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The Influence of Weathering on the Engineering Properties of Dunites

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Abstract

Weathering processes cause important changes in the engineering properties of rocks. In this study, dunites in the Bursa region in western Turkey were investigated and the changes in engineering properties due to weathering were evaluated. The studies were initiated with field observations including measurement of the characteristics of discontinuities such as spacing, aperture, fill material, roughness, and Schmidt hammer rebound value. Subsequently, laboratory studies were conducted in two stages. The first stage comprised mineralogical, petrographic, and chemical analyses. The second stage included physicomechanical tests to determine specific gravity, unit weights, water absorption, effective porosity, uniaxial compressive strength, P-wave velocity, and slake-durability index. According to these evaluations, the changes in engineering properties were determined to be mostly related to serpentinization at every stage of weathering. The most suitable parameters for characterizing the degree of weathering of the studied dunites are loss-on-ignition values, specific gravity, unit weight, water absorption, and effective porosity.

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Abbreviations

SHV:

Schmidt hammer rebound value

LOI:

Loss on ignition

SEM:

Scanning electron microscope

MWPI:

Modified weathering potential index

RR:

Ruxton ratio

CIW:

Chemical index of weathering

CIA:

Chemical index of alteration

PI:

Parker index

G s :

Specific gravity

γ d :

Dry unit weight

γ s :

Saturated unit weight

w a :

Water absorption

n e :

Effective porosity

V p :

Ultrasonic wave velocity

σ c :

Uniaxial compressive strength

I d7 :

Slake durability index

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Research Fund of Istanbul University, project number: T-394/08032004.

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  1. Engineering Faculty, Geological Engineering Department, Istanbul University, Avcılar, 34320, İstanbul, Turkey

    Ömer Ündül & Atiye Tuğrul

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  1. Ömer Ündül
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  2. Atiye Tuğrul
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Correspondence to Ömer Ündül.

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Ündül, Ö., Tuğrul, A. The Influence of Weathering on the Engineering Properties of Dunites. Rock Mech Rock Eng 45, 225–239 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-011-0174-1

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