Int. J. Rock Afech. A[in. Sci, Vol, 9, pp. 325-341. Pergamon Press 1972.

Printed in Great Britain

THE SLAKE-DURABILITY TEST

J. A. FRANKL1N
Rock Mechanics Ltd, Bracknell, Berks.
and
R. CHANDRA
Indian Hydroelectric Commission
(Received28 September 1971)

Abstract---A test is described that measures the resistance of a rock sample to weakening and
disintegration resulting from a standard cycle of drying and wetting. The main purpose of this
'slake-durability test' is to evaluate the weathering resistance of shales, mudstones, siltstones
and other clay-bearing rocks. Details of the development of this test and its evaluation are
given.

INTRODUCTION
CLAY-BEARING rocks comprise no less than 35 per cent of the earth's crust. They are char-
acterized by a wide variation in their engineering properties, particularly their resistance to
short-term weathering by wetting and drying. For example the 'kankar' roads in India that
are surfaced with crushed mudstone have survived the effects of heavy rain, heat and cold
for a considerable period of time. In some other parts of the world, however, clay-bearing
rocks are automatically rejected even as subgrade material, since experience has shown
these materials to be of lower durability.
Durable rock is usually required for road subgrades and surfacing. Temporary access
roads, however, such as those for opencast mines, are often surfaced with rolled mudstone
where some degree of breakdown is desirable to reduce tire wear, but the breakdown in
wet conditions must not be so excessive as to allow 'bogging down' of vehicles. Also in
tunnels and slopes the presence of slaking or swelling rock must be anticipated and the
exposures protected. In mudstone foundations excavation of the last layer of material is
left as late as possible prior to the placing of concrete, since otherwise the presence of
swollen, shaly material would allow excessive settlements when the foundation loads were
applied. These problems should be predicted by suitable tests and observations made on
exploration core.
A 'slaking' test is an essential precaution when evaluating such problems. The usual
elementary procedure is to immerse some rock samples in water, and to observe any swelling
or disintegration that might occur. Although often used, the results of elementary tests are
often of limited value and the techniques need to be improved. The authors describe in this
paper the results of a programme to evaluate the slaking test, and the testing machine and
technique that were developed. The technique itself has been outlined elsewhere [1-3] and
is also published by the International Society for Rock Mechanics as one of a number of
'suggested methods' for rock testing [4]. The test apparatus, the prototype having been
constructed at Imperial College, London, is now in commercial production.
325
ROCK 9/3---A
326 J.A. FRANKLIN AND R. CHANDRA

The test to be described is an index test, and is best used in comparing one rock with
another. It will not predict in situ rate of weathering and deterioration directly since factors
other than the nature of the rock, for example the severity of climate [5], also influence
weathering rate. Index tests represent a compromise between simplicity on the one hand,
and precision on the other. A correct balance between these two requirements is necessary
for the test to be useful in practice. The authors have started with the simple slaking test,
and by systematic standardization of a number of features, have quantified the results and
improved their reproducibility. In our opinion the test remains both simple and practical,
and indeed a number of modifications that would have led to greater precision with a loss
of simplicity have been intentionally omitted.
The term durability, from the Latin 'durabilis' meaning lasting, may be used in a rock
engineering context to mean resistance to weakening and disintegration in the course of
time, i.e. resistance to weathering. For each of the many weathering agents, a different
aspect of durability should be defined; hence frost-durability, abrasion-durability and
slake-durability. Different tests are required to predict the effects of different weathering
agents. For example, rocks that can be damaged by salts that crystallize in the pore space
may resist frost damage caused by growth of ice crystals. The mechanisms are different, and
attempts to predict frost-durability using 'soundness tests' with salt solutions have had
little success [6].
It is essential to distinguish between the state of weathering of a rock mass (due to geologi-
cal or long-term processes) and its weatherability or potential to suffer further short-term
damage [7]. Many weathering processes are slow, particularly those of a chemical or bio-
logical nature, and are not likely to result in rock deterioration during the life of an engi-
neering structure. Their action over the course of centuries, however, results in a weathered
rock with inferior mechanical properties. Durability tests predict the effects of weathering
agents with short-term engineering significance. Of these, climatic slaking is without ques-
tion the most widespread and therefore the most important.
Other processes, however, such as solar heating, frost and salt crystallization, mechanical
abrasion, leaching, solution and chemical alteration, can locally result in short-term damage,
where climate and environment are particularly severe, or where the rock is already in an
advance state of 'geological' weathering. A slake-durability test predicts deterioration due
to climatic wetting and drying. If other mechanisms apply, then other types of durability
test may be more appropriate [8].

REVIEW
Slaking mechanisms
The slaking-durability of the rock will depend on the following:
1. Permeability and porosity since these control the entry and retention of pore fluids
and their mobility once inside the rock.
2. The action of fluids once they have penetrated the rock must be considered. They
may act by adsorption that results in surface energy changes, by solution of
cement or disruption of bonds, or may set up disruptive forces by pore-pressure
generation.
3. The capacity of the rock to resist disruptive forces will decide the extent to which
weakening, swelling or complete disintegration of the rock material will occur.
Hence a rock that is either impermeable, or non-reactive or has high intergranular strength
 THE SLAKE-DURABILITY TEST 327

