Some factors affecting the uniaxial strength of weak sandstones

The paper reports on a study of the weak sandstones of the Shihti and Kweichulin Formations to the east of Taipei, Taiwan. The results indicate that the wave velocity and uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of the samples decreased as water content increased, while wave velocity, UCS and slake durability increased with increasing porosity. Regression analyses demonstrated that wave velocity, UCS and slake durability decreased with increased quartz content. The values of these engineering properties also increased with a higher proportion of matrix/detritus, although the exact nature of the interrelationships between these factors is not clear.