The estimating of durability and weathering state of tuff using rock durability indicators: a case study

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to present an application of the Static and Dynamic Rock Durability Indicators in order to estimate durability and weathered state of rock material used in the engineering structure. Durability of rocks can be defined as the rock's ability to resist degradation during its working life. No one engineering test can be used as an absolute predictor of performance of building stone in service. Therefore a variety of approaches have been developed to estimate of the durability of building stone. One of them is using rock durability indicators which were formed combining of common mechanical and physical tests such as water absorption, specific gravity, point load strength, modified AIV and magnesium sulphate soundness.

In this study, the weathering state and durability of tuffs used in the stone walls for landscaping which are build in 1970 in Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon NE Turkey were investigated and these results were compared with weatherability of the unaltereted tuffs from Iyidere-Ikizdere quarry, Rize NE Turkey. In this study, the data obtained from mechanical test, mineralogical and chemical analyses and accelerated weathering test were interpreted in terms of durability of the tuff investigated and compared with their actual field performances and the final output from the application of Static and Dynamic Rock Durability Indicators for the tuff. The meaningful statistical relationships between the change values of physico-mechanical properties by accelerated test and the rock durability indicators was obtained in this study. According to the results of this study, static and dynamic rock durability indicator are represent to the resistance of the tuff investigated against weathering processes and weathering state of the rocks. But, it should be known that re-evaluation of the performance of the relationships suggested in this study using additional data is useful.