will usually be durable. A detailed and comprehensive account of the slaking process has
recently been published by TAYLOR and SPEARS [9].
Clay-bearing rocks, not only mudstones but some sandstones and weathered igneous
rocks, are the most susceptible to slake deterioration. Among the several mechanisms that
may account for this behaviour, ion exchange appears to be dominant [10, 11]. Clay min-
erals are surrounded by an 'atmosphere' of adsorbed cations, usually hydroxyl ions, that
are only loosely bound. The particles can be dispersed in a solution containing negative ions
or can be flocculated by positive ions. The ionic dissociation of the dispersing fluid as
measured by its dielectric constant controls the efficiency of dispersion, but the type of clay
is also important. Sodium clays are the easiest to disperse, then potassium, magnesium and
barium clays. Some--for example illite and montmorillonite--contain inter-layer potassium
ions that favour hydration. In these cases swelling of the crystal lattice may well assist in
the dispersion process.
Capillary effects are likely to play an important part in slake deterioration. Water menisci
in the rock increase their radius of curvature as the rock becomes saturated, so that capil-
lary tensions at grain contacts and at the tips of cracks are reduced. Also water that is
drawn into the rock by the action of strong capillary forces may compress air in its path,
resulting in disruption of the rock [12]. Stress relief is probably also an important mech-
anism, since over-consolidated clay-bearing rocks, rocks that have been subjected to tectonic
or diagenetic forces, are likely to store elastic strains that will be released if intergranular
bonds are weakened by the action of water.

Prediction of slake-durability
Some indication of slake-durability can be obtained by studying the clay mineralogy and
the microstructure of a rock, but it is quicker and more reliable to use a test. This must
provide a means of causing slake-disruption, and a means of estimating its extent.
Perhaps the most reliable means of causing disruption, if time is no object, is to leave a rock
exposed to natural weathering, and much may be learned by examining naturally exposed
surfaces at excavated rock slopes or quarry sites. Usually for convenience and greater
control, an accelerated weathering process is employed. At the Building Research Station
in England a 'tray test' [13] has been used. In this, blocks of rock are left standing in the
open with their bases in water. If still intact after 3 years of exposure, a rock is classified as
'probably frost-resistant'. Faster methods that still require considerable time by engineering
standards, employ cyclic changes of environment such as drying and wetting [14], freezing
and thawing or cycles of salt crystallization [15]. Different liquids or solutions may be used
to give a faster rate of breakdown than possible with water. One mqst ensure, however, that
the accelerated weathering process has the same or similar mechanism to natural weathering.
Hence dispersing agents that encourage the breakdown of clay bonds may be used ft~r
artificial slaking but acids or salts, heating or freezing are likely to give a misleading pre-
diction of slake-durability.
The extent of slaking may be judged by observation and description, by monitoring
swelling strains, by measuring a reduction in strength, or by sieving a sample of aggregale
to determine size reduction as a result of the slaking process. The latter method is much to
be preferred if an appreciable breakdown occurs, since a large and representative sample
can be used.
Listed below are three examples of slaking tests in current use :
1. Slaking tests at the U.S. Corps of Engineers Missouri River Division allow 0.5 in.
328 J.A. FRANKLIN AND R. CHANDRA

cubes of undisturbed rock to slake in distilled water, first at natural moisture

content and second, after air-drying for 40 hr. The rate of slaking, size and
orientation of particles is observed. The test is repeated until all materials break
down, or until the test reaches 6 cycles.
2. Ohio River Division Laboratories, U.S. Corps of Engineers conduct a similar test
in which specimens are supported on wire mesh and immersed in water at 10C.
They are then dried with a battery of infra-red lamps at about 60Co A complete
cycle of wetting and drying takes 12 hr, and after 6 cycles the extent of disintegra-
tion is observed visually, with the aid of photographs.
3. At the University of Alberta, Canada, a test is being developed [16] that involves
alternate drying and wetting of a specimen, with measurement of water content
after each wetting stage. The specimen is confined radially in a perforated cylinder,
and for the wetting half-cycle (4-10 days to reach equilibrium) stands in contact
with a wet filter paper. Drying is in air for 5 days, then in a dessicator for about
1 day. The equilibrium water content at the end o f each cycle approaches a con-
stant value after between 4 and 15 cycles.
Further examples must be omitted owing to lack of space; there appears to have been
some attempt at measurement of slake-durability in nearly every laboratory where soft
rocks are an everyday problem. These attempts have been largely uncoordinated.
Sieving has often been used as a method of quantifying the breakdown of a sample in the
form of irregular aggregate lumps, for example, in the Los Angeles [17] and Devat tests for
abrasion and attrition resistance, and in standard aggregate crushing tests. A test similar to
the one described in this paper was developed by BntmZR et al. for use in colliery screening
operations [18]. A shale sample of 100 g sized between and 81 in. was placed along with
1. of distilled water in a 2 lb glass jar. The sample was agitated by rotating the jar at 40
rpm for 30 rain, and was then washed on a 36 BS sieve. The finer fraction was then investi-
gated by sedimentation-size analysis. Durability was measured as the percentage retained on
the sieve, or alternatively as the percentage coarser than either 30/z or 10 t~ in size. The test
is reported as having been adopted as a standard by the National Coal Board (Great Britain).
Badger's test represented a considerable improvement over the lengthy cyclic procedures
described above. However, these cycles, even when of sufficient duration, are not likely to
correspond to natural climatic changes. The merits of cyclic tests must be examined and
compared with other techniques which also provide for accelerated weathering.
Several features of Badger's test lead to a loss of precision or of simplicity. Sedimentation-
size analysis is a tedious procedure and is to be avoided if at all possible; also a single durabi-
lity index based on one sieve size is preferred to three. A sample consisting of a greater
quantity of larger lumps would be more representative and would better reflect the influence
of rock fabric on slake-durability. The main modification required, however, is to incor-
porate the sieve within the slaking apparatus so that the amount of sieving agitation is
standardized.

DEVELOPMENT OF A STANDARD TEST

Requirements
Factors that might influence the accuracy and simplicity of the test were investigated
experimentally. The stages in this investigation are described below, but it must be realized
that the various features of the test are interdependent. For example, the choice of mesh size
 FIG. I. Slake-durability testing equipment.

RM f.p. 3281
 THE SLAKE-DURABILITY TEST 329

and sample size both influence the length of time required for slaking (slake-duration).
The sequence of investigation is therefore largely artificial, and in practice various features
of the test were optimized simultaneously by a process of trial and error. Those who are
interested in the end product of this investigation, rather than in the development of the
testing technique are referred to the next main section on 'test evaluation' and to the standard
form of test given in the Appendix.
The essential features of the standard test are as follows: A sample of oven-dried rock
lumps is rotated for 10 min in a test drum made of a standard sieve mesh (Fig. 1), with the
drum half immersed in a water bath at 20C. During the test, the finer products of slaking
pass through the mesh and into the water bath. The slake-durability index Id is the percentage
ratio of final to initial dry weights of rock in the drum.
The test aims to accelerate weathering to a maximum by combining the processes of
slaking and sieving. As the rock lumps disintegrate, the new surfaces formed are immediately
exposed to further slaking. If sieving is required, some agitation cannot be avoided, and
therefore the amount must be specified as standard for the test. The speed of rotation of the
drum, and the size of the sample were chosen to encourage mixing but to keep attrition and
agitation to a minimum.
Among the various factors that might influence the results of this type of test, the follow-
ing were considered of greater importance.
1. The apparatus--sieve mesh size, drum size and speed of rotation.
2. The sample--the size, shape, weight and number of lumps.
3. Sample pre-treatment--storage and drying.
4. The duration of slaking.
5. Nature of the slaking liquid--its chemistry and temperature.
All of these factors were investigated in detail and were standardized only if necessary.
Wherever possible the simplest standards were adopted.

The apparatus
The smallest drum was selected that would allow free mixing of the rock sample with the
maximum of rock immersed at any given time. It was thought necessary to specify the fluid
level (20 mm below the drum axis) and also the bottom clearance (40 mm) to ensure repro-
ducible results. Critical dimensions of the apparatus are given in the Appendix.
A mesh size then had to be selected. The ideal way of demonstrating slake-durability is
to compare complete particle-size distributions before and after slaking (Fig. 2). In this
figure both the cumulative and actual particle-size distributions after slaking are shown, and
are compared with the initial size of rock lumps and with the single mesh size (2 ram) even-
tually chosen to give an index for the extent of breakdown. A complete analysis by means of
dry and wet sieving and sedimentation is too tedious for routine application. Uncontrolled
breakdown during sieving cannot be avoided, and for most practical purposes, a single
sieve gives a more satisfactory index.
Figure 2, however, illustrates an exception to this rule. The 'Gortdrum mudstone' from
an opencast mine in Ireland, showed extensive breakdown to pea-size fragments on slaking,
but these did not pass through the 2 mm mesh. A misleadingly high durability index was
therefore recorded. As a precaution to guard against the mis-classification of such materials,
a description of the material retained in the drum after testing should be given, and further
sieving might be required in special circumstances. It is worth noting that breakdown to
330 J . A . F R A N K L I N A N D R. C H A N D R A

British Standord sieve size

,~ 240 72 5 2 3 6 25 4 7 9 ~ { { I i~-
~'~ " i r ~ f "T- ~: ~- , ' T : - T T
J I [ r,l,ll !,,r ,I,~ll~, ~,I,j,~!!,~~T-7 ',,,
.... C u m u l a t ve d i s t r i b u t i o n -- r ' a r b o n i f e r o u s Ei-~L ,i-lh,Ll~-~--+77J--! i i4~
v Cumuatve dstrbuton - Gortctrum ~! .4"*:1 ~il[l ~ ! ',, IE1 ! i
Carboniferous mudstone samples t98 19617 , [ T t l ~ -' ,--"~ q/--i]~- iT T
-' I i :l I lJ i I V I~ ! !
----12~ Gortdrum mudstone sompies 210-213
It
~! ,;;, ~ ;_i',l IlIL, :~ ,rl i ~ ,, -ji :
:~ i~'T ~T~ .... ,: v , 1 - I- r i t
.... I ~ - - - ~ - ~ ~ .... IT, " ~,......~ + ;- ~ - I i - , - ~ - ~ -, ~

% ~c~ ! /! LL~!Li I: 7 ll! Li, o~1 ' ~ L ! / i ~ i l q v " il ~j~! ' ' I

. . . .. . .. . 7. . . . . . . . . '
. ........ ~T r ..... , ; F. . . . . . ......1
, ..... ',~' !!! " ~ '

' I ~ I[kl,!/J \ #" ~', I~ I

i!! i !] ~ ~ ' Y, / ! ! i'

-~ 2 4- . . . . I ' .,7 ,i .'r///i/l/&'J'2",G~ll , ~,l[l i ~,
! , __--., v v

O'Oi 0"t i-O I0 "!~JO

Particle size> mm

FIG. 2. Percentage frequency of particle size distribution before and after slaking.

pea-size particles was also observed as the result of in situ weathering, and was not an out-
come of the testing technique.
Often additional size separation and a determination of clay percentage for material
passing the sieve will give extra useful information. Rocks giving low slake-durability values
can be treated as soils and can be further characterized by conventional soils tests such as
Atterberg limit determinations.
A mesh appreciably smaller than the size of individual lumps in the sample was required,
yet one with an aperture large enough not to clog. It should also be strong enough to with-
stand wear and to form a structural component of the otherwise unreinforced drum. A 2 mm
mesh was selected from the range of British and International Standard sizes [19]; 2 mm
refers to the clearance perpendicular to the wires.

The sample
A sample is more likely to be representative if it comprises several rock pieces rather than
one or two; the normal process of selecting such a sample is to collect a larger batch of
rock considered representative of material to be tested, and then to divide this by 'quartering'
until a quantity appropriate for testing is obtained. Each individual lump should be large
enough to represent the fabric of the material, much larger than the largest grain or pore
size. Regularly shaped pieces, cubes or disks, might give more reproducible results but would
require lengthy preparation; and some soft rocks cannot be machined into regular shape.
To keep preparation to a minimum, irregular lumps were proposed for testing, but lumps
approximately cubic or spherical in shape with friable corners and edges removed by hand
prior to testing.
Trials were carried out to determine the optimum sample characteristics, using granite
lumps weighing 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 or 80 g and at various speeds of rotation. A total
sample weight of 500 g ~ 50 g was chosen to give a satisfactory sieve loading. An optimum
sample, which gave a satisfactory mixing action when rotated at 20 rpm, was 10 lumps,
each 50 g 10 g. Larger lumps tend to bind together and to splash, and are difficult to
obtain if the rock is highly broken.
 THE SLAKE-DURABILITY TEST 331

Storage and dryhlg

Previous drying history has an important influence on the rate of natural or artificial
slaking, so that samples should be tested at a specified and controlled initial water content
condition. This is unfortunate since it would be simpler to test material 'as-obtained',
without any special storage precautions.
The simplest way of achieving a controlled and reproducible condition of water content
is by oven-drying. The oven-dry condition is artificial but is also convenient because it
accelerates the slaking process without fundamentally altering the mechanism of slaking. An
ahernative would be to store samples in an environment of controlled humidity prior to
testing, but this would require several days or weeks for the rock to come to an equilibrium
condition [20]. Oven-drying is also essential because the slake-durability index is based on a
comparison of weights before and after testing. The comparison of dry weights will cer-
tainly give more meaningful results than a comparison of wet weights when there are no
means of controlling initial and final water content.
It was also thought that oven-drying might 'remove' the moisture history of the material
so that its previous history of storage would not be of practical importance. However,
trials carried out on two types of claystone, Oxford Clay (Jurassic) and Weald Clay (Cre-
taceous) showed that this is not the case. Half the tests incorporated oven-drying prior to
testing, and the other half did not. A variety of storage conditions were studied:

1. Waxing to retain natural water content.

2. Unprotected storage in the laboratory for 5 days.
3. Unprotected storage in the laboratory for 2l days.
4. Storage in the open for 21 days.

Figure 3 illustrates the results of these tests. One may conclude that storage which causes
drying has the effect of increasing the slake-durability index, whether or not the sample is
oven-dried as part of the testing procedure. The effect is most pronounced in the first few
days of storage, and samples must essentially be preserved at in situ water content prior
to testing if reproducible results are to be obtained. Otherwise results might be in error by as
much as 15 per cent compared with less than 5 per cent for the standard form of the test.

Conclusion:
Drying sample due to storage prior to testing, increases durability index whether or not
material is oven-dried as part of test procedure. Storage at noturaimoisture content is necessary
9'0 90r
ohfter oven-drying 90 . TAfter o'~n-drying
Wilhout oven H ~
I ~--* vwithout oven-
drying ~" I ~ drying

7oI
o
O.c~d cla) j Weald clay rg) Oxford cloy
7~
Weald day
I I 6C 1 I
c, I0 20 60~ 5 I0 I0 20
Moisture content, % Moisture content, % Storage, days before standard test
FIG. 3. Effectof initial moisture content, oven-drying and storage of rock samples on slake-durability index
332 J.A. FRANKLIN AND R. CHANDRA

The time required to oven-dry a rock sample will depend on the drying temperature,
sample size, water content and water-retention capacity. It will be different tbr the pre- and
post-test stages of drying. The drying temperature was fixed at 105C to agree with standard
procedures for soil testing. British standard procedures specify drying until the differences
in successive weighings at intervals of 4 hr do not exceed 0- I per cent of the original sample
weight. American standards specify drying until the water content is less than 1 per cent
of the sample weight. Both methods require repeated weighing; for the limited accuracy
required of the slake test, a specified drying time could be used instead, and tests were carried
out to determine the length of time needed.

~2 5
f I----e
i
PI'-~ ioli i i - - ~
. . . . . .

Notes:
if) tO Initial drying time for [3all clay
Final drying time for Ball clay
Znitial and final drying time
5t& '* for granite

of- 6OO
i
900
i
1200
I
1500 1800
Time, rain
Fig. 4(a). Water'.loss.'expressedas a percentage of sample weight.

~1" ~ re , [nitia! drying time for Ball clay }

III i Final drying time for Ball clay
401t~. v Initia and final drying time !
II fol granite

300 ,OC qCr, i2CT

"[ in]e, rain

FIG. 4(b). Water loss expressed as a percentage of total water loss.

FIG. 4. Initial and final drying time requirements.

The results are presented in Fig. 4. Two materials of extreme character were tested: a
granite and 'ball clay', a clay with high kaolin content. These were prepared into test sam-
ples, soaked in water, then oven-dried to determine rate of water loss. The samples were
then tested in the slake apparatus and their rate o f water loss on drying again measured.
 THE SLAKE-DURABILITYTEST 333

This allowed an estimate of the time required to reach 'constant weight' according to either
of the two standard definitions above. From 2 to 6 hr has been specified, allowing some
latitude depending on the nature of the sample.

The duration of slaking

The loss of material through the drum in a fixed interval of time gives the rate of slaking,
and determines the slake-durability index. Trials showed the rate of slake loss to be ap-
proximately constant (Fig. 5) during the period when a plentiful supply of material remained
in the drum. Many non-durable rocks would show a 100 per cent loss (0 per cent durability)
if tested for a sufficient duration, and this would be unfortunate since the test is meant to
discriminate between one rock and another. On the other hand, if too short a duration were
specified, it would be less easy to discriminate between rocks of high slake-durability. Also
errors in timing the test, such as experienced during the filling of the water bath and during
removal of the drum after slaking, would become more significant.

