Investigating the relationship between textural indices with the strength and durability properties of igneous ballast aggregates

Authors

1 Assist. Prof., Dept. of Geology, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

2 Assist. Prof., Dept. of Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

3 M. Sc. of Engineering Geology, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

Abstract

Abrasion and chemical durability of ballast aggregates are considered to be essential characteristics that affect the performance of structures such as railway. Los Angeles abrasion index and weight loss in magnesium sulfate solution are among the most important parameters of rocks that are usually used in engineering designs. These parameters are largely influenced by the texture characteristics of rocks. In this research, seven types of extrusive igneous rocks were investigated in order to evaluate the correlation of textural indices with mineralogical, physical and mechanical characteristics. Engineering characteristics including density, porosity, point load strength, Los Angeles abrasion index and weight loss of magnesium sulfate were measured in the laboratory for the samples. Also, the thin section photographs of the samples were analyzed in ImageJ and JMicroVision image analyzer softwares. Textural indices (texture coefficient, elongation index, circularity index, solidity index and ferret diameter index) were calculated based on the image analysis for all the samples. Finally, the relationships between these indices with mineralogical and physical-mechanical characteristics of the rocks were evaluated. The results showed that non-dimensional minerals such as feldspar and mafic minerals (amphibole, pyroxene and biotite) have a relatively significant relationship with elongation index. Also, very strong linear relationships were observed between Los Angeles abrasion index (R2 = 0.90) and weight loss of magnesium sulfate (R2 = 0.877) with texture coefficient. Finally, based on the results, it is inferred that textural indices such as textural coefficient can be used in estimating the durability characteristics of aggregates with high reliability.

Keywords

References

Alber, M., Kahraman, S (2009) Predicting the uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus of a fault breccia from texture coefficient. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 42: 117–127. doi:10.1007/s00603-008-0167-x.
Aligholi, S., Lashkaripour, G. R., Ghafoori, M., Azali, S. T (2017) Evaluating the relationships between NTNU/SINTEF drillability indices with index properties and petrographic data of hard igneous rocks. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 50: 2929–2953.
Anon, O (1979) Classification of rocks and soils for engineering geological mapping. Part 1: rock and soil materials. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 19(1): 364-437. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02600503.
ASTM (2005) Standard Test Method for Soundness of Aggregates by Use of Sodium Sulfate or Magnesium Sulfate. ASTM C88-05. ASTM International West Conshohocken, 4 p.
ASTM (2008) C131/C131M: Standard Test Method for Resistance to Degradation of Small-Size Coarse Aggregate by Abrasion and Impact in the Los Angeles Machine. Annual Book of American Society for Testing materials ASTM Standards, West Conshohocken, 5 p.
Atici, U., Comakli, R (2019) Evaluation of the physico-mechanical properties of plutonic rocks based on texture coefficient. Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 119(1): 63-69.
Ersoy, H., and Acar, S (2016) Influences of petrographic and textural properties on the strength of very strong granitic rocks. Environmental Earth Sciences, 75: 1461–1476. doi: 10.1007/s12665-016-6277-y.
Fereidooni, D (2022) Importance of the mineralogical and textural characteristics in the mechanical properties of rocks. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 15(7): 637.
Fereidooni, D., and Sousa, L (2022) Predicting the Engineering Properties of Rocks from Textural Characteristics Using Some Soft Computing Approaches. Material, 15: 7922. doi.org/10.3390/ma15227922.
Franklin, J. A (1985) Suggested method for determining point load strength. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts, 22(2): 51-60. doi: 10.1016/0148-9062(85)92327-7.
Ghobadi, M. H, Amiri, M., Aliani, F (2011) The study of engineering geological properties of peridotites in Harsin, Kermanshah province (A case study). Journal of Engineering Geology, 14(1): 105-132. doi: 10.22084/nfag.2019.19208.1375 (in Persian).
Ghobadi, M. H., Ahmadi, L., Miri, M. M., Jafari, S. R (2019) The relationship between petrology and physical and mechanical properties of Granitoid rocks. New Findings In Applied Geology, 12(24): 54-64. doi: 10.22084/nfag.2018.14348.1268 (in Persian).
Hemmati, A., Ghafoori, M., Moomivand, H., & Lashkaripour, G. R (2020) The effect of mineralogy and textural characteristics on the strength of crystalline igneous rocks using image-based textural quantification. Engineering Geology, 266:105467.
Howarth, D. F., and Rowlands, J. C (1986) Development of an index to quantify rock texture for qualitative assessment of intact rock properties. Geotechnical Testing Journal, 9: 169–179. doi: 10.1520/gtj10627j.
Kolay, E., and Baser, T (2017) The effect of the textural characteristics on the engineering properties of the basalts from Yozgat region, Turkey. Journal of the Geological Society of India, 90: 102–110.
Schulz, B., Sandmann, D., Gilbricht, S (2020) SEM-Based Automated Mineralogy and Its Application in Geo- and Material Sciences. Minerals, 10: 1004. doi:10.3390/min10111004. 10.3390/min10111004.
Ulusay, R (2014) The ISRM suggested methods for rock characterization, testing and monitoring: 2007-2014, Springer, 201 p.
Williams, H., Turner, F. J., Gilber, C. M (1954) Petrography: An Introduction to the Study of Rocks in Thin Section. W.H. Freeman Company: San Francisco, CA, USA, 406 p.
Zorlu, K., Ulusay, R. T., Ocakoglu, F., Gokceoglu, C. A., Sonmez, H (2004) Predicting intact rock properties of selected sandstones using petrographic thin-section data. International Journal of Rock Mechanics Mineral Science, 41: 93–98. doi:10.1016/j.ijrmms. 2004.03.025.

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 30 April 2023
  • Revise Date: 13 June 2023
  • Accept Date: 20 July 2023

Share

How to cite

Statistics