Determining point load strength loss from porosity, Schmidt hardness, and weight of some sedimentary rocks under freeze-thaw conditions

Rocks are subjected to various atmospheric, climatic, and seasonal effects, and those effects can cause partial or complete deterioration. To understand the degree of deterioration of rocks, especially in cold regions, the influences of freeze-thaw cycles on physico-mechanical properties need to be investigated. This study assesses the influence of freeze-thaw cycles on some physical and mechanical properties of some rocks of sedimentary origin in Turkey. For this purpose, samples were subjected to 30 freeze-thaw cycles, and porosity, point load strength, Schmidt hardness, and weight loss were determined after every five cycles. The freeze-thaw cycle progression led to decreases in point load strength, Schmidt hardness, and weight and an increase in porosity of the specimens. The increase and decrease ratios were calculated at the end of every five freeze-thaw cycles, and the relationships were determined for estimated point load decrease ratios. At the end of 20 cycles, there was a strong relationship between point load strength loss and Schmidt hardness loss (R-2 = 0.903), which can be very useful for predetermination of point load strength decrease after freeze-thaw cycles without testing.