In this paper, the progress of rock mechanical test techniques, theoretical explorations and their applications in hydraulic engineering in China is reviewed. Some discussions and suggestions about their future development are given as well.

When in Institute of Soil and Rock Mechanics, Karlsruhe University, Federal Germany, the author of this paper performed some cyclic loading tests on the large-sized triaxial testing machine developed in this institute. The rock sample used were 60cm in diameter and 120cm in height. The work mainly included the study of deformation and strength behavior of the samples and was based on the viewpoint of analyzing the irreversible deformation. Under cyclic loading, although the irreversible deformation generally increased with the n umber of cycles, the deformation trends obtained at various stress levels distinctly differed from each other. At low stress levels a comparatively large irreversible deformation arouse from the first few cycles of loading. With the increase of the number of cycles its growth decayed gradually and tended finally to a stable constant value. When the stress level reached a certain “threshold” value, the situation became entirely different. The increase of the number of cycles caused an acclecrated growth of the irreversible deformation till a complete failure of the whole sample. The test results also illustrated that this characteristic stress value was slightly lower than the so-called “yield” value. The study of such a characteristic value is of great importance for under-standing the mechanical properties of rock masses under cyclic loading. The experimental curves of irreversible deformation vs. the number of cycles show a remarkable resemblance to corresponding rheological curves, which, perhaps, may not be accidental. It is propose in this paper that the relation of the strength obtained in conventional tests, the long-term strength in rheological tests and the strength under cyclic loading should be studied. Undoubtedly, it is significant for evaluating the strength and safety factor in rock engineering problems.

The correlations of sound wave velocities and physical properties of quartz sand with different grain size were investigated through laboratory tests. Emphases were put on studying the relationship between density, water content and longitudinal and shear wave velocities. The equations which show the correlation of density, void ratio and longitudinal and shear wave velocities, and with water content as a parameter are given in this paper. In addition, the monotonic relations of density, void ratio and sound wave velocities for sands with different water content are also presented.

In southern China, there are a great amount of red clay(laterite) which contains some free ferric oxide. Owing to its composition and microstructure developed under hot, wet soil-forming conditions, the clay has several special characteristics. Although the water content and void ratio of laterite are greater than similar clay soils, its strength is still higher than the others. There seems to be a contradiction between its physical parameters and mechanical properties. In this paper, the effect of free ferric oxide in laterite on its engineering properties, such as strength, swelling properties and others is discussed. The research result shows that special properties of laterite are the result of various conditions of formation, loss and crystallization degree of free ferric oxide, and its physical and mechanical properties will change with variation of physicochemical circumstance.

In this paper, on the base of a detailed survey into the rockfall and the landslide of Majiaba slope, the mechanical mechanism of the rockfall and the landslide is analyzed by inversion method. The stabilities of Majiaba slope both before and after the landslide are evaluated, and the preventive and corrective measures are given. The theoretical results are consistent with the practical situation.

This paper deals with the method of bearing test on dynamic compacted bases and the characteristics of the bases. The test results show that the bases have two-stratum structures. For this reason, attentions must be paid to distribute locations of the test at different depths and to do some computer verifications for the underlying soft stratum.

A fast loading technique of soft rocks and an automatic data processing system used in the experiments are presented in this paper. Research results demonstrate that the 10t fast loading equipment is applicable to study on dynamic mechanical properties of soft rocks under medium strain rate. By using an automatic data processing system, a group of curve which reflect the relations between some physical parameters, such as σ-ε and σ-t，can be drawn by a plotter, so that the period of experiment can be reduced, and more accurate results can be expected.