ABSTRACT
This chapter explains major fundamental processes, and describes the effects of degradation processes on the properties of rocks. Degradation results from the alteration of minerals, the weakening of particle bonds and/or solution of particles. Freezing–thawing cycles are an important process in the degradation of rocks with time. The failures of engineering structures generally occur during thawing or after heavy rains as a result of the degradation due to freezing–thawing and decrease of strength properties of tuffs with saturation. A series of experiments were carried out on samples of tuffs of Zelve and Derinkuyu subjected to freezing–thawing cycles under dry and saturated conditions with high temperature variations, and changes in weight, elastic wave velocity, needle penetration index and uniaxial compressive strength were determined. The cyclic saturation and drying tests were carried out in accordance with the procedures given by International Society for Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering and American Society for Testing Methods.