~2

c,

>-
9:f-- ~ i
o

-g
i Samples 38-43 Seat earth, 1
85-- Samples 44-49 Claystone T
I

8O i [ f
lO 20 5
Slake duration, rain
FIG. 5. Effectof slake duration on slake-durabilityindex.

A slake-duration of I0 min was chosen on the basis of results from a few trial tests on
rocks of moderate to low durability. Later, more extensive testing confirmed this choice,
since only one sample of the many tested gave a durability below 5 per cent. Samples with
durability above 95 per cent were those that were well cemented or indurated and which
should by any system be classified as of extremely high slake-durability.

Chemistry and temperature of slake fluid

Liquids with a greater degree of ionic dissociation are, as mentioned earlier, more effective
in dispersing aggregates of clay minerals. Other mechanisms of disintegration, such as
those relying on capillary tension and build-up of pore pressures, will be affected by liquid
properties such as surface tension and viscosity. Temperature will influence the rate and
intensity of all such processes.
Earlier tests by the authors employed solutions of sodium hexametaphosphate to accele-
rate breakdown, but there were indications that tap water might be just as effective. Trials
334 J.A. FRANKLIN AND R. CHANDRA

were carried out to compare the effectiveness of various liquids, to compare distilled water
with tap water, and to examine the influence of fluid temperature of the rate of slaking. The
results are presented in Fig. 6. Trials were on one rock type only, Oxford Clay (Jurassic),
and therefore the possibility of anomalous results cannot be discounted. This claystone was
in part calcareous, which certainly contributed to a more rapid breakdown in hydrochloric
acid.

] ;{}C

,, T a p water
Sodium {, Distilled water !
i
, hexametaphosphate 20C
BC ~- I Tap water OC x" 80
E
Tap water 20C -~
Distilled water 20C E
l Tap water 22C
60-
I
i
I
Distilled water 22C
i Tap water 60C }5
r~
6C

~3 40
b9 40l-
J
Hydrochioric acid 20C

2O J
h~
2I
C 20 40 6}
Slake duration, min Temperature, ~'C

FIG. 6(a). Different slaking fluids. FLG.6(b). Different temperatures of slaking

fluids--tap and distilled water.
FIG. 6. Effectof different slaking fluids and temperatures on slake-durability index.

Sodium hexametaphosphate solution was, surprisingly, found to be a less effective

dispersing agent than water, so its use was considered an unnecessary complication. Break-
down in water was sufficiently rapid for all practical purposes.
Impurities in tap water might influence the rate of slaking sufficiently to dictate use of
distilled water in the standard test. Trials with distilled water and with London tap water
gave similar results, so that tap water (to drinking standards) was specified as the simpler
alternative.
The temperature of the water, however, was found to be an important source of variation
in the rate of slaking and therefore required standardization. Slake-durability fell from
80 to 60 per cent as water temperature was increased from 0 to 60C. Tap water at 20C.
approximating to normal ambient temperatures, was specified for the standard test.
Latitude is allowed, however, for the use of non-standard liquids or pollutant additives
and these might well provide additional useful information, particularly for rocks that show
little breakdown in the standard test. Hydrogen peroxide or ethylene glycol have, for exam-
ple, been used to give particularly rapid acceleration of weathering, although the mechan-
isms of slaking are complex and are likely to involve processes unlike those of clay dis-
persion. The test apparatus offers a method of standard treatment, irrespective of the slake
fluid employed. Acids, seawater or corrosive groundwater might also be used where these
are to be encountered in practice.
 THE SLAKE-DURABILITY TEST 335

TEST EVALUATION
Core logging
To ascertain the efficiency of the slake-durability test when used to discriminate between
mudstones in a bedded sequence, a length of rock core obtained during exploration of the
coal measures in Staffordshire was used. The core was logged conventionally, also using a
portable strength tester and using observations of fracture spacing. These three 'basic' logs
were supplemented with a log of slake-durability index and the results, published and dis-
cussed elsewhere [1], are illustrated in Fig. 7.
The value of the test as a supplementary index was evident, since durability contrasts
became apparent in materials with similar geological names and with similar appearance in

(-(d (! run Flacture 51b iS!i] Durability

Gen!cq,cal log depth, m spat[Jig ] ! rltl]q [ . r,~N a',: [ . 'S
0 50 100
M tld,,~tone, Mack L~L~L.LL.U~
ironstone, durk []re'/ ~i::~S4#,
MLJdstone, [)lack Marine I)a f~!ii~'
Coa! (Charles 'A'. W(:)
Clay mylonite, grey
Seatearth, l i g h t grey
Clay myionite g'rey
Seatearth, medium grey
Sandstone light grey t~7~.'~+*,~
Shio~!d ber;s I/ledium grey

Sahdst(me m,~dium light gr ~. . . . . . . t

S ~hdstone dalk gley

Coal (Chmles 'B", W s)

Seatearth. medium grey
Seatear~h brownish grey
Seatearth. Tnediur~l grey
S(atcalth ~edium cjrey

S~aiearth black
Mudstone black Mmme ba
Sua[.aarth, brownish grey
Seatear h brownish black
Seatearth browmsh grey
$, [!trarth. medium grey
St ~t( ail!l black
Coal
Cool arid OnSlOqe
Cod (Chal:es 'E', Wo)
460
CI~w mylomte, browmsh
S~'~teaHh. b'ownish grey
47 0

k _ __ ]
SiI on~ r~r,lh!n] light gH;y'
~--%, /
C!'V ;n~/Iordte [is~ht 9H~. ~ =j~--~ 1490
Shs, ............ b ..... g .... !-: : , ~ ...~
Sdi ('4tor!~J [}edilll]q grey ! __ z:/"/~aq -~!5{) 0
2!;I::;
\ JJ : J
S~Rdstone !;~().v>,r/ish gr(9 " .~ ii10!~.! 2'!
(%%'h~ 1out (}f C~mles 'F i i~ . . ) : ~Sl 0
S,'<.~am, h:c~,.nish gr~y I..... ' j

FIG. 7. Geotechnical logs of core from productive coal measures rocks in Staffordshire, England. (Repro-
duced from FRANKLIN et al. [1] by permission of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy.)
336 J.A. FRANKLIN AND R. CHANDRA

the core box. Although the rock had been subjected to considerable overburden pressure,
there were nevertheless horizons with durabilities as low as those superficial soils. T a k e n
together, the combined set of logs gives a useful guide to the v a r i a t i o n o f rock c h a r a c t e r
with depth in the borehole.

Errors and test reproducibility

Approximately 200 tests were conducted to evaluate the testing techniques, particularly
to determine test reproducibility. Tests were conducted in pairs, with samples of identical
rock in the left-hand and right-hand drums of the apparatus. The test error was defined in
this context as the difference between these two values of slake-durability index, in part
due to differences in the shape and size of rock lumps, pre-drying and post-drying treatment,
and to errors in weighing. Other possible sources of error such as those due to incorrect
slake-duration were common to the two drums so were not assessed; however~ these errors
are likely to be of limited importance.

Note:
Average value of Slake-durabifity
iO0~ taken correct and error (4 a n d - ) 2~
calculated as difference between IT1 26

I,,, r'l. l, this and the two individual ,values

24

]!11
2~

":i.
~1 ~i "
2,
i8
m ~6

3~ E E 4
i ~0, o0
~ L i E
73
.. ~
X:~ I X] 8
oi I t4&~ z ~ I at
20-- ~l I _~ o | ~1 I oI j
C6

0, I I 1
2 4 6 8 -8-7-6-5-4-5-2-I 0 t 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
(a) Error ( * ire or -ive) (b) Histogram of errors

FIG. 8. Error and confidence limits of slake-durability index.

Apart from one result, errors were less than 6 per cent (Fig. 8). The test is reproducible
to 4.5 per cent at the 95 per cent level of confidence. This result was regarded as satisfactory
in view of the simplicity of the test, particularly since it uses irregular lumps rather than
regularly shaped specimens of rock.
The need for careful sampling and sample storage should be further emphasized, since
although the test appears to be sufficiently accurate for practical use, the results are suscep-
tible to distortion arising from the testing of unrepresentative samples of material.

Durability classification
To explore the complete range of values for Ia likely to be met in practice, test samples
were obtained from rocks of widely differing geologic age; from the Weald clay at Warnham
(Cretaceous), the Oxford clay near Bedford (Jurassic), the coal measures rocks in Stafford-
shire (Carboniferous), and the Hughley (Silurian) and Cambrian mudstones from the Wrekin
in Shropshire (Fig. 9).
 THE SLAKE-DURABILITY TEST 337
m _.
' i i
Cembrien 5ooi " : i . Cambrian
i mudstone
~ilurien ~ 45S
I i : ~
![~-' 4' Hughley
B a,Oo! "~ : o shale
Carboniferous ~, 3 5 3 i 4,1 .. Coal rneGsure
..00~ i I ' rriudsron~
: - 250~ I
~. 2Ct, k L
~ urc~ssiC 150{: --" :~-o~,~, ~Oxford clcy
:~etaceous ~ E,s-) ** * ~ ' "*" [ ~ 7 ',Nsaid d a y
5,2, : !

g
J
~- i x: i-6,' .~[
- i
0) - E
'~ :t2 I :>,i e !
:>

IO 20 50 40 5Q 60 79 8C 90 95 '
Sl~ke-durabihty index ; :
- Soil ........... ~l~RocK,,q

FIG. 9. Slake durability classification and the variation in durability of rocks of differing age.

For clay-bearing rocks, a systematic improvement in mechanical properties with in-

creasing age has previously been reported [21] but was not substantiated in this study. The
Hughley shales gave among the lowest durability values and it is interesting to record that
these rocks are associated with well known and extensive landslide areas. The Cambrian
mudstones, on the other hand had been thermally altered by the adjacent volcanics of the
Wrekin, and so were extremely durable. A general correlation between rock age and mech-
anical competence may exist, but the results of this survey show that there are important
exceptions.
Most samples were taken from exposed slopes in brickworks and quarry excavations
where the duration of exposure could be ascertained with reasonable certainty. There was a
definite correlation between rate of weathering, stable slope angle and the slake-durability
index, although there was insufficient time to establish this correlation quantitatively. The
Weald clay, for example, weathered much more quickly than the Oxford clay. Also, expo-
sures in opencast coal workings showed profiles of pronounced differential weathering that
were predictable from the test results.
A tentative subdivision of the slake-durability scale into terms such as 'high', 'medium'
and 'low' was possible on the basis of this experience.* The proposed subdivision is as follows:

TABLE 1

o/-
Slake-durability la (/,) Classification
0-25 Very low
25-50 Low
50-75 Medium
75-90 High
90-95 Very high
95-100 Extremely high

Unequal subdivisions have been used, particularly for the more durable rocks. Most
rocks have 'extremely high' slake-durability (they slake to a negligible extent) so that smaller
subdivisions are needed to reflect slight differences in resistance to breakdown.
* A different subdivision based on two standard cycles of slaking, has subsequently been proposed by
GAMBLE[22] and is given in the Appendix (Fig. 12). The authors prefer this alternative to their own.
338 J.A. FRANKLIN AND R. CHANDRA

The two categories o f highest d u r a b i l i t y c o u l d be t e r m e d ' r o c k ' , a n d m a t e r i a l s o f lower

d u r a b i l i t y 'soil'. A distinction between r o c k a n d soil is often r e q u i r e d in engineering con-
tracts, a n d the s l a k e - d u r a b i l i t y index affords a possible q u a n t i t a t i v e m e t h o d o f discrimi-
n a t i n g between the two. H o w e v e r , the b o u n d a r y at 90 p e r cent Id m u s t be regarded as
tentative, a n d s h o u l d be r e - e x a m i n e d on the basis o f experience.

