ABSTRACT
Limestone is an abundant source of rock in countries worldwide. It is widely used in the construction industry to produce various sizes of aggregates and dimension stone for building applications. Given the extensive utilization of aggregates, knowledge of its fundamental mechanical properties is essential for determining the properties and performance of products and projects in which it is incorporated. This study presents the results of a laboratory-based experimental program performed on limestone rock cores collected from three different quarries in Lebanon, namely Aarsal, Kelya, and Tamnine. A total of 80 cores were tested to determine the uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus (E). Also studied is the variability in the mechanical properties of limestone in Lebanon as a function of the source of the origin rock. The analysis extends to incorporate relevant data from literature. The studied variability is modeled by fitting a probabilistic distribution to the experimental data obtained using the Chi Square Goodness of Fit test. Finally, a linear regression model that relates the elastic modulus of limestone to the uniaxial compressive strength is developed using all the data gathered.
