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Impact of some geological parameters on soil abrasiveness

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Abstract

A systematic estimation of the amount of tool wear is nearly impossible because there is no universally accepted test for determining soil abrasiveness. Laboratory devices that have been developed in recent years have fewer limitations than older methods, but they are unique and are under development. A new device has been developed and used at the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, to evaluate how geological factors affect soil abrasion behavior. Samples with known geological characteristics including hardness (mineralogy), grain size, and grain roundness were prepared and tested using the new abrasion test unit. The results indicate a direct linear relationship between the relative mineral hardness (Mohs scale) and abrasion. Moreover, the results of the abrasion testing showed increasing abrasion with grain size and angularity. Furthermore, the impact of moisture content was also examined, and the amount of measured wear followed an approximately bell shaped curve relative to the water content, as has been reported in similar studies by other research groups. Additional testing of the samples for shear strength showed a good correlation between the shear strengths of the specimens and the abrasivity.

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Acknowledgments

The authors express their thanks to Mr. Forghani and Sepadandish Consulting Engineers for their cooperation in the laboratory activities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

    Hossein Mirmehrabi, Mohammad Ghafoori & Gholamreza Lashkaripour

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  1. Hossein Mirmehrabi
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  2. Mohammad Ghafoori
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  3. Gholamreza Lashkaripour
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Correspondence to Mohammad Ghafoori.

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Mirmehrabi, H., Ghafoori, M. & Lashkaripour, G. Impact of some geological parameters on soil abrasiveness. Bull Eng Geol Environ 75, 1717–1725 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-015-0837-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-015-0837-3

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