Experimental study of the influence of the degree of saturation on physical and mechanical properties of carbonate rocks in the Jurassic Tuwaiq Mountain Formation (Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

Understanding the impact of saturation levels on the mechanical and physical properties of limestone and marly limestone deposits is very critical for geotechnical and mechanical studies in the energy and construction industries. This research aims to link the strength characteristics of carbonate rock (limestone and marly limestone) with physical and mechanical properties at saturation levels of 0, 0.25, 50%, 75% and 100%. To complete this work, 100 samples were collected and analysed employing an orderly research facility testing. According to experimental findings, the strength and durability of the limestone and marly limestone declined with rising saturation levels, while the P‐wave velocity Vp showed an upward trend from 0% to 100%. The uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of the limestones employed in this research significantly decreased (up to 36%) between the dry and saturated stages for limestone samples. While marly limestone, there is a drop (up to 32%) in UCS. The findings of a straightforward regression study show that it is possible to predict the strength properties of rocks directly from various saturation levels. Additionally, a number of various estimate connections were created utilizing independent variables like Vp and saturation level. The experimental outcomes showed that Vp showed an upward tendency with an increasing degree of saturation. The deformability and strength parameters of the samples declined with increasing saturation degrees. The elastic modulus and strength both decrease as clay and water amounts increase. The quality index (QI) number for limestone is 45, which indicates that it has extremely good quality and can be used as a building material at 0% saturation. At 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% saturation, it is evaluated at 43, 40, 33 and 31, respectively. The marly limestone samples have high quality at 0% (QI = 36), but poor quality at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% saturation (QI = 33, 30, 27 and 23). This research provides a better understanding of the relationship between saturation levels and the mechanical, physical and depositional characteristics of marly limestone and limestone, which might be helpful in industrial studies. Advance examination of distinctive sorts of carbonate rocks can be more supportive of broadening our understanding of this idea.