7th BALKANMINE CONGRESS – Proceedings, Prijedor 2017

DOI: 10.7251/BMC170702155A

A COMPARISON OF SLAKE DURABILITY INDEX (SDI) BETWEEN

SPHERE AND ROUNDED MARL TEST SAMPLES

Hüseyin ANKARA1, Süheyla YEREL KANDEMİR2, A. Burak POSTALLI1

1
Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey, hankara@ogu.edu.tr, bpostalli@ogu.edu.tr
2
Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University, Bilecik, Turkey, syerel@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

There are a lot of factors affecting the results of Slake Durability Index (SDI) test which is used to be
determined abrasiveness and degradability of weak rocks. One of these factors is also the geometrical
shapes of test samples used in SDI test. Although it is suggested that test samples should be equivalent
sized spherical sample recommended by ASTM and ISRM, the formation of this geometrical shape is
quite hard with the applied technique of sample preparation according to standards.
In this study, SDI values have been determined on sphere and rounded test samples preparing to
massive marl. A new sample method called Pasha Method was used to prepare sphere samples from
the massive marl blocks collected from Tuncbilek lignite mine in Kutahya-Turkey. The SDI tests were
performed on equal weight sphere test samples and rounded test samples with balanced charge. The
SDI values were determined for the three different groups subjected to the SDI test for 12 cycles. The
index values of the massive sphere test sample group were found to be higher than the index values of
rounded test sample groups having balanced charge. As a result, such a study can be complement and
development for slake durability index test and.

Keyword: SDI; massive marl; sphere test sample; rounded test sample; balance charge

1. INTRODUCTION

The SDI test was improved by Chandra [1] and Franklin and Chandra [2]. The test was
proposed as an important test for rock mechanics by ISRM [3] and ASTM [4] standard. The
goal of SDI test is to ensure an index that is concerned to durability of rock against alteration
when subject to two cycles [2,5-6].
The SDI test is significant test for shales, clay-bearing rocks etc. [2]. The tests is offered in the
standards that the samples should be nearly to spherical. But, preparation of close spherical
samples is difficult [5,7]. For this reason, some papers were examine to the effects of rock
samples profile and disorders on the SDI test [8].
The aim of this study is to suggest a method of preparation of spherical samples used in SDI
test and apply this new method on massive marl samples collected at the coal quarry located

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at Kutahya in Turkey. It also aims to carry out slake durability test on these prepared samples
and also to compare the results.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

2.1. Massive Marl Samples

Massive marl rock blocks used in this study were collected from Tuncbilek Lignite Open Pit
Mine operated by Garp Lignite Enterprise (GLI) located at western part of Turkey..
Mineralogical structure of marls consists of quartz, calcite and dolomite [10]. The chemical
composition of massive marl samples is SiO2 53.26 %, Al2O3 7.11%, Fe2O3 4.20 %, MgO
4.58 %, CaO 10.34 %, LOI 18.3 %.

2.1. Sphere Sample Preparation Method

The preparation of close sphere samples occurs of three process. First process is to cut cubes
from obtained rocks. Second process is to cut cubes to form a pre-sphere shape which is
called as Pasha Cut method. The third process is to obtain close sphere samples by means of
an instrument modified for this aim [11-16].

2.2. Slake Durability Test

In this study, the SDI test was conducted the marl rock samples in suitable with ISRM
standards using a Standard slake durability test apparatus. Three different representative test
samples were prepared; equal sized spherical representative samples according to pasha
method (Grup#1), rounded representative samples (Grup#2 and Grup#3) having balanced
charge according to standard. Samples were placed in drums mounted in the respective
troughs filled with water. The drums were rotated in the samples. All samples retained in the
drums were carefully removed and put in the oven according to ISRM standard [3]. The
samples were again put in the drums and the whole process repeated. The final oven-dried
weight of the retained samples after the twelve cycles was recorded. The data were used to
calculate the Slake Durability Index after from the first to twelfth cycles.
The equal sized sphere and rounded samples shown in Figure 1 were subjected to the SDI test
according to standard. The condition of samples after the test for sphere and rounded samples
also shown in Figure 1, respectively. Grup#2 contains 5 samples of 50 grams, 3 samples of 55
grams and 2 samples of 45 grams. Grup#3 contains 4 samples of 50 grams, 3 samples of 55
grams and 3 samples of 45 grams.

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Sphere test samples before the test

Sphere test samples after the test

Rounded test samples before the test (Grup#2) Rounded test samples after the test

Rounded test samples before the test (Grup#3) Rounded test samples after the test
Figure 1. Sphere and rounded samples and the condition of the samples at the end of 12 th cycle.

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3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In this paper, slake durability tests were applied comparison of the SDI values on the equal
sized sphere and rounded samples prepared Marl block samples taken from Tuncbilek lignite
mine. Index values after twelfth cycle for equal sized sphere and rounded samples were found
to be 97.47 %, 93.47 % and 93.48 % for Id12 index values, respectively. In addition, index
values of sphere sample after second cycle were determined as between 99.33 % for Id2 index
values and after fourth cycle were found 98.93 % for Id4 index values. On the other hand,
index values of rounded sample after second cycle were determined as between 98.61 % and
98.42 % for Id2 index values and after fourth cycle were ranged from 97.35 % to 97.21 % for
Id4 index values Table 1.

High index values taken after two cycles of SDI test cannot be useful for the evaluation of the
durability. Therefore, Gökçeoğlu [7] suggested that durability of compact rocks could be
evaluated with index values after fourth cycle, Id4. In this study, the average index values
after four cycles were found to be 98.93 % for sphere samples and 97.35-97.21 % for rounded
samples. Durability classifications of sphere and rounded samples are assessed as very high
durability and high durability by Id4, respectively. In addition to, after twelve cycles, higher
index value, 97.47 % for Id12, was obtained from the spherical samples when compared to
rounded samples, 93.47-93.48 % for Id12. Similarly, this situation was observed for all cycles,
Figure 2.

Table 1. Comparision of the results of the slake durability index tests

Sphere Samples Rounded Samples
Cycles
GRUP#1 GRUP#2 GRUP#3
C-1 99.60 99.30 99.02
C-2 99.33 98.61 98.42
C-3 99.12 97.81 97.89
C-4 98.93 97.35 97.21
C-5 98.80 96.79 96.71
C-6 98.57 96.26 96.21
C-7 98.40 95.78 95.73
C-8 98.17 95.32 95.27
C-9 98.00 94.84 94.77
C-10 97.81 94.30 94.31
C-11 97.64 93.89 93.90
C-12 97.47 93.47 93.48

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Figure 2. Comprasion of the SDI values of sphere and rounded marl samples

4. CONCLUSIONS

In this paper, slake durability tests were applied on the sphere and rounded massive marl
samples taken from Tuncbilek Lignite Open Pit Mine. Index values of sphere samples after
Second, fourth and twelfth cycles for sphere samples were found to be 99.33, 98.93 and 97.47
%, respectively. On the other hand, index values after second, fourth and twelfth cycles for
rounded samples were found to be 98.61-98.41, 97.35-97.21 and 93.47-93.48 %, respectively.
Higher index values were obtained from the sphere samples when compared to rounded
sample results. In addition, durability classifications of sphere and rounded samples are
assessed as very high durability and high durability by Id4, respectively.
It could be claimed that rounded or irregular samples tended to represent more disintegration
due to surface roughness and properties when compared to the sphere samples. It can be said
that sphere samples can give more accurate results in terms of SDI test.

REFERENCES

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[8] Agustawijaya. D. S., (2003). Modelled mechanisms in the slake-durability test for soft rocks. Dimensi
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