Abstract
Moisture content is one of the most important factors influencing the strength of building stones. Ayazini and Seydiler (Afyonkarahisar, Turkey) tuffs were investigated with the goal to determine the influence of the water on their strength. Mercury porosimetry was used to determine the pore-size distribution. Ayazini tuffs have pore sizes ranging from about 200,000 to 10 nm and Seydiler tuffs ranging from about 7000 to 10 nm. The tuff samples are immersed in water with different time periods of 1, 6, 24 and 48 h. The following physico-mechanical properties were measured for all the samples both in dry and saturated condition: compressive strength and flexural strength. Test results were indicated by simple regression analysis; good correlations were found between physico-mechanical properties with dry and saturated tuff samples. The results had shown their mechanical strength decreases in wet conditions for dry samples tested had 22.21 MPa uniaxial compression strength while 1 h immersed samples had 15.11 MPa, which indicates a decrease of 31.96 %. After the 48 h water immersion time period, the value of compression strength decreases by 43.99 % and becomes 12.44 MPa.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arel E, Tuğrul A (2001) Weathering and its relation to geomechanical properties of Cavuşbaşı granitic rocks in northwestern Turkey. Bull Eng Geol Environ 60(2):123–133
Arıkan F, Ulusay R, Aydın N (2007) Characterization of weathered acidic volcanic rocks and a weathering classification based on a rating system. Bull Eng Geol Environ 66:415–430
Aydar E (1998) Early Miocene to Quaternary evolution of volcanism and the basin formation in western Anatolia: a review. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 85(1998):69–82
Aydar E, Bayhan H, Gourgaud A (1998) Köroğlu caldera, mid-west Anatolia, Turkey: volcanological and magmatological evolution. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 85:83–98
Besang C, Eckhart FJ, Harre W, Kreuzer H, Müller P (1977) Radiometrische altersbestimmungen an neogenen eruptigesteinen der Turkei. Geol Jahrb B25:3–36
Cecconi M, Scarapazzi M, Viggiani GMB (2010) On the geology and the geotechnical properties of pyroclastic flow deposits of the Colli Albani. Bull Eng Geol Environ 69:185–206
Çelik MY, Sabah E (2002) The geological and technical characterizations of Ömer–Gecek geothermal area and environmental impact assessment of geothermal heating system in Afyon, Turkey. Environ Geol 41(48):942–953
Çevikbaş A, Ercan T, Metin S (1988) Geology and regional distribution of neogene volcanics between Afyon-Şuhut. METU (Middle East Technical University). J Pure Appl Sci 21(1–3):479–499
Çobanoğlu İ, Çelik SB, Dinçer İ, Alkaya D (2009) Core size and time effects on water absorption values of rock and cement mortar samples. Bull Eng Geol Environ 68:483–489
Dobson P, Nakagawa S (2005) Summary of rock-property measurements for Hong Kong tuff samples. LBNL Report. (LBNL-58878)
Emir E, Konuk A, Daloğlu G (2011) Strength enhancement of Eskisehir tuff ashlars in Turkey. Constr Build Mater 25(7):3014–3019
Entwisle DC, Hobbs PRN, Jones LD, Gunn D, Raines MG (2005) The relationships between effective porosity, uniaxial compressive strength and sonic velocity of intact Borrowdale volcanic group core samples from Sellafield. Geotech Geol Eng 23:793–809
Ergül A (2009) Investigation of the effect on physico-mechanic characteristics of the water content dependent upon porosity in the tuffs used as a building stone in Afyonkarahisar. Dissertation, University of Afyon Kocatepe
Erguler ZA (2009) Field-based experimental determination of the weathering rates of the Cappadocian tuffs. Eng Geol 105:186–199
Fahimifar A, Soroush H (2007) A moisture index classification system for rocks (MiC system). Rock Mech Rock Eng 40(1):63–79
Fakhimi A, Alavi Gharahbagh E (2011) Discrete element analysis of the effect of pore size and pore distribution on the mechanical behavior of rock. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 48(1):77–85
Görgülü K, Durutürk YS, Demirci A, Poyraz B (2008) Influences of uniaxial stress and moisture content on the thermal conductivity of rocks. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 45(8):1439–1445
