Compressive Strength of Vuggy Oolitic Limestones as a Function of Their Porosity and Sound Propagation

Vuggy oolitic limestones have been screened previously based on the determination of their cementation exponent (m) values. The higher the m values above 2, the higher the percentage of separated vugs. Uniaxial compressive strength of 15 French vuggy limestones has been characterized using the velocity of sound and some pore related properties. The work resulted in 10 equations that predict compressive strength from velocity of sound, saturation coefficient, cementation exponent (m), permeability, and porosity (total, sonic, secondary, matrix, and vug). Practical implications of the present work and its limitations have also been discussed.