Horizontal Compression Test: A Proposed Method for Indirect Determination of Tensile Strength of Stiff Soils and Soft Rocks

Tensile strength is an important parameter in many engineering applications. In loess slopes, for instance, it governs the development and propagation of tension cracks that usually ultimately lead to crack–sliding toppling failures, which are among most common modes slope failure Loess Plateau China. Reliable measurement tensile geomaterial therefore a necessity. Commonly used methods have limitations shortcomings, become magnified when dealing with soil soft rock. This study developed new indirect test, Horizontal Compression use these materials. The proposed method not only involves simple sample preparation test operation, also addresses eccentric force stress concentration problems conventional tests. To evaluate method’s validity, its performance was compared ISRM-suggested direct closely related Brazilian test. values from horizontal compression strongly correlate those more stable than obtained either two Thus, can be deemed suitable determination methods.