ANTI-ERODIBILITY OF CORAL REEF LIMESTONES ON THE XISHA-NANSHA ISLANDS

In the South China Sea, carbonate debris and fragments are commonly transported by air and waterflow in forms of typhoon, wind wave, swell, storm surges and astronomic tide etc. accompanied by strongly erosion of the reef limestones. The research work presented in this paper confirmed the reliability of the abrasion theoretical model we developed via abrasion and compression experiments firstly. And then, the anti-erodibility factor with the dimension of pressure is defined using compressive strength and elastic modulus to quantificationally describe the anti-erodibility of rocks against wind and water. Finally, the preliminary investigation reveals that the aeolianites on the southwest of Shidao island have relative low anti-erodibility. The study of the anti-erodibility of reef limestones will provide certain scientific support for protection of the islands and reefs in the South China Sea.