Evaluation of Slake Durability of Different Rock Types at Road Cut Slopes Around Ankara

Date

2026-9-1

Author

Öztürk, Ceren Sinem

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The Slake Durability Test (SDT) is a widely used laboratory method in engineering geology and rock mechanics for assessing the resistance of rocks to disintegration and weathering. However, the traditional testing procedure does not adequately reflect the deterioration mechanisms that occur under natural environmental conditions. To address this limitation, the present study examines the applicability of a modified testing approach in accordance with the discard method, with the aim of improving the evaluation of rock strength and abrasion susceptibility. Within the scope of this study, rock samples representing different lithological units were collected from 40 road cut slopes located in and around Ankara, Türkiye. Each sample was tested using both the standard Slake Durability Test and the discard method. The outcomes obtained from the two testing methods were compared to evaluate how closely the standard and discard method approaches reflect the weathering processes observed under natural conditions. The test results show that the discard method approach provides a more accurate assessment of slake durability variations and enables a clearer differentiation between the weathering characteristics of different rock types. The results also demonstrate that the discard method offers a more representative evaluation of rock behavior during the weathering process. Overall, the findings presented in this study reveal that the discard method approach has significant potential as a complementary tool for rock slake durability characterization for the purpose of geotechnical investigations. Its application may contribute to more reliable engineering geological assessments, particularly in projects involving weak to moderately strong rock masses.

Subject Keywords

Slake Durability Test, Discard method, Rock Durability, Weathering, Engineering Geology, Ankara, Turkey

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/121032

Collections

Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis