Relationship between Texture and Uniaxial Compressive Strength of Rocks

Uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) is one of the most important parameters of rocks that is routinely used in rockengineering designs. This parameter is influenced greatly by textural properties of rocks; hence it is possible to estimate itfrom quantified texture coefficient (TC). In this paper, fourteen different types of rocks were experimentally studied toevaluate the effect of texture coefficient on UCS. Thin sections were first prepared, and then some digital photographswere taken from each section and were digitized in computer. Then, the texture coefficient for all samples were calculated.Subsequently, UCS of the samples were measured in laboratory. Finally, relationships between TC and UCS of rocksamples were evaluated and related mathematical equations were presented. Results showed that the UCS has a powerrelationship with TC which can be utilized for future estimation purposes.