The change of rock properties by artificial weathering tests and its implications for durability of building stones

Some well-known artificial weathering tests such as freezing-thawing, acid immersion, and salt crystallization are adopted to examine the change of rock properties during the processes of artificial weathering. Granites and other rock types of limestone, marble and basalt collected from different quarries in south Korea were sampled for this study. All tests were performed up to 30 cycles and physical properties were measured after experiencing every ten cycles of artificial weathering tests. During the tests, the variation trends of rock properties were too variable to draw generalized variation patterns but it can be concluded that weathering agents have different effect on rock properties depending on weathering circumstance and time. Even in short terms of salt crystallization tests, some rocks were severely deformed and then burst, and in the early stages of salt weathering, recrystallized salts filling pores and cracks in rocks could be a important factor affecting rock properties.