ASSIGNMENT # 05

Submitted to: Engr. Mansoor Iqbal

Submitted by: Uswa Fatima
Reg. No: 2017-GE-16

UNIVERSITY OF ENGINERRING & TECHNOLOGY LAHORE

GEOLOGICAL ENGINERRING DEPARTMENT

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Contents:

Assignment Title:................................................................................................................................... 4
1 Introduction: .................................................................................................................................. 4
1.1 Slake Durability Test: ............................................................................................................ 4
1.2 Apparatus used: ..................................................................................................................... 4
1.3 Slake Durability Test Apparatus: .......................................................................................... 4
1.4 Porosity: ................................................................................................................................. 4
2 Procedure: ...................................................................................................................................... 5
3 Calculations & Observations: ........................................................................................................... 5
4 Precautions: ..................................................................................................................................... 5
5 Conclusions: .................................................................................................................................... 6
6 References: ...................................................................................................................................... 6

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List Of Figures:
Figure 1 Slake Durability Test Apparatus ................................................................................................ 4

List Of Tables:
Table 1 Observations ............................................................................................................................... 5

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Assignment Title:
To Estimate slaking potential of a given rock sample using slake durability test
apparatus.

1 Introduction:
The statement includes two words “slake” & “durability”. Slake by words mean mixing a
material with something else maybe water to make a combination. Whereas, durability is the ability
to withstand wear, pressure, or damage.

1.1 Slake Durability Test:

A test to estimate the resistance of rocks. This test is done to find out the resistance
offered by a rock sample to weakening and disintegration when subjected to two standard cycles
of drying and wetting in a slaking fluid usually water.
The main purpose of this „slake-durability test‟ is to evaluate the weathering resistance of shales,
mudstones, siltstones and clay-bearing rocks.

1.2 Apparatus used:

o Balance
o Slake Durability Test Apparatus.
o Oven

1.3 Slake Durability Test Apparatus:

The drum 2.00 mm (No 10) square mesh will be made from the requirements of the details. It will
be cylindrical in shape, with diameter of 140 mm (in 5.5) and the length of 100 mm (I 3.9). The finish
will be tough plates with a removable end. It must be strong enough to maintain its shape during the
use, but neither the interior of the mesh nor the drums will be affected by a support. The drums will
be able to withstand the temperature of 110 0C. A trough will support the drums in a horizontal style
thus the drums are free to roam about its axis. The trough slabs will be able to be filled with fluids of
20 millimeters (in 0.8) under the drum axis, and the trough between the pit and the 40 bottom of the
mesh will allow non-moveable clearance (in 1.6). Drums will be circulating by a motor capable of
maintaining speed of 20 rpm, 5% for continuous, 10 minutes for a period. Devices with these
requirements are commercially available.

1.4 Porosity:

Figure 1 Slake Durability Test Apparatus

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 The state or quality of being porous or full of pores. Slaking has closely related with porosity. Due
to the increase in the water content in the pores, fracture develops in the rock which leads to the
weathering of rocks. This mechanism seems to dominate durability of porous rock.

2 Procedure:
o Dry the sample to constant mass by placing it in oven. Place the sample in the drum of the
machine and record the weight of sample plus drum.
o Fit the lid with the drum; mount the drum in the trough.
o Fill the trough with slaking fluid to a level. Rotate the drum at 20 rev/min for a period of 10
minutes.
o Remove the drum from trough and remove the lid from the drum.
o Dry the drum plus retained portion of the sample in an oven.
o Record the weight of drum plus retained portion of the sample.
o Clean the drum and record its weight.

3 Calculations & Observations:

1st cycle:
Rock Sample = Sandstone
Mass of drum = 1768 gram
Oven dried sample before 1st cycle = 504 gram
Oven dried sample after first cycle = 492 gram
B = mass of drum + oven dried sample before 1st cycle
B = 1768 + 504
B = 2272 gram
C = mass of drum = 1768 gram
WE = mass of drum + oven dried sample after 1st cycle
WE = 1768 + 492
WE = 2260 gram
Id = (WE – C)/ (B – C) × 100
Id = 97.61%
Table 1 Observations

DESCRIPTION SAMPLE

Mass of sample (g) 504

Oven dried sample before 1st cycle (g) 492

Moisture Content (%) 2.4%

Oven dried sample retained 492

Slake durability Index (1 st Cycle) (%) 97.61

4 Precautions:
 Must wear the safety measures of the lab.

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  Fill the water up to the mark.
 Zero the reading before weighing a sample.
 The rock samples should not have sharped edges.

5 Conclusions:
The durability index of Sandstone was found to be 100%. The natural water content was
found to be 0.97%.

6 References:
 http://civilblog.org/2013/08/12/slake-durability-test-of-rock-sample-is-10050-1981
 J.A. Franklin, R. Chandra (1972). “The slake-durability test”, International Journal of
Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Aeromechanics Abstracts Volume 9, Issue 3,
May 1972, Pages 325-328