REPORT ON PHYSICO MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF FINIKE MARBLE LIMESTONE

The tests carried out according to EUROPEAN STANDART EN 1925, 1926, 1936, 12371-72 12407 prEN 14146; DEUTSCHE NORM DIN 52 104; ASTM DESIGNATION C 97-99 and T.S.E. 689- 1910

Unit weight (density)-Grain spesific gravity: Measured un it weight is 2.45 g/cm 3 and gram spesific gravity is 2.72 g/cm 3 according to above standarts and T.S.E. 2513. The specific gravity should be higher than 2.55 g/cm 3 for natural Stones apart from travertines and that will be used for outside cladding LIMESTONE satisfies this standart.

Porosity: The porosity should be maximum 12% for travertines and maximum 2% for marbşes according the above standarts. The apperant and real porosity of LIMESTONE is 9.35% and 15%. These porosity values are higher than standart values. On the other hand high porosity values gives the Stone a good heat insulating capacity due to its low heat conducvtivity (?=0.8 W/m.K).Therefore LIMESTONE is a good insulator of heat.

Water Absorption : The rate of weatherring of the natural Stones differs with the litology and with its chemical composition and porosity and water absorption rate. The Stone weathers under atmospheric conditions with time, the one that absorb less water more stisfactorily used for cladding. Water absorption rate should be less than 0.75% by weight for natural Stones and travertines it should be less than 7.5% for cladding Stones according to T.S.E. 1910. Water absorption of LİMESTONE is 4.11% by weight and 9.35% by wolume. This shows that LIMESTONE satisfies Travertine standarts but absorbs more water than the other natural stones.

Srength decrease after freezing ; Strength decrease after freezing is a desired quality for natural Stones that are used for external cladding in the building sector, the strength decrease after freezing should be less than %5 and the weight loss due to freezing should be less than %1 for natural Stones according to T.S.E. 1910 and the above standarts.
The freezing and thawing tests are carried out according to the above standarts the weight loss after freezing and thawing cycles is detrmined to be 0.05% and decrease in strength is 20% for LIMESTONE. Therefore LIMESTONE satisfies standarts for weight loss and can be used for external cladding on buildings.

Compresive and Flexural strength; The uniaxial compressive strength is an important parameter which determines the use of natural stone.. The minimum compressive strength value should be 350 kg/cm3 for travertines and calcerous limestones and 500 kg/cm3 for marbles qand micritic textured LIMESTONES ıf the stone is used externally on building cladding according the above standarts minimum textural strength values are 30kg/cm2 for travertines and calcerous limestone 40 kg/cm2 for dolomite and LIMESTONE and 50 kg/cm2 for marbles. Compressive strength of LIMESTONE is determined as 500 kg/m2 on average and textural strength 117 kg/cm2. The flexural strength of LIMESTONE is higher than standart value and compressive strength is equal to minimum value of other limestones and dolomites standart values. Therefore it can be used as a cladding material hand masonry wall making. LIMESTONE has uniform good looking creamy white color. The chemical analiysis indicating that it belongs to LIMESTONE group. It has micritic texture and can be cutted easily and good workability.

LIMESTONE titration is 97.4 which is an indcation that its purley Ca and Mg carbonate rock.

The physico-mechanical analysis on LIMESTONE is carried out according the specifications laid out in;

• EUROPEAN STANDART EN 1936 Natural Stones test methods- determation of real density
• EUROPEAN STANDART EN 1925 Determination of water absorption
• EUROPEAN STANDART EN 1926 Determination of compressive strength
• EUROPEAN STANDART EN 12371 Determination of frost resistance
• EUROPEAN STANDART EN 12372 Determination of textural strength
• EUROPEAN STANDART EN 12407 Petrografhic examination
• EUROPEAN STANDART prEN 14146 Determination of the dynamic modullus of elasticity by P wave velocity
• ASTM DESIGNATION C 97-99 The American Socity for testing and Materials determination of natural stone properties.

Doç.Dr. H.Tarık Özkahraman
University of Suleyman Demirel
Mining Engineering Department
Marble Research Group