Characterization analyzes in the geomechanical behavior of travertine rock

Abstract

There is a fundamental interest in studying travertine rocks, and this is to understand their structure, their geomechanical behavior and other particularities in order to guarantee their proper use in different engineering and architectural applications, and thus, evaluate the sustainability of the travertines, natural resources, the stability of slopes, the preservation of cultural heritage and the mitigation of possible anthropic risks. Travertine has petrological and mechanical properties similar to carbonates from oil fields such as those found in El Presal-Brazil, which currently contain the largest hydrocarbon reserves in the world. Given the impossibility of obtaining rock samples from this deposit to carry out the study, rocks similar to these were used. The present study specifically used samples of Lapis tiburtinus rocks, coming from the west of the city of Tivoli in Italy and these showed resistance to uniaxial and triaxial compression, and showed mechanical resistance due to increased porosity and brittleness. The investigation carried out an analysis of the geomechanical behavior travertine through an experimental program, which includes a petrological, structural, and mechanical characterization. It was determined the travertine is mainly composed of micrite and spastic calcite without the presence of grains or allochemical cements and presents high porosity of the fenetral and vulgar type. Macro and micropores were found to be chaotically distributed in the rock and have low connectivity, which demonstrates the complexity and heterogeneity of the porous structure of Roman travertine. Uniaxial and triaxial compressive strength tests were also carried out, observing a decrease in its mechanical strength due to the increase in porosity, presenting a property of brittleness in its behavior. The results were consistent and valid for this type of rock compared to other studies; determining that there is a correct and adequate operation of the triaxial cell used in the mechanical resistance tests.