Examining the effects of aging conditions, water saturation, and sample temperature on rock brittleness

Various physical and mechanical properties and brittleness characteristics have been studied in detail to better understand the properties and brittleness values of rocks used in engineering research and rock excavation processes. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the weathering behavior, water saturation, constitutive temperatures, and brittleness values of natural stones. This study compares the brittleness properties of nine different rocks with their physical, mechanical, and elastic properties. For this purpose, 9 different brittleness indices (B1 – B9) of rocks were defined and experimentally performed by laboratory experiments, and statistical evaluation methods were used. The brittleness indices used were determined from literature and new brittleness indices equations were created in this study. According to statistical evaluation, strong and significant relationships were found between the brittleness values of B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, and B9. These results will provide practical solutions for engineering projects and be of significant convenience to practicing engineers. This study makes an important contribution to the determination of brittleness values, which have become an important parameter in the field of excavation mechanics, and to increase the reliability of rock mechanics experiments.