Correlations between durability, mineralogy and strength properties of limestone

Abstract

Durability is used to depict the obstruction of rock to weathering and the pace of events of such changes. Wetting and drying cycles cause evaluation of physical changes and slaking behaviour of rocks, and that can be appraised by the slake durability test. Correlations between durability, mineralogy, and other physical-mechanical properties are different with the rock. Physical and mechanical characteristics of High-grade limestone samples and Lowgrade limestone samples from the Aruwakkalu mine were determined according to ASTM standard methods. X-ray diffractometer (XRD) analysis and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis were used to determine the mineralogical contents of the studied samples. Regression analyses were performed between the slake durability index and the physicalmechanical properties of limestones to identify the best wetting and drying cycle to assess the relationships. Differences between the physical, mechanical properties, and mineralogical contents of High-grade limestone and Low-grade limestone were also identified from the laboratory test results. Finally, this study will help to understand any rock engineering problem relating to durability, mineralogy, and other physical-mechanical properties of areas with limestone.