Physical Properties, Strength and Durability of Selected Rocks from the Central Nepal Lesser Himalaya, Malekhu River Area for Building Stones
Keywords:
Physical properties, Strength, Durability, Building stone, Lesser Himalaya.Abstract
Strength and durability are crucial factors for the selection of rocks for building stones. This paper focuses on the study and evaluation of rocks of the Lesser Himalaya based on their physical properties, strength and durability. Nine different sites were selected for sampling appropriate rock types for building stones. Physical properties such as water absorption value, dry density, bulk specific gravity, saturation coefficient, porosity were determined. For mechanical strength, point load test and for chemical properties acid immersion test, salt crystallization test, methylene blue adsorption test and ethylene glycol soak test were carried out. Rocks of quartzite, granite, marble and dolomite showed higher strength values whereas rocks of quartzite, amphibolite and augen gneiss showed lower strength value. However, in terms of durability almost all rocks showed promising results except for carbonate rocks, i.e., marble and dolomite. Therefore, marble and dolomite are suitable for only interior uses such as wall cladding and interior flooring. Granite, metasandstone and quartzite with spaced foliation are suitable for dimension stones for both exterior and interior uses. Augen gneiss, amphibolite and quartzite with low strength and high durability are suitable for interior use only. From the evaluation, most of rocks showed suitable results regarding durability test.
References
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[2] Anon., 1983, The selection of natural building stone. Digest. 260. Building Research Establishment, Her Majesty’s Stationary Office. London.
[3] Geoff quick. “Selective guide to the specification of dimension stone”, CSIRO building, construction and engineering, highett, Australia, issue 1, pp. 14–22. (www.discoveringstone.com)
[4] Ozcelik, Y. and Ozguven, A. “Water absorption, drying features of different natural building stones.” Construction and building materials, vol. 63, pp. 257–258, 2014.
[5] Yavuz, A.B. and Topal, T. “Thermal and salt crystallization effects on marble deterioration: examples from western Anatolia, turkey.” Engineering geology, vol. 90, pp. 30, 2007.
[6] Harrison, D.J. and Bloodworth, A.J. Industrial Minerals Laboratory Manual: Construction Materials. Nottingham, United Kingdom: British geological survey, 1994, pp. 42–85.
[7] Benavente, D., Garcia del cura, M.A., Fort, R. and Ordonez, S. “Durability estimation of porous building stones from pore structure and strength.” Engineering geology, vol. 74, pp. 113–127, 2004.
[8] Benavente, D., Garcia del cura, M.A., Bernabeu, A. and Ordonez S. “Quantification of salt weathering in porous stones using an experimental continuous partial immersion method”. Engineering geology, vol. 59, pp. 313, 2004.
[9] Bieniawski, Z.T. Engineering rock mass classifications. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1989, pp. 51–58.
[10] Palmström, A. “Measurements of and correlations between Block size and Rock Quality Designation (RQD).” Tunnels and underground space technology, vol. 20, pp. 352–377, 2005.
[11] Elci, H. and Tuck, N. “Rock mass block quality designation for marble production.” International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining sciences, vol. 69, pp. 26–30, 2014.
[12] ASTM international. “Standard Test Method for Absorption and Bulk Specific Gravity of Dimension Stone.” ASTM C97/C97M-15, West Conshohocken, PA, US, 2015. Available: (www.astm.org).
[13] ASTM International. “Standard Test Method for Determination of Point Load Strength Index of rock”. ASTM D5731–02, West Conshohocken, PA, US, 2002. Available: (www.astm.org).
[14] Diyuan, L. and Wong, L.N.Y. “Point load test on metasedimentary rocks and correlation to UCS and BTS.” Rock mechanics and rock engineering, vol. 46, pp. 913–915, 2013.
[15] Mishra, D.A. and Basu, A. “Estimation of uniaxial compressive strength of rock materials by index tests using regression analysis and fuzzy inference system.” Engineering Geology, vol. 160, pp. 54–68, 2013.
[16] Kahraman, S., Gunaydin, O. and Fener, M. “The effect of porosity on the relation between uniaxial compressive strength and point load index.” International journal of rock mechanic & Mining sciences, vol. 42 (4), pp. 584–589, 2005.
[17] Ohio, DOT. “Determination of Methylene Blue Adsorption Value of Mineral Aggregate Fillers and Fines.” supplement 1052, Sep. 22 1995.
[18] Haskins, D.K. and Bell, F.G. “Drakensberg basalts: their alteration, breakdown, and durability.” Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology, vol. 28, pp. 287–302, 1995.
[19] Stöcklin, J. “Geology of Nepal and its regional Frame.” Journal of the Geological Society of London, vol. 137, pp.9–22, 1980.
[20] ASTM International. “Standard Specification of Marble Dimension Stone.” ASTM C503/503M-10, West Conshohocken, PA, 2010. Available: (www.astm.org).
[21] ASTM International. “Standard Specification of Limestone Dimension Stone.” ASTM C568/568M-10, West Conshohocken, PA, US, 2010. Available: (www.astm.org).
[22] ASTM International. “Standard Specification of Granite Dimension Stone.” ASTM C615/615M-10, West Conshohocken, PA, US, 2011. Available: (www.astm.org).
[23] ASTM International. “Standard Specification of Quartzite Dimension Stone.” ASTM C616/616M-10, West Conshohocken, PA, US, 2010. Available: (www.astm.org).
[24] Honeyborne, D.W. The building Limestone of France. London: Building Research Establishment Report, 1982, 116p.
[25] Bell, F.G. and Jermy, C.A. “The geotechnical character of some South African dolerites, especially their strength and durability.” Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, vol. 33, pp. 68-71, 2000.
[26] Bieniawski, Z.T. Engineering classification of jointed rock masses. South Africa: South African institution of civil engineers, 1973, vol. 15 (12) pp. 335–344.
[27] Bureau of Indian standards. “Indian Standard Method of identification of Natural Building stones.” India IS: 1123-1975, 2003.
[28] Romana, M. and Vasarhely, B. “A discussion on the decrease of unconfined compressive strength between saturated and dry rock samples.” in 11th International congress on rock mechanic (ISRM), 2007, 4p.
[29] Abd E.L-Hamid, M.A., Draz, W.M., Ismael, A.F., Gouda, M.A. and Sleem, S.M. “Effect of petrographical characteristics on the engineering properties of some Egyptian ornamental stones.” International journal of scientific and engineering research, vol. 6 (7), pp. 116-123, July-2015.
[30] Behrestaghi, M.H.N, Rao S. K., and Ramamurthy, T. “Engineering geological and geotechnical responses of schistose rocks from dam project areas in India.” Engineering geology, vol. 44 (1-4), pp. 183–201, Oct. 1996.
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Published
2017-09-07
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Bhattarai, S., & Tamrakar, N. K. (2017). Physical Properties, Strength and Durability of Selected Rocks from the Central Nepal Lesser Himalaya, Malekhu River Area for Building Stones. American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences, 35(1), 236–250. Retrieved from https://asrjetsjournal.org/index.php/American_Scientific_Journal/article/view/3275
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