aayjaber
Structural
- Feb 16, 2008
- 47
The attached images are of a cylindrical core into an average serpentine rock formation I have on my project. I was cut using a coring bit. I chose an average location where I did not purposefully core in the hardest rock, I chose few soft surfaces to start the core and few harder ones. In all cores I obtained a nice cylindrical core as shown in the attached images.
I know this rock was close to the surface and the elements have ago at it for at least few hundred thousand years if not more, I can see some fissure formed in the rock but still intact and hard to separate. I did test cores going down 2 to 3 feet and was interested in the inside surface of the hollow core. Parts of the hollow core are clean smooth surface as shown in the core I am displaying, the other cores are full of cavities with very hard and sharp surface(skin). The cavities range in size from 1/4 inch to 2 inches. My only explanation is that once upon a time this rock was filled some lighter stuff, the elements had its go at it and ate what ever it could and left this full of cavities very sharp and hard rock and mainly surrounded with reddish soil (may be clay).
My questions are how long will it take of normal exposure to the elements to transform this cylinder into clay?
How long will it take to transform the skin of the hollow core once the core (pier) when it is filled with concrete and very well drained site?
If a sample like the one I am showing survived hundreds of thousands of years with full exposure to the elements why would any one assume that the skin of a pier full protected by concrete and very well drained will melt into clay and reduce the skin friction?
I would like to continue my research into this area, I would like to seek funding but I am not familiar with where and how to obtain grants for geological/geotechnical research. My background is in physics with research in the structure and mechanical properties of materials (used x-rays and other spectroscopic methods). I have been out of research for 15 years when I left academia to make money in the industry.
Any suggestions are appreciated.
I know this rock was close to the surface and the elements have ago at it for at least few hundred thousand years if not more, I can see some fissure formed in the rock but still intact and hard to separate. I did test cores going down 2 to 3 feet and was interested in the inside surface of the hollow core. Parts of the hollow core are clean smooth surface as shown in the core I am displaying, the other cores are full of cavities with very hard and sharp surface(skin). The cavities range in size from 1/4 inch to 2 inches. My only explanation is that once upon a time this rock was filled some lighter stuff, the elements had its go at it and ate what ever it could and left this full of cavities very sharp and hard rock and mainly surrounded with reddish soil (may be clay).
My questions are how long will it take of normal exposure to the elements to transform this cylinder into clay?
How long will it take to transform the skin of the hollow core once the core (pier) when it is filled with concrete and very well drained site?
If a sample like the one I am showing survived hundreds of thousands of years with full exposure to the elements why would any one assume that the skin of a pier full protected by concrete and very well drained will melt into clay and reduce the skin friction?
I would like to continue my research into this area, I would like to seek funding but I am not familiar with where and how to obtain grants for geological/geotechnical research. My background is in physics with research in the structure and mechanical properties of materials (used x-rays and other spectroscopic methods). I have been out of research for 15 years when I left academia to make money in the industry.
Any suggestions are appreciated.
