Masters Theses

Abstract

"A field study was conducted to evaluate the variations in selected physical properties of the Bethany Falls, Winterset and Argentine Limestones in the Greater Kansas City Area. On-site and laboratory testings of these rocks for hardness and strength were made. Data from the different sites were contoured to graphically illustrate changes in the rock properties geographically. Results of this study are presented with the hope that they may be useful preliminary information for rock excavation engineers working in the area.

The area covered by the study included Platte, Clay, Johnson, and Cass counties in Missouri, and Leavenworth, Wyandotte and Johnson counties in Kansas.

To determine the rock hardness for each of the three limestone members a Schmidt impact hammer (RM-710 Rock Classification Hammer) and a Shore scleroscope (Model D) were used. At each site a set of readings (10 to 15) was recorded with the Schmidt impact-hammer on every sample tested. The average values from the sets of readings were averaged to obtain a data point. Thus, a representative relative hardness value from Schmidt impact tests was obtained for each limestone of interest at a particular site. These representative average values were contoured for each limestone.

With the aid of a computer, a similar procedure of reduction and contouring was followed for Shore scleroscope relative hardness data. Only small slabbed samples could be tested with the Shore scleroscope.

All surfaces prepared for testing by both the Schmidt hammer and Shore scleroscope were oriented so that tests could be run both parallel and perpendicularly to the bedding. The results showed that direction of testing had little influence upon the hardness values.

Changes in the physical property of strength of the three Kansas City area limestones were determined by contouring point load strength index values (Is). Is values were obtained by using the Franklin Point Load test apparatus to fail irregular lump samples of the limestone. A representative average Is value was found for each limestone at each site and a contour map of Is values was drawn for each of the three limestone types.

Directions of increasing or decreasing test value were compared among the three contour maps for each limestone. Sudden increases or decreases in values from a certain test are particularly noticeable in certain areas of the point load strength index value maps, whereas variations are less drastic for the contour maps of hardness values. The contour map of scleroscope hardness values for the Argentine Limestone Member is one exception for sudden variation.

Though areas of sudden increase or decrease in value may be of concern in rock excavation, the range in values (for hardness or Is) over which this occurs is small enough to indicate the rock properties tested for are uniform over the distances shown on the maps. "--Abstract, pages ii-iii.

Advisor(s)

Barr, David J.

Committee Member(s)

Elifrits, C. Dale
Hasan, Syed

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Geological Engineering

Publisher

University of Missouri--Rolla

Publication Date

Summer 1983

Pagination

xiv, 203 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 129-130).

Geographic Coverage

Kansas City Metropolitan Area, Kansas
Kansas City Metropolitan Area, Missouri

Rights

© 1983 John Robert Cramer, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Limestone -- Kansas -- Kansas City Metropolitan Area
Limestone -- Missouri -- Kansas City Metropolitan Area

Thesis Number

T 4963

Print OCLC #

10157816

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