must travel with a fixed and reproducible velocity. The rebound distance of the piston froma the steel plunger is measured in a linear scale attached to the ‘frame of the instrument and is taken as an empirical measure of rook hardness. 5.2 Steel Base—A sel base of minimum mass of 20 kg, to “which specimens are securely fastened, Rack core specimens ‘may be tested ina ste! cradle witha semicylindrical machined slot of the same radius as the core, or firmly seated in a steel Viblock. 5.3. Calibration Anvil—The standard calibration block used to calibrate the rebound hammer, 54 Abrasive Stone—A medium-grained texture silicon ear bide or equivalent materia. 6. Sampling 6.1. Drill core specimens shall be NX oF larger core art at Teast 15 emt in length, Block specimens sball have edge lengths of at least 15 em. Rock surfaces tested in place, including natural outcrops or prepared surfaces such a§ tunnel walls or floors, shall have a smooth, flat test area at least 15 em in diameter, ‘62 Samples shall be representative ofthe rock to be studied. Obsain samples by direct sampling of subsurface rock units with core borings or by sampling blocks of rock material from ‘outcrops that correlate with the subsurface rock unit of interest. At surface outerops, avoid sampling and testing rock material weakened by weathering or alteration ois otherwise unzepre- sentative of the rock material of interest. 63 The rebound hammer is generally unsuitable for very soft or very hard rock. Conduct simple field tests to quickly assess a rock material's suitability forthe rebound hammer test method. Seratch very sof rock with a fingernail and peel with 4 pocket knife. An intact specimen of very hard rock breaks only by repeated, heavy blows with a geological hammer and cannot be scratched with a common 20¢ steel nail 7. Specimen Preparation 7.1 For a block or core specimen, determine its length by ‘aking the average of four lengths measured at four equally spaced points on the eizcunaference and record to the nearest § mm, 7.2 For a block or core specimen, determine its diameter by taking the average of two diamctors measured at right angles to each other approximately midway along the length of the specimen and record to the nearest S mm, 7.3. Report the moistuze condition of the block or specimen. 74 The test surface of alf specimens, either in the laboratory or in the field, shall be smooth tothe touch and free of joints, fractures, or other abvious localized discontinuities to 8 depth ‘Copyeght by ASTM tne (al rights reserved), FReptosicton authorized per License Apreemenc wid) THOMAS VARGHESE (GULF LABORATORIES CO}; fue May 25 0625:07 EDT 2008 2 ‘of atleast 6 om. fo situ tock shall be Mac and fre of suefac grit ‘over the area covered by the plunger. the surface ofthe test ‘areas heavily textured, grind it smooth with the abrasive stone deseribed in 3.4 8. Calibration 811 Prior to each testing sequence, calibrate the hammer using a calibration test anvil supplied by the manufacturer for ‘hat purpose. 81.1 Place dhe calibration anvil in the core holder and conduct ten readings on the anvil 8.1.2 Caleulate the eorestion factor by dividing the manu- facturer’ standard hardness vale for the anvil by the average ofthe ten readings token om the anvil Nove 3—f the istroment reads lower thin the mancficite'ssan- ard harns vale, he eoeeson face wil be greater tan any. Fhe readings ae bighe, he comecton factor will Tes than ony ‘Nore 4-Operation of the rebound Hamner is satstcary if the ‘aration ceadings fal within he range provided by the manufacture. IF the ealitration readings fall outside tis range, the instrument rt be ‘leaned, adjusted, oretumed to tbe sapufaeaer foe corecion Nore 5-—-Rebound hammer requte periodic servicing and verication to provide reliable results 9. Procedure 9.1 Place the steel base on a flat, level surface that provides firm, rigid support such as a concrete floor 9.2 Securely clamp rock core specimens in a steel cradle ‘wit a semicylindrical machined slot ofthe same radius as the ‘cote, of firmly seat into a steel V-shaped block. Securely clamp block specimens to the rigid steel base in such a manner as 10 prevent vibration and movement of the specimen during the test, 9.3 For tests conducted on specimens in the laboratory, orient the instrument within $* of vertical with the bottom of the piston alright angles to and infirm contact with the surface of the test specimen. & guide may be used to ensure the rebound hammer is positioned for optimum performance. Position the hammer not less than one diameter from the edge of the specimen. 