Abstract
Laboratory tests of intact rock core specimens have been widely performed to determine their strength and deformation characteristics. The results of such tests are used in mining, tunneling, drilling, cutting, and designing of pile foundation. Nine core specimens were prepared from three limestone rock samples collected from two sites in Riyadh city and prepared for unconfined compression tests to determine the unconfined compressive strength, Young's modulus, and Poisson's ratio of the cylindrical intact rock core specimens. The results obtained from the tests showed that the average value of Poisson's ratio was 0.25 and Young's modulus ranged from 45 to 59 GPa. The unconfined compressive strength for site A ranged from 165 to 176 MPa and that for site B from 93 to 136 MPa. A regression analysis was performed using the data obtained from the tests and an equation was proposed for predicting the unconfined compressive strength and Young's modulus with high accuracy