Gurocak Z, Kilic R (2005) Effect of weathering on the geomechanical properties of the Miocene basalts in Malatya, Eastern Turkey. Bull Eng Geol Env 64:373–381
Guruprasad B, Ragupathy A, Badrinarayanan TS, Rajkumar KB (2012) The stress impact on mechanical properties of rocks in hydro fracturing technique. Int J Eng Sci Technol 4(2):571–580
Hawkins AB, McConnell BJ (1992) Sensitivity of sandstone strength and deformability to changes in moisture content. Q J Eng Geol Hydrogeol 25:115–130
Heiken G (2006) Tuffs-their properties, uses, hydrology, and resources, In: Heiken G (ed) Geological Society of America, Special Paper 408, pp 131
Huang S, **a K, Yan F, Feng XT (2010) An experimental study of the rate dependence of tensile strength softening of Longyou sandstone. Rock Mech Rock Eng 43(6):677–683
Ju Y, Yang YM, Song ZD, Xu WJ (2008) A statistical model for porous structure of rocks. Sci China Ser E 51(11):2040–2058
Kahraman S, Gunaydin O, Fener M (2005) The effect of porosity on the relation between uniaxial compressive strength and point load index. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 42(4):584–589
Keller J, Villari L (1972) Rhyolitic ignimbrites in the region of. Afyon (Central Anatolia). Bull Volcan 36(4):342–358
Kleb B, Vásárhely B (2003) Test results and empirical formulas of rock mechanical parameters of rhyolitic tuff samples from Eger’s cellars. Acta Geol Hung 46(3):301–312
Le Bas MJ, Streckeisen AL (1991) The IUGS systematics of igneous rocks. J Geol Soc Lond 148:825–833
Le Bas MJ, Le Maitre RW, Woolley AR (1992) The construction of the total alkali-silica chemical classification of volcanic rocks. Miner Pet 46:1–22
Li D, Wong LNY, Liu G, Zhang XP (2012) Influence of water content and anisotropy on the strength and deformability of low porosity meta-sedimentary rocks under triaxial compression. Eng Geol 126:46–66. doi:10.1016/j.enggeo.2011.12.009
Marini P, Bellopede R (2010) The mechanical resistance of saturated stones, In: Proceedings of global stone congress 2010. Alicante –Spain. Global Stone Congress 2010, Alicante (ES)
Masuda K (2001) Effects of water on rock strength in a brittle regime. J Struct Geol 23:1653–1657
Metin S, Genç Ş, Bulut V (1987) Afyon ve dolayının jeolojisi. MTA Rapor No: 8103 Ankara (in Turkish)
Mohamad ET, Isa MFM, Amin MFM, Komoo I, Gofar N, Saad R (2011) Effect of moisture content on the strength of various weathering grades of granite. Electron J Geotech Eng 16(H):863–886
Öner F, Türkmen S, Özbek A, Karakaya T (2006) Engineering properties of Hinis Ignimbrites (Erzurum, Turkey) and their usability as a building stone. Environ Geol 50:275–284
Pola A, Crosta GB, Fusi N, Barberini V, Norini G, Pola Villasenor A (2012) Influence of alteration on physical properties of volcanic rocks. Tectonophysics 566–567:67–86
Quick GW (2002) Guide to the specification of dimension stone. CSIRO Building, Construction and Engineering, Highett, p 3190
Romana M, Vásárhelyi B (2007) A discussion on the decrease of unconfined compressive strength between saturated and dry rock samples. In: 11th ISRM congress of the international society for rock mechanics, Lisbon
Rossana B, Paola M (2012) The effect of water on the strength of building stones. Am J Environ Sci 8(2):158–161
Shukla R, Ranjith PG, Choi SK, Haque A, Yellishetty M, Hong L (2013) Mechanical behaviour of reservoir rock under brine saturation. Rock Mech Rock Eng 46:83–93
Sun J, Hu YY (1997) Time-dependent effects on the tensile strength of saturated granite at Three Gorges Project in China. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 34(2):323–337
Talesnick M, Shehadeh S (2007) The effect of water content on the mechanical response of a high-porosity chalk. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 44(4):584–600
Tezcan L, Meric T, Dogdu N, Akan B, Atilla O, Kurttas T (2002) Hydrogeology of Akarcay Basin and groundwater flow model, final report. Hacettepe University International Research and Application Center for Karst Water Resources (UKAM)—General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works, pp 339 (unpublished) (in Turkish)
Tomašić I, Lukić D, Peček N, Kršinić A (2011) Dynamics of capillary water absorption in natural stone. Bull Eng Geol Environ 70:673–680
