Mechanical and Petrological Properties of Gercus Formation in Dukan Area, Kurdistan of Iraq

Abstract

The mechanical properties of Gercus Formation in Iraq such as Uniaxial Compressive Strength (UCS), Tensile Strength (TS), Point Load Strength and Young’s Modulus (E) are very crucial to design structures in or on the Formation. Unfortunately, there is no information about these mechanical properties as well as about predicting these properties using non-destructive tests such as the ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV). The aim of this study is to evaluate these mechanical properties for Gercus Formation and to develop the correlation equations to find the mechanical properties from simple indirect tests such as point load test (PLT) and non-destructive test (UPV). Fifty one core samples (75mm diameter and 150 mm height) were collected from Gercus formation at Surqawshan Dam Project in Iraq and prepared for physical and mechanical testing. The obtained results showed that the mechanical properties of the Gercus Formation can be obtained using non-destructive test (UPV) whereas the point load test is not a good choice to predict the mechanical properties of the formation. Furthermore, the petrological properties of Gercus Formation have been studied macroscopic and microscopic by thin sections. Based on the petrological analysis, the collected samples were classified in white dolomitic limestone, gray shale, red silty sandstone and red clayey sandstone.