ROCTEST PIL-10 User manual

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
MANUAL
POINT LOAD TESTER
Model PIL-10
©Roctest Limited, 2023. All rights reserved.
This product should be installed and operated only by qualified personnel. Its misuse is potentially dangerous. The Company makes no warranty as to the information furnished
in this manual and assumes no liability for damages resulting from the installation or use of this product. The information herein is subject to change without notification.
Tel.: [phone] • 1.877.ROCTEST (Canada, USA) • 33 (1) 64.06.40.80 (Europe) • www.roctest.com • www.telemac.fr
F1048B-230410

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................2
2DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................2
3TEST PROCEDURE................................................................................................3
3.1 Types of point load tests ...................................................................................3
3.2 Sample size frame configuration.......................................................................4
3.3 Operation..........................................................................................................6
4INTERPRETATION..................................................................................................9
5MAINTENANCE ....................................................................................................10
5.1 Plunger cleaning .............................................................................................10
5.2 Lubricating the pump.......................................................................................11
5.3 Oil change and air removal .............................................................................11
5.4 Keeping oil lines clean ....................................................................................13
5.5 Fixing small oil leaks.......................................................................................13
5.6 Spare parts list................................................................................................14
6TRANSPORTATION..............................................................................................15
7REFERENCES ......................................................................................................15
APPENDIX A................................................................................................................16
APPENDIX B................................................................................................................17
APPENDIX C................................................................................................................19

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1 INTRODUCTION
Point load tester model PIL-10 is a simple portable apparatus used for testing rock
samples or cores.
The PIL-10 has a maximum loading capacity of 10 metric tons and accepts drill cores or
rock lumps of different sizes having a maximum length of 102 mm.
The point load strength index obtained from a point load test is correlated with the
uniaxial compressive strength of the rock tested. Being rapid and simple to perform, the
point load test allows the user to easily delineate zones of rock of different strength
properties. It then becomes a most useful tool in large-scale mining as well as civil
engineering projects for classifying rock types from a mechanical perspective.
2 DESCRIPTION
The PIL-10 point load tester basically consists of the following components:
- a rigid loading frame onto which a fixed hydraulic jack provides the load for
bringing a rock disc to failure in between two conical end platens;
- a hand pump connected to a high-pressure hydraulic coupler onto which a
digital pressure gauge is also connected to a high-pressure hydraulic coupler
for failure load determination.
Protective cover
Conical platen
Hydraulic Cylinder
Pressure gauge
Hand pump

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The top conical end is fixed on the loading frame and the bottom one is mounted on the
piston of the hydraulic jack.
A ruler is fixed on the side of the loading frame and provides easy determination of the
core diameter.
The conical platen shape and tip radius follow the ISRM (International Society for Rock
Mechanics and Rock Engineering) “Suggested method for determining point load
strength”. A link toward a copy of this document is provided in appendix A. The user
should refer to the ISRM suggested method for details concerning the point load
strength test.
The capacity of the hydraulic jack is 100 kN, which corresponds to a pressure of 70 MPa
on the pressure gauge. The gauge has a pressure range of 100 MPa and features a
peak mode, which provides the failure load for the rock sample tested.
A removable protective cover with replaceable polycarbonate protective screens is fitted
over the top of the tester. The screens connect to a fix steel tray to create an enclosure
capable of containing rock debris and thus providing a clean and safe work environment.
3 TEST PROCEDURE
3.1Types of point load tests
Three points load test configurations are available for core logging.
Diametral test
This test is the most reproducible and is independent of the core length, provided
that the length/diameter ratio is equal to or greater than 1.0.
Axial test
When only rock discs are available or when discs are produced with the diametral
test, the axial test can be performed on core specimens with length/diameter ratios
between 0.3 and 1.0. This test is useful to evaluate strength anisotropy.
Irregular lump test
If irregularly shaped rock pieces are the only specimens available, tests can still be
performed on lumps having an equivalent core diameter close to 50 mm and an
overall approximately cubical shape. In order to fit this requirement, specimens
may be prepared from larger pieces using a saw or chisel.

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3.2 Sample size frame configuration
The apparatus can be configured in two ways to test samples from 14 to 102 mm.
Configuration 1 Configuration 2
Configuration
Sample size (mm)
1
14 to 67
2
50 to 102
Note : For samples sized 50 to 67 mm, it is recommended to favour the use of
configuration 1 in order to minimize piston extension. The hydraulic cylinder effective
area advance is 2.24 in2according to the Enerpac specifications.
Proceed as follows to get from configuration 2 to 1.
1. Unscrew both locking nuts.