What is the compressive strength of Limestone?

Intact Limestone can have a uniaxial compressive strength ranging from:

15 MPa - 290 MPa.A,B

However the following should be noted:

Limestone is a natural earth material and so significant variability in strength and stiffness properties may occur.

As such ranges of values are commonly quoted for the strength of rock and other geotechnical materials. Ideally therefore the user would have access to specific lab test data for the rock type in question.

Also it is important to note that intact rock strengths require scaling for use in rock engineering as rock masses are usually fractured and discontinuous bodies whose behaviour is often controlled by the shear strength of the discontinuities rather than the intact strength properties of the rock. Considerable care should therefore be taken when attempting to apply intact rock strength parameters derived in the laboratory for use in rock mass engineering design.

Please see the related questions.

Sources:

AHudson, J.A. (2005). Engineering Properties of Rocks. Amsterdam, Elsevier.

BBell, F.G. (2007). Basic Environmental and Engineering Geology. Dunbeath, Whittles Publishing Limited.