Breakage rate measuring – a rock classification alternative?

Abstract

A new method was proposed to characterize the strength properties of rocks. A crushing test was performed on sand-pairs with different parent rocks, using identical initial gradings. The data were analysed using the grading entropy theory, the grading curve variation was represented in the grading entropy diagram (with a coordinate uniquely related to the mean log diameter). The results with various rocks with the same conditions indicated the same entropy path, only the speed was different, indicating the possibility of a new testing method. As a byproduct of the result, it is shown that the breakage path and the internal stability of soils seem to be linked giving the explanation why fractal distribution with fractal dimension n<3 is so frequent in nature.