Correlation of P-wave velocity with mechanical and physical properties of limestone with statistical analysis

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the correlation between the P-wave velocity (V_p) and the mechanical and the physical properties of the limestone; V_p tests were conducted on over 320 limestone samples. Moreover, the effects of the mineralogical, textural, and chemical composition of limestone were also studied through thin sections, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The relationships between the V_p and the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), point load index (PLI(I_s(50)), 2nd cycle of slake durability index (I_d2), natural unit weight (γ_n), specific gravity (G_s(c)), water absorption by weight (WA), and porosity (n) were estimated using representative empirical equations. The empirical equations were validated by Student's t test that has indicated the existence of strong relationships between the mechanical and physical properties of the intact limestone with V_p; the calculated t-values were higher than the t-critical value. Furthermore, the results of previously available studies were compared with the results of this study in terms of the generated equations for V_p values and the slope of a 1:1 line, which was used to appraise the predicted and measured values. This study demonstrates that the UCS, PLI(I_s(50)), I_d2, γ_n, G_s(c), WA, and n values of an intact limestone can be predicted by using V_p, which is fast, easy, economical and nondestructive test.