The effect of thermal cycles on limestone mechanical degradation

This work presents the results of an experimental program performed to study the effect of long series of moderate thermal cycles on the mechanical response of a limestone rock. Samples were exposed to more than 1000 temperature cycles from 10° to 50°C in dry conditions. Rock degradation was followed by measuring axial and radial strains, elastic wave velocities and uniaxial compression strength during the test. Results evidence an accumulation of strains and a decrease in P-wave velocity and uniaxial compression strength with no noticeable change in porosity. This study highlights the important effects that temperature cycles have on rock mechanical properties, even for moderate cycle amplitudes.