CONCLUSIONS
A s l a k e - d u r a b i l i t y test has been described t h a t is the o u t c o m e o f an a t t e m p t to quantify
a n d simplify earlier slaking tests. Results are r e p r o d u c i b l e to 5 p e r cent at the 95 p e r cent
level o f confidence; in practice the test has been shown to d i s c r i m i n a t e well between m u d -
stones o f differing d u r a b i l i t y t h a t w o u l d otherwise have a p p e a r e d similar.
T h e test is i n t e n d e d for use with o t h e r rock-index tests as an a i d to r o c k classification;
for selection a n d quality c o n t r o l o f m a t e r i a l s for rockfill, r o a d a n d concrete a g g r e g a t e ; in
p r e d i c t i n g p r o b l e m s o f e x c a v a t i o n stability a n d r o c k s u p p o r t ; a n d in selecting plant,
e q u i p m e n t a n d techniques for r o c k excavation.
R o c k classification techniques similar to those a l r e a d y available for soils are at an early
stage in their d e v e l o p m e n t . R o c k d u r a b i l i t y u n d e r a t m o s p h e r i c c o n d i t i o n s o f wetting a n d
d r y i n g is a n aspect o f r o c k b e h a v i o u r t h a t has been neglected in f a v o u r o f o t h e r p r o p e r t i e s
such as strength a n d d e f o r m a b i l i t y , b u t is nevertheless an i m p o r t a n t feature o f m a n y c o m -
m o n l y e n c o u n t e r e d r o c k engineering p r o b l e m s .

Acknowledgements--Development of the slake-durability test was financed by the Rock Mechanics Project,
Imperial College, London. The manuscript was prepared by typing and drafting staff of Woodward-Moor-
house and Associates, New York. The authors would like to thank all who contributed to this research,
either by assisting in design and construction of equipment, or by helpful and critical suggestions.

REFERENCES
1. FRANKLINJ. A., BROCHE. and WALTONG. Logging the mechanical character of rock. Trans. Instn Mix.
Metalt. 80, A1-A10 (1971).
2. FRANKLINJ. A. Classification of Rock according to its Aleehanical Properties, Ph.D. Thesis, London
University, January (1970).
3. C~ANDRAR. Slake-durability Test for Rocks, M.Sc. Thesis, London University, September (1970).
4. International Society for Rock Mechanics. Suggested Methods for Determining the Slaking, Swelling,
Porosity, Density and Related Rock Index Properties, prepared by Commission on Standardization of
Laboratory and Field Tests, January (1971).
5. SAUNDERSM. K. and FOOKESP. G. A review of the relationship of rock weathering and climate and its
significance to foundation engineering. Engng Geol. 4, 289-325 (1970).
6. BLOOMD. L. Concrete Aggregates--Soundness and Deleterious Substances, pp. 497-512, Am. Soc. Test.
Mater. Special Technical Publication STP 169-A (1966).
7. HAMROLA. A Quantitative Classification of the Weathering and Weatherability of Rocks, Proceedings
of the Fifth International Conference on Soil Mechanics FoundationEngineering, Vol. 2, pp. 772-774 (1961).
8. DEPuY G. W. Petrographic investigations of rock durability and comparisons of various test procedures.
J. Am. Ass. Engng GeoL 2, 31-46 (1965).
9. TAYLORR. K. and SPEARSD. A. The breakdown of British coal measure rocks. Int. J. Rock Mech.
Min. ScL 7, 481-501 (1970).
10. VELEYC. D. How hydrolyzable metal ions react with clays to control water sensitivity. J. Petrol Technol.
1111-1112 (1969).
11. BOSWELLP. G. H. Muddy Sediments, Heifer, Cambridge (1961).
12. NAKANOR. On weathering and change of properties of tertiary mudstone related to landslide. Soil Fdn
7, 1-14 (1967).
13. HONEYBORNED. B. Weathering Processes Affecting Inorganic Building Materials, Building Research
Station, U.K., Int. Note IN/141/65 (1965).
14. GRICE R. H. The effect of temperature-humidity on the disintegration of non-expandable shales. Bull.
Am. Ass. Engng Geol. 5(2), 69-77 (1968).
 THE SLAKE-DURABILITY TEST 339

15. HONE'CUORNED. B. and HARRISP. B. Structure of Porous Building Stone and its Relation to Weathering,
Proceedings of the Tenth Symposium of the Colston Research Society, pp. 343-359, Butterworth, London
(1958).
16. EIGENRROD D. Quantitative Slaking Test for Mudstones, University of Alberta Department of Civil
Engineering, Int. Note SM 5 (1969).
17. SHUSTER J. A. Mechanical Durability of Lateritic Gravels from Southeast Asia; Suggested Tests and
Test Standards for Highway Uses, Proceedings of the Fifth Australian Road Research Board Conference,
Canberra, Australia, August (1970).
18. BADGER C. W , , CUMMINGSA. D. and WHITMORE R. L, The disintegration of shales in water. J. In,st.
Fuel29, 417 423 (1956).
19. International Standards Organization, Woven WTre Cloth and Perf)rated Plates in Test Sieves, Standard
R565 (1967).
20, COLRACKP. S. B. and Wire B. L. The Influence of Moisture Content on the Compressive Strength of
Rock, Proceedings of the Rock Mechanics Symposium, University of Toronto, January (1965).
21, DUNCAN N., DUNNE M. H. and PETTY S. Swelling characteristics of rocks. Water Pwr 185-192 (1968).
22. GAMBLEJ. C. Durability-Plasticity Classification of Shales and other Argillaceous Rocks, Ph.D. Thesis,
University of Illinois (1971).