9.4 For ests conducted in stu on a rock mass, the rebound hammer cau be used at any desired orientation provided the plunger strikes perpendicular to the surface tested. The results are corrected to a horizontal or vertical position using the correction curves provided by the manufacture, 9.5 Before conducting the tests, ensure the hamimer is atthe ‘same temperature as the test specimens by expasing it to the ambiert environmental conditions of the test area (indoors or ‘outdoors for atleast 2 9.6 Compress the hammer spring by gradually depressing the plunger until the haromee is triggered and impaet occurs 9.7 Read and record the height of the plunger rebound 1 the nearest whole number, as measured on an arbitrary scale of 10 to 100 divisions located on the side of the hammer, before restoring the piston to its original extension, Repeat this procedure at ten representative locations on the specimen, Test Jocations shall be separated by at least the diameter of the piston and only one test may be taken al any one point 9.8 Ifa specimen breaks during rebound testing, energy is absorbed during breakage and, consequently, the rebound4h 0 5873 reading will be Jower than had it aot broken. Any individual impact test thet causes cracking or any other visible fature shall cause that test and the specimen to be rejected. 9.9 Some factors that may affect the results of the test include 9.9.1 Rock at O° C or less may exhibit very hi values. 9.9.2 Temperature of the rebound hammer itself may affect the rebourd number. The hammer and materials to be tested should be atthe same temperature. 99.3 For readings te be compared, the direction of impact, horizontal, upward, downward, and so forth, must be the same. 9.9.4 Different hammers of the same nominal design may ‘give rebound numbers differing from one to three units and ‘therefore, tests should be made with the same hammer in ordet ‘to compare results If more than one haramer isto be used, a sufficient number of tests. must be made on typical rock surfaces to deiemmine the magnitude of the differences to be ‘expected. 19, Calculation 10.1 Using the data from the ten readings obtained in 9.7, discard readings differing from the average of ten readings by ‘more than seven units and determine the average of the remaining readings. To calculate the rebound hardness number (Hig) ofthe tested rock material, multiply this average by the ‘correction factor determined in 8.1.2 and record the results to ‘the nearest whole number. rebound LL, Report 11 Report the following minimum information for each specimen or test area: 11.11 Source of samples, including geographic location; Dring number, depth, orientation, and stationing; and rock wpe, 11.1.2 Weathering and alteration condition of samples, par ticularly when sampling a surface oterop, 11.1.3 ‘Type of specimen (core, block, oF in situ); size and shape of specimen; and, if block type, whether ext or Blasted, IITA Date of sampling and date of testing, 11.15 Storage conditions of samples (for example, expo- sure to temperature cxtremes, air drying, and moisture changes), 11.1.6 ‘Type and model number of hammer, 11.1.7 Orientation of the plunger axis during the test, M.L8 Method of securing the sample (for example, block, or clamps), 11.19 Number of tests condocted, 11.1.10 ‘Temperature of site at time of test, and 1.11 The individual and average values of harumer 16- bound, the value of the cortection factox, and the rebound hardness number, H (obtained in 10.1) 12, Precision and Bias 12.1 Precision—No data exist to determine the precision of this test method in determining rock harness. 122 Bias~There is no accepted standard value for Fq for any material, therefore bias canmot be determined, 13. Keywords 13.1 core; hardness; rock mass; rock; unconfined compres- ‘sive strength SUMMARY OF CHANGES accordance with Committee D18 policy this sation identifies the locaton of changes to this standard since the last edition (1995) chat may impact the use ofthe standard (0) Added in section 2.1, D 653 and D 3740 to list of ASTM referenced documents. (2) Added section 3.1, reference to definitions of terms in ‘Terminology D653 and changed sumbering in section 3 accordingly. (3) Added the symbol Hy to the definition of rebound hardness ‘nurmber ia 3.2. (4) Adided Nove 2 caveat regarding use of D 3740 to section 4 ‘on Significance end Use CCopytight by ASTM Int all rghts reserved), [Reproduction authorized per Licente Agreemen wih THOMAS VARGHESE (GULE LABORATORIES CO), Tue May 25 0623.07 EDT 2004 3 (3) Added “record the results to the nearest whole number” 10 sections 9.7 and 10.1. (6) Changed wording of section 12.2, Bia, to read, “There is ‘no accepted standard value for Hy for any materi}, therefore bias cannot be determined. (7) Changed key words “cores” to “core, “rocks” to “rock”, and “test” to “strength”,qh 0 5873 “Tho Amercan Soca fr Tetng and Mle shes ro pondon pacing he eke ary pata! ight assed inconnecton ‘rd shuld bo sctessed 9 ASTM Hosur You conan nt root cares conataaion a8 meen fe eiporatie Tectia cameo, wth you may ater yoo at you Caters Rove Pk eee a Pa Dh ars stor lo Be ASTI Connie on Sancarts, te ads shown bow ‘Th stander opt by AST, 100 Bauer Cine, PO Bor C700, Wiest Conshockon PA 1428 260 Unted Stee. Ingvar arg o mute copes) ol Bir sand oy be obianed by crt AST alte abo ade & 3 #10 832-9008 (one) 610832 9509 (a 7 sorvcnaci.o fama er RrOgh ho ASTM wala rin ast 2) 4 Copyghe by ASTM it (alright reserved, Sejodcon schoo iene ser with THOMAS VARGHESE (GULF LABORATORIES CO; Tee My 25062507 EDT 2008