Tensile strength properties of coquina - Historic building stone from the First Coast of Florida

N. Hudyma, L. Kimes, J. Oglesby, M. Davies

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Coquina is a historic building stone from the First Coast of Florida which has been used since the mid-1500s for both military and residential construction. Coquina is a limestone consisting of shells cemented with calcium carbonate and quartz sand. Split tension testing was conducted on specimens cored from blocks of coquina. Core samples with diameters of 50.8 mm, 70 mm and 94.6 mm were obtained both perpendicular and parallel to bedding. Seventy-five specimens were tested. Results indicate there is variability between tensile strength of specimens obtained from different blocks. The relationship between tensile strength and unit weight was more variable than expected considering the simple composition of the coquina. Based on the limited testing of specimens cored perpendicular to bedding, coquina is transversely isotropic and there is an decrease in tensile strength with increasing specimen size. Acid bath testing was used to determine the percentage of quartz sand in the specimen in an attempt to relate cementation, expressed as a mass percentage of sand, to tensile strength.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication51st US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2017
Pages1454-1461
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9781510857582
StatePublished - 2017
Event51st US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2017 - San Francisco, United States
Duration: 25 Jun 201728 Jun 2017

Publication series

Name51st US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2017
Volume2

Conference

Conference51st US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2017
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco
Period25/06/1728/06/17

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