Influence of Weathering on Pore Size Distribution of Soft Rocks

Abstract Soft rocks can weather and lose their structure within a short time due to drying out rewetting. Thus they are very sensitive weathering. Since these often found in the shallow subsurface, of great practical relevance foundation constructions. The rock properties change during weathering process. Particularly relevant is softening material decrease its mechanical properties, which determined typically using laboratory or field tests. objective this study examine more detail how microstructure changes over course weathering, results properties. Sulfate Grabfeld-Formation Stuttgart, Germany were investigated. Using XRD analyses it was revealed that initially chemical processes occurs whereby leach out, followed by physical Investigations with mercury porosimeter showed intraaggregate pore content greatly increases, whereas proportion interaggregate pores only slightly increases.