Test facilities to study physical and mechanical properties of rocks as exemplified by the VNIMI laboratory

The paper briefly outlines the development history of the experimental facilities at VNIMI using the example of the laboratory to study the physical and mechanical properties of rocks in a wide range of loading conditions. A special attention is given to the current equipment in the laboratory. Schematic diagrams of the test benches are provided accompanied by their brief description. It is shown that in order to improve the geophysical instruments developed at VNIMI, a dedicated test bench is currently commissioned to reproduce as much as possible the real conditions of the stressed operation of the rock mass. The Universal test bench specifically reveals the regularities of changes in seismic characteristics of rock deformation and rock failure depending on the type of the stress state and the energy stored in the loading system.