Determining the degree of saturation of rocks as a function of time: A case study from mountainous area of Turkey

The aim of this study is to scrutinize whether, in terms of saturation, the 48 hour duration suggested by ISRM (International Society for Rock Mechanics) methods and ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standard in rocks is sufficient or not, and to examine how the degree of saturation of rocks may be determined as a function of time. For this purpose, samples from five different rock groups including igneous (andesite, granite, andesitic tuff) and sedimentary (limestone, sandstone) exposed in Gümüşhane city which is from mountainous area of north-eastern Turkey, have been compiled. Measurements were taken on the samples left for saturation under laboratory conditions as a result of which the degree of saturation values at the end of these time periods were determined. Similarly, at the end of 48 hours, the samples were left to dry under atmospheric conditions in the laboratory environment and their time dependent degree of saturation were also calculated at different times. The changes as a function of time in the degree of saturation were then examined mathematically using non-linear, exponential and logarithmic functions. Graphs and equations related with the acquired time-degree of saturation values and the correlation coefficient (r) values for these equalities have indicated a high accordance between time and degree of saturation for the studied rock groups. The applied methodology will be beneficial for determining the degree of saturation based on time for engineering studies that will be carried out in similar lithologies.