Stone Testing – Purpose of Dorry’s Testing Machine In standard laboratory evaluation of building stones, the Dorry’s testing machine is specifically used to determine which property relevant to road and floor stones?

Civil Engineering Building Materials Difficulty: Easy
Choose an option
  • A
    Crushing strength under compressive load
  • B
    Hardness/abrasion resistance of stone surfaces
  • C
    Impact resistance under sudden loads
  • D
    Water absorption by saturation
  • E
    Tensile splitting strength

Answer

Correct Answer: Hardness/abrasion resistance of stone surfaces

Explanation

Introduction:Different stone tests target different failure mechanisms. The Dorry’s testing machine is a classic apparatus used to rank stones for wear resistance—critical for road metal, flooring, and pavements subjected to traffic abrasion.

Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Specimens are stone discs or cylinders prepared to standard sizes.
  • Machine applies abrasive action under load using standardized materials.
  • Loss in weight or thickness indicates wear.

Concept / Approach:

Hardness in this context reflects resistance to abrasion. Dorry’s test simulates grinding action, producing a quantifiable wear index. Materials with better hardness show less loss and are favored for surfacing where polish and durability matter.

Step-by-Step Solution:

1) Prepare stone specimens as per the method.2) Subject to abrasive action under prescribed load and revolutions.3) Measure loss in weight/volume to compute wear index.4) Interpret results: lower loss ⇒ higher hardness/abrasion resistance.

Verification / Alternative check:

Materials testing manuals group Dorry’s test with other abrasion tests (e.g., Los Angeles) for comparative assessment of wear resistance.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Crushing, impact, and water absorption are measured via distinct apparatuses and procedures; Dorry’s machine is not designed for these properties.

Common Pitfalls:

Confusing abrasion tests with impact or compression tests; mislabeling the wear index as strength.

Final Answer:

Hardness/abrasion resistance of stone surfaces

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