Proceedings of the Rocscience International Conference 2025 (RIC 2025)

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Multi-scale Characterization of Sandstone-Shale Interbedded Formations: Integrating Rock Material Properties for Stability Analysis

Authors
Mohd Mustaqim Mohd-Nordin1, 2, Mohd Ashraf Mohamad Ismail1, *
1School of Civil Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300, Penang, Malaysia
2School of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 26400, Pahang, Malaysia
*Corresponding author. Email: ceashraf@usm.my
Corresponding Author
Mohd Ashraf Mohamad Ismail
Available Online 7 December 2025.
DOI
10.2991/978-94-6463-900-1_56How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Sandstone-shale interbedded formations; Slope stability; Micro- to macro-characterization; Weathering effects
Abstract

This study presents a multi-scale analysis of sandstone-shale interbedded formations, focusing on the material properties and their impact on slope stability in tropical regions. Micro- to macro-characterization methods, including petrophysical assessments and SEM-EDS analysis, were used to investigate the mineral composition and microstructure of both rock types. Slake durability tests were conducted to assess weathering effects, revealing significant material degradation, especially in shale, due to repeated wetting and drying cycles. At the macroscale, the study analyzed how these micro-structural changes influence slope stability in tropical climates, where weathering is accelerated. A failure mechanism analysis showed the contrasting mechanical behaviors of the sandstone and shale layers, with weakened shale contributing to potential failure planes. The findings highlight the importance of integrating microstructural data with macroscopic mechanical responses to improve predictions of slope failure in interbedded formations. This multi-scale approach provides valuable insights into the failure mechanisms of sandstone-shale formations, helping to enhance geotechnical designs and risk mitigation strategies in weathering-prone areas.

Copyright
© 2025 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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Volume Title
Proceedings of the Rocscience International Conference 2025 (RIC 2025)
Series
Atlantis Highlights in Engineering
Publication Date
7 December 2025
ISBN
978-94-6463-900-1
ISSN
2589-4943
DOI
10.2991/978-94-6463-900-1_56How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2025 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - CONF
AU  - Mohd Mustaqim Mohd-Nordin
AU  - Mohd Ashraf Mohamad Ismail
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/12/07
TI  - Multi-scale Characterization of Sandstone-Shale Interbedded Formations: Integrating Rock Material Properties for Stability Analysis
BT  - Proceedings of the Rocscience International Conference 2025 (RIC 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 557
EP  - 570
SN  - 2589-4943
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-900-1_56
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-900-1_56
ID  - Mohd-Nordin2025
ER  -