Standardization for rock characterization and testing, implementation issues in practice and future trends: Highlighting the ISRM Suggested Methods

Rock mechanics involves characterizing the mechanical properties and behaviour of rock material and the natural discontinuities of the rock mass, while rock engineering is concerned with specific engineering circumstances, for example, how much load will the rock support and whether reinforcement is necessary. The rock engineering models developed depend considerably on the input data such as boundary conditions (e.g. in-situ stresses, groundwater and geometry of engineering work), the properties of rock material and rock mass. Correct characterization of rock masses and determination and evaluation of the properties of rock material, discontinuities and rock mass frequently requires in-situ measurements and laboratory and in-situ tests, supplemented with a high degree of experience and judgment. Accordingly, since 1974, the ISRM Commission on Testing Methods has spent considerable effort in developing a succession of the ISRM Suggested Methods (SMs) for different aspects of rock mechanics and rock engineering with the contribution of a number of working groups and cooperation of some other ISRM Commissions. In this paper, first, the concept of test method and importance of standardization of rock testing methods are introduced within the context of the ISRM Suggested Methods (SMs). Next the emphasis is given on providing brief information about the general principles followed in developing the ISRM SMs and recent progresses related to the ISRM SMs. Then main practical implementation and contractual issues, which are associated with rock testing, and finally, current developments and future trends/needs in rock characterization and testing methods are briefly discussed.