The integrity loss of physicomechanical properties of building stones when subjected to recurrent cycles of freeze-thaw (F-T) process

Abstract

In this study, a total of nearly 900 samples were obtained from 7 different rock types, also recognised as marbles of sedimentary and metamorphic origin and commercially used in the building of various monuments, art works as well as the interior/exterior covering of the structures. In order to determine the physical and mechanical properties of these rocks at the end of freeze-thaw (F-T) cycles, experiments were conducted on a set of nearly 130 samples prepared in different sizes for each rock type. The samples from each rock type were subjected to a routine of recurrent F-T cycles with an increment of 10 cycles for each routine, amounting to a total of 60 cycles (6 routines). Prior to the F-T cycles and at the end of each routine of 10 cycles up to 60 cycles, the physical rock properties (unit volume weight, apparent porosity, P-wave velocity and Shore hardness) and the mechanical rock properties (Brazilian tensile strength, point load index, block punch index and bending strength) were determined up to 50 cycles and then the values of test results were evaluated graphically. Moreover, the results of this study were associated with the Decay Function Model (DFM), introduced by Mutluffirk et al.(1), in order to determine the integrity loss and half-life of the 7 different rock types tested. Besides, it was investigated whether the DFM can be validly used to determine the half-life of the rocks based on their physical properties.