Assessment of the Quality of Tuffs in Central Anatolia, Turkey: A Quantitative Classification Approach

Abstract

The growing global demand for dimension stones necessitates efficient and accurate evaluation methods to ensure their optimal use in various industries. To assess their suitability for various dimension stone applications, this study investigates tuffs from Central Anatolia, Turkey. For this purpose, the fundamental physical and mechanical properties of the tuffs were determined in laboratory studies, and a detailed durability assessment was conducted for each rock type. The analysis results indicate that most of the examined rocks are of low quality and more suitable for non-load-bearing applications. Based on the collected data, fuzzy clustering techniques were applied to develop a new classification system, categorising the tuffs into four classes (Class A-D) according to their potential applications. Additionally, a user-friendly MATLAB-based software tool was also developed to facilitate the implementation of the proposed classification system.