Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Strength estimation of evaporitic rocks using different testing methods

  • CAJG 2018: Topic 3
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Rock strength is defined as the limit of the ability of a rock to resist stress or deformation without breaking. Testing methods recommended by ISRM (International Society of Rock Mechanics) and ASTM (American Standards Testing Material) include unconfined compressive strength (UCS), point load index (PLI), indirect tensile strength (ITS), Schmidt hammer rebound (SHR), sonic velocity (Vp and Vs), and slake durability index 2nd cycle (Id2). This contribution compares the results of these methods and explores the influence of rock composition and texture on Lower Miocene evaporites from Al Ain city, United Arab Emirates (UAE). These sedimentary rocks are common in the Arabian Peninsula as exposures or in the subsurface where they may constitute the foundations of buildings. A large number of UCS, PLI, ITS, SHR, SV, and Id2 tests were carried out on both core samples and rock blocks according to ASTM Standards. Examination of compositional and textural characteristics of representative rock samples was performed using XRD, XRF, polarized-light microscopy, and SEM. The results reveal variable correlations between the rock strength parameters with specific significant values between 0.53 and 0.72. The effect of composition and texture of the evaporitic rocks on their strength behavior is related to impurities such as clay minerals and celestite and grain interlocking textures. Despite the limited compositional variability of the evaporitic rocks (5–10%), the textural variability may present a challenging feature in rock strength testing and should be taken as a primary factor for consideration during applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdelghany O, Abu Saima M, Arman H, Fowler A (2015) Gypsiferous bedrocks and soils of Abu Dhabi and their implications for engineering geozoning, In Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Engineering Geophysics-Leading through Creativity, Innovation and Sustainability. Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, November 15-18, EG26, 156-159.

  • Arman H, Hashem W, Abdelghany O, Aldahan A (2013a) On the accuracy of the in-situ Schmidt hammer tests on carbonate rocks. In Proceedings of Eurock 2013-Rock Mechanics for Resources, Energy and Environment-The 2013 ISRM International Symposium. Wraclow, Poland, 23-26 September, 189-193.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Arman H, Hashem W, Abdelghany O, Aldahan A (2013b) Evaluation of laboratory Schmidt hammer tests on carbonate rocks. In Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Engineering Geophysics, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, 24-27 November, EG37, 234-237.

  • Arman H, Hashem W, Tokhi EM, Abdelghany O, Saiy EA (2014) Petrographical and geomechanical properties of the Lower Oligocene limestones from Al Ain city, United Arab Emirates. Arab J Sci Eng 39(1):261–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arman H, Hashem W, Abdelghany O, Aldahan A (2017) Effects of lithofacies and environment on in situ and laboratory Schmidt hammer tests: a case study of carbonate rocks. Q J Eng Geol Hydrogeol 50:179–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ASTM D2845-08 (2008a) Standard test method for laboratory determination of pulse velocities and ultrasonic elastic constants of rock (Withdrawn 2017). ASTM International, West Conshohocken.

  • ASTM D2936-08 (2008b) Standard test method for direct tensile strength of intact rock core specimens (Withdrawn 2017). ASTM International, West Conshohocken.

  • ASTM D2938-95 (1995) Standard test method for unconfined compressive strength of intact rock core specimens. ASTM International, West Conshohocken.

  • ASTM D4543-08e1 (2008c) Standard practices for preparing rock core as cylindrical test specimens and verifying conformance to dimensional and shape tolerances (Withdrawn 2017). ASTM International, West Conshohocken.

  • ASTM D4644-16 (2016a) Standard test method for slake durability of shales and other similar weak rocks. ASTM International, West Conshohocken.

  • ASTM D5731-16 (2016b) Standard test method for determination of the point load strength index of rock and application to rock strength classifications. ASTM International, West Conshohocken.

  • Boukhary M, Abdelghany O, Bahr S (2002) Nummulites alsharhani n.sp. (Late Lutetian) from Jabal Hafit and Al Faiyah: western side of the Northern Oman Mountains, United Arab Emirates. Revue Paleobiol Geneve 21:575–585

    Google Scholar 

  • Erguler ZA, Ulusay R (2009) Water-induced variations in mechanical properties of clay-bearing rocks. Int J Rock Mech Min 46:355–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins AB (1998) Aspects of rock strength. Bull Eng Geol Environ 57:17–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heidari M, Khanlari GR, Kaveh MT, Kargarian S (2012) Predicting the uniaxial compressive and tensile strengths of gypsum rock by point load testing. Int J Rock Mech Min 45(2):256–273

    Google Scholar 

  • Marinos P, Hoek E (2001) Estimating the geotechnical properties of heterogeneous rock masses such as Flysch. Bull Eng Geol Environ 60:85–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salah H, Omar M, Shanableh A (2014) Estimating unconfined compressive strength of sedimentary rocks in United Arab Emirates from point load strength index. J Appl Math Phy 2:296–303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Styles MT, Ellison RA, Arkley SLB, Crowley Q, Farrant AR, Goodenough KM, Mckervey JA, Pharaoh TC, Phillips ER, Schofield D, Thomas RJ (2006) The geology and geophysics of the United Arab Emirates. In: Geology, vol 2. Ministry of Energy, United Arab Emirates

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas RJ, Ellison RA, Farrant AR, Goodenough KM, Kimbell GS, Newell AJ, Pharaoh TC, Phillips ER, Styles MT (2014) Geologic evolution of the United Arab Emirates-over six hundred million years of Earth history. Ministry of Energy, United Arab Emirates

    Google Scholar 

  • Yilmaz I (2010) Influence of water content on the strength and deformability of gypsum. Int J Rock Mech Min 47:342–347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yilmaz I, Sendir H (2002) Correlation of Schmidt hardness with unconfined compressive strength and Young’s modulus in gypsum from Sivas (Turkey). Eng Geol 66(3):211–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yilmaz I, Yuksek AG (2008) An example of artificial neural network (ANN) application for indirect estimation of rock parameters. Int J Rock Mech Min 41(5):781–795

    Google Scholar 

  • Yilmaz I, Yuksek AG (2009) Prediction of the strength and elasticity modulus of gypsum using multiple regression, ANN and ANFIS models. Int J Rock Mech Min 46(4):803–810

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the United Arab Emirates University, Research Affairs with the research project number UPAR 2016 – 31S252. The authors wish to express special thanks to the research assistant, technicians and students who participated in the field and laboratory work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Science, Geology Department, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box: 15551, Al Ain, UAE

    Hasan Arman, Osman Abdelghany, Mahmoud Abu Saima, Ala Aldahan, Bahaa Mahmoud, Saber Hussein & Abdel-Rahman Fowler

  2. Faculty of Science, Geology Department, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 11566, Egypt

    Osman Abdelghany & Mahmoud Abu Saima

  3. University of the Western Cape, P/Bag X17, Cape Town, 7535, South Africa

    Saaed AlRashdi

Authors
  1. Hasan Arman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Osman Abdelghany
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mahmoud Abu Saima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ala Aldahan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Bahaa Mahmoud
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Saber Hussein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Abdel-Rahman Fowler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Saaed AlRashdi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hasan Arman.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Amjad Kallel

This paper was selected from the 1st Conference of the Arabian Journal of Geosciences (CAJG), Tunisia 2018

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Arman, H., Abdelghany, O., Saima, M.A. et al. Strength estimation of evaporitic rocks using different testing methods. Arab J Geosci 12, 721 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4916-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4916-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation