Carbonate geomaterial samples were tested for uniaxial compressive strength and tensile strength under air-dried and distilled-water-wet conditions. When tested for uniaxial compression, samples saturated with distilled water showed 20% lower average strength than that of air-dried samples. In the indirect tensile (Brazilian) test, samples saturated with distilled water showed 25% lower average strength than that of dry samples. In comparison with air-dried conditions, when the geomaterial is saturated with water, the ratio of the tensile strength to the compressive strength is decreased, mainly due to the decrease in the tensile strength caused by the Rehbinder effect.
Keywords: Rehbinder effect; carbonate rock; geomaterial; saturation; strength.