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sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Titre : Evaluation of some Iraqi rocks as construction materials

Bazı Irak kayalarının inşaat malzemesi olarak değerlendirilmesi

Auteur : Firas Ibrahim Younus Younus

Université de soutenance : Atılım Üniversitesi

Grade : Master of Svience (MSc) 2022

Résumé
Sedimentary rock discoveries constitute the vast majority of rock discoveries in Iraq, where these rocks are widely used in various construction works in the western regions of Iraq. The main objective of this study is to assess the properties of rocks in Iraq’s western region and to expand their suitability for use as construction materials. Three different types of rock mass blocks were collected from three different quarries in Iraq’s western desert. The rock samples collected from these quarries were named as type A, B, and C. Afterwards these samples were prepared in the laboratory for the tests. The testing program included determining the water content of the rocks, as well as their saturation period, physical and chemical properties, and characterization through the X-ray diffraction test (XRD), the scanning electron microscope test (SEM), and the polarized microscope test. Furthermore, the engineering properties of these rocks were also discovered through destructive and non-destructive tests. They are included the point load test, tensile strength (Brazilian) test, and uniaxial compressive strength test (UCS), which were conducted on the dry and fully saturated samples. The non-destructive test included the Schmidt hammer test. The characterization results revealed that A and B type samples are limestones, which consist mainly of calcite CaCO3 and a small amount of quartz SiO2 in type sample B, while C type samples are dolostone and consists of dolomite CaMg(CO3)2 as the main compound. The results of the engineering tests on the rocks samples in the dry state revealed that rock type C has the highest engineering strength values, followed by rock type B and rock type A. For all types of rocks, the effect of saturation resulted in a decrease in engineering strength values. The rock groups are classified according to their strength, with "Very weak rock" for all groups based on uniaxial compressive strength test results, "Moderately strong" for all groups based on point load test strength index Is(50) values, and "Very weak rock" for all groups based on results of rebound number values of Schmidt hammer tests. Engineering strength findings revealed that the rocks of studied quarries are suitable for diverse use in construction.

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