CORELATION OF PETROGRAPHIC AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF MALAKAND GRANITE, MALAKAND, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

Abstract

The use of the granite is increasing day by day in construction industry. Therefore, the mechanical properties of Malakand granite were investigated to estimate the strength and give recommendations in designing safe structures. The present research deals with the investigation and correlation of compressive strength, specific gravity and water absorption of granite from different localities of Malakand, KP, Pakistan. Malakand Granite with distinct petrographic features have been tested to examine the influence of textural characteristics on the variation of their respective strength. Comparison of petrographic observations before and after the strength tests and the relationship of fracture propagation with mineral boundaries specify vital impact of textural variation in evaluating the mechanical behavior of granites. The important textural features include average grain size of rock, grain boundary recrystallization, and maximum grain size of major rock forming minerals, mean grain size of cleaved minerals, mineral exsolution and variation of grain size within a rock. The petrographic observations, however, are more effective to describe the strength variation of granites having analogous weathering grade as change in degree of weathering has a dominant effect on rock mechanics.