LABORATORY TEST FOR STONE STRENGTH

1. Smith test

This test is performed to find out the presence of soluble matter in a sample of stone. Few chips
of stone are taken and they are placed in a glass tube. The tube is then filled with distilled water.
After an hour, the tube is vigorously stirred. Presence of earthly matter will convert distilled
water into dirty water. If water remains clear, stone will be durable and free from any soluble
matter.

Diagram

Procedures

 Take stones either of different type and crush them into smaller particles.

 Put the stones in separate beakers and add water

 left the 2 beakers still for an hour

 Revisit for analysis.

After an hour results

1|Page
 NB-IF Water in beaker turns its colour thus mean the stone is dissolvent for example limestone,
if the water remains clear thus less dissolving stone.

2. Hardness test/tough test

Procedures under Machinery method

 A cylinder of diameter 25 mm and height 25 mm is taken out from the sample of stone. It
is weighted.

 The sample is placed in Dorry’s testing machine and I subjected a pressure of 1250 gm.

 The annular steel disc machine is then rotated at a speed of 28 rpm.

 During the rotation of the disc, coarse sand of standard specification is sprinkled on the
top of the disc.After 100 revolutions, the specimen is taken out and weighed.

 The coefficient of hardness is found out in the following equation.Coeficient of hardness

test on building stone. Coefficient of hardness=20-(Loss of weight in gm3.

Traditional Method Diagram

2|Page
 Hammers are used to analyze the strength of the stone. If the rock disintegrate thus means the
rock is relatively weak undercompresion e.g. soapstone.

3. Water absorption test

This test is carried out to determine the amount of pore- space in the rock. It gives an idea of the
strength of the stone. In this test a few cubical pieces of stone, each weighing about 50 GM, are
used.

The stone is dried in an oven maintained at about 150-degree c for a period of 72 hours. The
sample after weighting is immersed in water for 72 hr. to ensure maximum saturation. Each
sample was taken out of the water and after quick removal of loose surface moisture with an
absorption cloth weighed.

Diagram

Procedures

 Two stone samples are to be taken from field.

 They are then dried in the oven and removed when the chances of moisture presence get
zero, weighed and their eight recorded separately.

 Then these two sample continue to be assessed through adding them into 2 different
beakers full of water for 72hours.

3|Page
  Then they have to be removed from water aftermath and quick removal of surface
moisture then weighed again separately.

NB.Stone which adds weighed is obviously that it absorbs, and stone which remain with constant
weight resist water absorption.

3. Acid test

This test is carried out to understand the presence of calcium carbonate in building stone. A
sample of stone weighing about 50 to 100 gm is taken. It is placed in solution hydrophobic acid
having a strength of one percent and is kept therefore seven days.

Diagram

Procedures

 Two samples of stones are to be taken.

 Each stone to be weighed

 They then placed into beaker and a solution of hydrophobic acid is add then left for
seven days.

NB. After 7 days the week Stone were to be got disintegrate and reduced in size.

4|Page
A good building stone maintains its Sharpe edge keeps its surface free from powder at the end of
this period. If the edge is broken and powder is formed on a surface, it indicates the presence of
calcium carbonate, and such a stone will have poor weathering quality.

5|Page