APPENDIX
Suffgested Method fi)r Determination of the Slake-durability Index*
Scope
1. This test is intended to assess the resistance offered by a rock sample to weakening and disintegration
when subjected to two standard cycles of drying and wetting.
Apparatus
2. The apparatus consists essentially of the following:
(a) A test drum comprising a 2"00 mm standard mesh~ cylinder of unobstructed length 100 mm and
diameter 140 ram, with solid fixed base. The drum must withstand a temperature of 105'C. The drum has a
solid removable lid. The drum must be sufficiently strong to retain its shape during use, but neither the exter-
ior of the mesh nor the interior of the drum should be obstructed, for example by reinforcing members.
(b) A trough, to contain the test drum supported with axis horizontal in a manner allowing free rota-
tion, capable of being filled with a slaking fluid such as water to a level 20 mm below the drum axis. The
drum is mounted to allow 40 mm unobstructed clearance between the trough and the base of the mesh. The
principal features of the trough and drum assembly are illustrated in Fig. 10.

~. ~OOmm
-r-
/..-------T
1

~[F luid !ever

]. . . . . [

- \ ~'
#T] /' 7-1
1 '1
E!
E
o
!
,1% q
I

FIG. 10. Critical dimensions of slake-durability test equipment.

(c) A motor drive capable of rotating the drum at a speed of 20 rpm, the speed to be held constant to
within 5 per cent for a period of 10 min.
(d) An oven capable of maintaining a temperature of 105C to within 3:'C for a period of at least 12 hr.
(e) A balance capable of weighing the drum plus sample to an accuracy of 0" 5 g.
* Reproduced from Reference [4] by permission of the International Society for Rock Mechanics.
t International Standards Organization R565 Woven Wire Cloth and Perforated Plates in Test Sieves
(1967).
 340 J. A. F R A N K L I N A N D R. C H A N D R A

Procedure
3(a) A representative sample is selected comprising ten rock lumps, each weighing 40-60 g, to give a total
sample weight of 450-550 g. Lumps should be roughly spherical in shape, and corners should be rounded
during preparation.
(b) The sample is placed in a clean drum and is dried to constant weight at a temperature of 105~C,
usually requiring from 2 to 6 hr in the oven. The weight ,4 of the drum plus sample is recorded. The sample
is then immediately tested.
(c) The lid is replaced, the drum mounted in the trough and coupled to the motor.
(d) The trough is filled with slaking fluid, usually tap water at 20C, to a level 20 mm below the drum
axis, and the drum rotated at 20 rpm for a period of 10 min.
(e) The drum is removed from the trough, the lid removed from the drum, and the drum plus retained
portion of the sample dried to constant weight at 105C. The weight B of the drum plus retained portion of
the sample is recorded.
(f) Steps (c)-(e) are repeated and the weight C of the drum plus retained portion of the sample is
recorded.
(g) The drum is brushed clean and its weight D is recorded.

Calculation
4. The slake-durability index (second cycle) is calculated as the percentage ratio of final to initial dry
sample weights as follows:
C--D
slake-durability index la2 - 100%.
A--D
Reporting of results
5. The report should include the following information for each sample tested:
(a) The slake-durability index (second cycle) to the nearest 0" 1 per cent.
(b) The nature and temperature of the slaking fluid; usually tap water at 20C, but for example dis-
tilled water, natural ground water, sea water, a dilute acid or a dispersing agent may be specified.
(c) The appearance of fragments retained in the drum.
(d) The appearance of material passing through the drum.

7f, n Shale i l samples i

6 7 Siltstone 5 samples 96 i
Mudsfone 3 samples
~: 'Clay shale' ~ sample 120(b)

E,l9 6N~mbers=TestNo J5 58 ~1.2~"~

111"~ 9~\q~11~98~
u

o

"5

E
;z
f 38 ~10 70 i
L I I ' ,
s io 2o ~0 40 50 60 ~ ~ 9o ,,cx:;

Slaking durability, % retained

Fx~. 11. Influence of the number of slaking cycles on slake-durability (from GAMBLE [22]).

Notes
6. The second cycle slake-durability index, calculated as in para. 4 above, with tap water at 20C, is pro-
posed for use in rock classification. However, samples with second cycle indexes from 0 to 10 per cent should
be further characterized by their first cycle slake-durability indexes as follows:
B--D
slake-durability index Id~ -- 100%.
A--D
 THE SLAKE-DURABILITY TEST 341

I I - - - - l l

Example: I I I I

Durability ( 2 cycle) = 7 0 i I I
Plosticity index = 5 I
D- PIotted position
Classified as m e d i u m d u r o b i l i ~ y - low plgsjiclz ~
x" I I
oJ

25 4- -F -- -- -- -- "1- -- + I-

I I I I I

I I I l I

~0 + + + -- +l-

I t
2 1 I _ I ,L~ J I ~ L I I I I
o 30 60 85 ~ 98 I00
I V e r y tow 1 Low i Medium N e d u m ~, ,,_~ V e r y
i ~igh ! ~'"J%i~h I
2-cycle slaking durability, % retained

FIG. 12. A suggested durability-plasticity classification (from GAMBLE[22]).

Indexes taken after three or more cycles of slaking and drying may be useful when evaluating rocks of higher
durability (Fig. 11).
7. Rocks giving low slake-durability results should be subjected to soils classification tests, such as deter-
mination of Atterbergs limits or sedimentation-sizeanalysis. A classification combining slake-durability index
and plasticity index (Fig. 12) is suggested in cases where a greater depth of characterization, particularly of
argillaceous rocks, is required.

ROCK 9/3--a