Classification of building materials, especially natural materials, is not straightforward, time-consuming and labour-intensive, as significantly more samples are required for a qualification process than for artificial materials. This investigation can be more complicate when the material behaviour (resistance) is examined against short time loading such as explosion, impact, etc.. A good solution for this would be the Charpy impact test, as it can be performed easily and quickly. Also it is important that the cost of this test is not expensive. For many materials, such as metals, glasses and polymers, the standard Charpy impact test has already been developed. Another advantage is that almost all possible conditions related to a given rock specimen can be measured. In addition, a wide variety of cases can be easily modelled, from quarrying to everyday use. The aim of the research is to find a qualification procedure by which a correlation can be found between the compressive strength of the rock and the result of the Charpy impact test. In addition to determining the physical parameters of the rock, an ultrasonic propagation velocity test was performed from non-destructive tests. In the case of destructive tests, the bending strength was determined first, then the impact energy test within the framework of the Charpy impact test, and finally the compressive strength.
The specimens formed from each block were examined at different temperatures and saturation states, modelling the real environment and the obtained weather load as much as possible. Saturated, air-dried, and frozen samples were also formed from each specimen. Using statistical methods, the aim is to find a correlation between the impact energy and the other test results.
