Weathering Characteristics of Flysch Rock Mass in Istria Peninsula, Croatia | Chapter 9 | Research Developments in Science and Technology Vol. 8

Weak rocks slaking and weathering lead to slope instability. Flysch rock masses' siltstones are extremely vulnerable to weathering, which can quickly modify their geotechnical properties and durability. In this study, the effects of weathering on siltstone samples from flysch rock masses from the Istria Peninsula, Croatia, were investigated. Different weathering classes of siltstone samples were tested in the lab for their physical-mechanical characteristics, durability, uniaxial compressive strength, and mineralogical characteristics. For determining the durability of fragile rock types, such as siltstones, the traditional slake durability index is insufficient. Therefore, the durability of siltstone samples of different weathering classes was assessed using the fragment size distribution following each of five slaking cycles. The evaluated samples were categorised using the disintegration ratio, and any potential long-term deterioration was assessed using the modified disintegration ratio. Laboratory experiments were used to determine the weathering grades of siltstones' engineering properties. According to the findings, the weathering process has a significant impact on the plasticity, residual shear strength, uniaxial compressive strength, durability, and mineralogical characteristics of the siltstones, which in turn has an impact on the landslides and erosion processes in the flysch zone on the Istria Peninsula in Croatia.

Author(s) Details:

Martina Vivoda Prodan,

Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Rijeka, Radmile Matejcic 3, Rijeka, Croatia.

Zeljko Arbanas,

Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Rijeka, Radmile Matejcic 3, Rijeka, Croatia.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/RDST-V8/article/view/7402