Abstract
Slates from North Western Spain have been studied to establish the influence of the cleavage orientation on the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and Young’s modulus (E). Slate, sandstone and intercalated slate/sandstone lithologies were tested and the higher strengths were always obtained when the load was applied parallel, or close to parallel, to the slaty cleavage. This study suggests the following empirical relationships for unweathered slates in saturated conditions UCS = 0.037β 2 − 7.622(β + 200.6, E × 104 = 0.002β 2 − 0.134β + 3.453. E can be estimated from UCS values using E × 104 = 429,56 (UCS)0.9122. These empirical equations will assist in geotechnical studies in this area of NW Spain where slate quarrying is an important industry.
Résumé
Des ardoises du nord-ouest de l’Espagne ont été étudiées afin de mettre en évidence l’influence de la direction du clivage ardoisier sur la résistance à la compression simple (UCS) et sur le module de Young E. Des ardoises, des grès et des matériaux mixtes avec intercalations de lits gréseux et de lits d’ardoise ont été testés et les plus fortes résistances ont toujours été obtenues lorsque l’axe de chargement mécanique était parallèle ou sub-parallèle à la direction du clivage ardoisier. Cette étude conduit à proposer les relations empiriques suivantes, pour des ardoises saines et saturées: UCS = 0,037β 2 – 7,622β + 200,6 et E × 104 = 0.002β 2 – 0.134β + 3.453. E peut être estime à partir de UCS par la relation: E × 104 = 429,56 (UCS)0,9122. Ces relations empiriques peuvent apporter une première aide dans la résolution de problèmes géotechniques dans cette région du NW de l’Espagne où l’industrie ardoisière joue un rôle important.
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Acknowledgements
Some part of the work presented in this paper has been taken from the PhD thesis of the first author. The authors gratefully acknowledge IGME for support with the geotechnical tests and the Secretary of Estate for Universities and Research for a postdoctoral award held at the British Geological Survey, through the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science, which is partly funded through the European Social Fund.
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Rodríguez-Sastre, M.A., Gutiérrez-Claverol, M. & Torres-Alonso, M. Relationship between cleavage orientation, uniaxial compressive strength and Young’s modulus for slates in NW Spain. Bull Eng Geol Environ 67, 181–186 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-008-0122-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-008-0122-9