Characterization of mechanical properties of Eastern oil shale is needed to provide information necessary for designing oil shale processes. This research contract was sponsored by Western Research Institute from December 1, 1986 to July 31, 1987, in a major effort to generate a much-needed database for characterization of Eastern reference oil shales. the following tasks have been completed: (1) A sophisticated and fully automated data acquisition and reduction system has been perfected with more than 1000 lines of written Basic code, involving a Keithley System 501 and Zenith Z-248 computer, interfacing with an Instron 1332 servo-hydraulic loading system, strain-gage instrumentation, LVDTs and other sensors. Manpower savings of 1500% are achieved with this automated system. (2) The following properties have been characterized: oil yields, M, as functions of specific gravities, rho; Young's Moduli, E, as functions of strain-rates and oil yields; Poisson's ratios, nu, as functions of strain-rates and oil yields; ultimate tensile strengths, sigma/sub t/; ultimate compressive strengths, sigma/sub u/; longitudinal wave velocities, v/sub p/; shear wave velocities, v/sub s/; and fracture toughnesses characterization (preliminary). 88 refs., 34 figs.