Application of Weibull Statistics to the Tensile Strength of Rock Aggregates

Rock aggregates forming part of engineering structures such as embankments, rock fills, pile foundations, and pavements are subjected to static and dynamic loads. As a result of these loads crushing occurs in two different forms: abrasion and particle fragmentation. Particle fragmentation takes place when a particle is subjected to a tensile stress greater than its tensile strength. This tensile strength is a highly variable parameter. The work presented in this study shows that Weibull statistics can be used to characterize the variability in tensile strength of rock aggregates by only using one constant called the Weibull modulus. This parameter can be used not only to describe variability in tensile strength but also to describe the effect of size specimen in tensile strength. The higher the modulus, the lower is the influence of the variability of tensile strength and sample size. More than 390 different specimens coming from a red Biotite Gneiss and a grey Quartzite were tested to validate the use of Weibull statistics. The Weibull modulus was found to be equal to 2.75 and 4.23 for the red Biotite Gneiss and the grey Quartzsite respectively.