1.4.1 The procedures used to specify how data are collected/recorded or calculated in this standard are regarded as the industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the significant digits that generally should be retained. The procedures used do not consider material variation, purpose for obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any considerations for the user’s objectives; and it is common practice to increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to be commensurate with these considerations. It is beyond the scope of this standard to consider significant digits used in analysis methods for engineering design.

1.6.1 The stress relief is assumed to be an elastic, reversible process. In nonhomogeneous or highly fractured materials, this may not be completely true.

1.6.2 The equations assume that the rock mass is isotropic and homogeneous. Anisotropic effects may be estimated by testing in different orientations.

1.6.3 The flat jack is assumed to be 100 % efficient. The design and size requirements of 7.1 were determined to satisfy this requirement to within a few percent.

1.6.4 The jack is assumed to be aligned with the principal stresses on the surface being measured. Shear stresses are not canceled by jack pressure. Orientating the tests in three directions in each plane tested prevents the misalignment from being excessive for at least one of the tests.

1.7.1 The gravitational system of inch-pound units is used when dealing with inch-pound units. In this system, the pound (lbf) represents a unit of force (weight), while the unit for mass is slugs. The slug unit is not given unless dynamic (F=ma) calculations are involved. For standards involving the determination of mass or the use of density and unit weight, include the following numbered paragraph.

1.7.2 The slug unit of mass is typically not used in commercial practice; that is, density, balances, and so on. Therefore, the standard unit for mass in this standard is either kilogram (kg) or gram (g) or both. Also, the equivalent inch-pound unit (slug) is not given/presented in parentheses.

1.7.3 It is common practice in the engineering/construction profession to concurrently use pounds to represent both a unit of mass (lbm) and of force (lbf). This practice implicitly combines two separate systems of units; the absolute and the gravitational systems. It is scientifically undesirable to combine the use of two separate sets of inch-pound units within a single standard. As stated, this standard includes the gravitational system of inch-pound units and does not use/present the slug unit for mass. However, the use of balances or scales recording pounds of mass (lbm) or recording density in lbm/ft³ shall not be regarded as nonconformance with this standard.