Topal T, Doyuran V (1997) Engineering geological properties and durability assessment of the Cappadocian tuff. Eng Geol 47(1-2):175–187
Torok Á, Vásárhelyi B (2010) The influence of fabric and water content on selected rock mechanical parameters of travertine, examples from Hungary. Eng Geol 115:237–245
Torok A, Forgo LZ, Vogt T, Lobens S, Siegesmund S, Weiss T (2007) The influence of lithology and pore-size distribution on the durability of acid volcanic tuffs, Hungary. In: Prikryl R, Smith BJ (eds) Building stone decay: from diagnosis to conservation. J Geol Soc Lond, vol 271(1), pp 251–260
TS EN 12371 (2011) Natural stone test methods—determination of frost resistance, Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara
TS EN 12372 (2007) Natural stone test methods—determination of flexural strength under concentrated load. Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara
TS EN 13755 (2009) Natural stone test methods—determination of water absorption at atmospheric pressure. Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara
TS EN 14579 (2006) Natural stone test methods: determination of sound speed propagation. Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara
TS EN 1926 (2007) Natural stone test methods—determination of uniaxial compressive strength. Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara
TS EN 1936 (2010) Natural stone test methods—determination of real density and apparent density and of total and open porosity. Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara
TS 699 (2009) Natural building stones—methods of inspection and laboratory testing (in Turkish). Turkish Standard Institution, Ankara
Tuğrul A (2004) The effect of weathering on pore geometry and compressive strength of selected rock types from Turkey. Eng Geol 75:215–227
Türkdönmez O, Bozcu M (2012) The geological, petrographical and engineering properties of rhyolitic tuffs (Çan Stone) in Çan-Etili area (Çanakkale) NW Turkey: their usage as building and covering stones. Open J Geol 2(1):25–33
Valès F, Nguyen Minh D, Gharbi H, Rejeb A (2004) Experimental study of the influence of the degree of saturation on physical and mechanical properties in Tournemire argillite (France). Appl Clay Sci 26(2004):197–207
Vasarhelyi B (2003) Some observations regarding the strength and deformability of sandstones in dry and saturated condition. Bull Eng Geol Environ 62:245–249
Vasarhelyi B (2005) Statistical analysis of the influence of water content on the strength of the Miocene Limestone. Rock Mech Rock Eng 38(1):697670–697674
Vásárhelyi B (2002) Influence of the water saturation on the strength of volcanic tuffs. ISRM International Symposium—EUROCK 2002, Madeira, pp 89–96
Vasarhelyi B, Van P (2006) Influence of water content on the strength of rock. Eng Geol 84(2006):70–74
Wang W (2008) Rock particle image segmentation and systems. In: Yin PY (ed) Pattern recognition techniques, technology and applications. ISBN: 978-953-7619-24-4
Wedekind W, López-Doncel R, Dohrmann R, Kocher M, Siegesmund S (2013) Weathering of volcanic tuff rocks caused by moisture expansion. Environ Earth Sci 69(4):1203–1224
Yasar E, Tolgay A, Teymen A (2009) Industrial usage of Nevsehir–Kayseri (Turkey) tuff stone. World Appl Sci J 7(3):271–284
Yavuz AB (2012) Durability assessment of the Alaçatı tuff (Izmir) in western Turkey. Environ Earth Sci 67:1909–1925
Yıldız A, Kuşcu M, Dumlupunar İ, Arıtan AE, Bağcı M (2010) The determination of the mineralogical alteration index and the investigation of the efficiency of the hydrothermal alteration on physico-mechanical properties in volcanic rocks from Koprulu, Afyonkarahisar, West Turkey. Bull Eng Geol Environ 69:51–61
Yilmaz I (2010) Influence of water content on the strength and deformability of gypsum. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 47(2):342–347
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Çelik, M.Y., Ergül, A. The influence of the water saturation on the strength of volcanic tuffs used as building stones. Environ Earth Sci 74, 3223–3239 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4359-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4359-x