Untersuchungen zur Veränderlichkeit und Zerfallsbeständigkeit von Sandsteinen und ihren Ursachen

Investigations on the slaking potential and disintegration resistance of sandstones and their causes

Sandstone frequently occurs in Germany's subsoil as foundation ground and is used as a building material or natural stone in various ways. Nevertheless, most of them are not durable, but show signs of disintegration over periods relevant to foundation engineering, which usually has a lasting effect on the quality of the construction, causes hazards, and therefore often requires expensive remedial measures. This paper presents a study in which 21 types of sandstone from ten different geological formations (Triassic to Tertiary) were examined and classified concerning their slaking potential. The results show that most of the investigated sandstones belong to the class of weak rocks, whereby various parameters determine durability and structural strength. In summary, an excellent correlation between the slaking index and structural strength was determined for the sandstones examined, and the sandstone groups were assigned to the slaking classes so that this group of rocks can be assessed in terms of their durability before a construction project. In future projects, such investigations can help to correctly categorize and classify the sandstones that occur in the subsoil or are suitable for further use during the preliminary geotechnical investigations in order to minimize risks and costs in the long term.