Physical and Mechanical Properties of Serpentinized Ultrabasic Rocks in NW Turkey

Abstract

Serpentinized ultrabasic rocks crop out at various places in the northwestern part of Turkey. They are the foundation rocks of some architecture and the ground under road bases in many areas. They are also frequently used for indoor work such as tables, shafts, pilasters, jambs for chimney pieces and ornaments of different kinds. Owing to their economic importance, in situ geophysical and geotechnical studies were conducted to determine their dynamic engineering parameters such as: P- and S-wave velocities, Poisson’s ratio, rigidity modulus, elasticity modulus, bulk modulus, natural period, safe bearing capacity, and bearing coefficient. Geophysical and geotechnical laboratory tests were performed on cylindrical specimens cored across and along the foliation planes: ultrasonic measurements of compressional pulse velocity (UPV), uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), point load index (Is(50)), and static elasticity modulus (Es); effective porosity (n), dry unit weight (DUW), and saturated unit weight (ϒs) sets of the rock specimens were determined. Finally, statistical correlations were performed by regression analysis to evaluate the relationships between UCS and Is(50), UPV, Es; UPV and Is(50), DUW, ϒs, n, and Es.