SWrucWural Analysis of HisWorical ConsWrucWions – Jerzy Jasieńko (ed)

© 2012 DPNH ProcławH PolandH ISSN 0860-2395H ISBN 978-83-7125-216-7

SANaSTlNb abCAY: cRlM eISTlRICAi

BUIiaINdS Tl iABlRATlRY TbSTS
Marini maolaN, Bellopede oossanaO

ABSTRACT
pandstone is a sedimentary rock whose coméosition is determined by the deéositional environmentK
qhe large family of sandstone coversI thereforeI stones showing a great variability in grainsI éorosityI
cement or matrixI coméactnessI chemical coméosition etcKI some times this variability can be found in
the same quarry tooW in historical buildings often can be observed stones coming from the same quarry
showing a different decay behaviourK
qhis study is focused on some ftalian sandstones with the goal of assessing the main intrinsic factors
connecting with their durability and of oétimizing the test methodologies for the decay evaluationK
qhe results of durability tests on sandstones with different éetrograéhic and mineralogical éroéerties
have been analysedK
joreover all the durability tests have been éerformed following the bk standards methodologyK crom
the results some indication have been obtaining concerningW
– the effectiveness of the durability tests to reéroduce the sandstone decayX
– the effectiveness of the evaluation methodology to assess the induced decayK

heywordsW pandstones, aurability, Test methods

N. INTRlaUCTIlN
qhe weathering of a sandstone is a éhenomenon correlated with its chemicalJmineralogical
coméosition as well as with its éhysicalJmechanical characteristicsK
qhe large family of sandstone covers stones with different grainsI éorosityI cement or matrixI
coméactnessI chemical coméosition etcK
qhe variability of the rock characteristics in the quarry should be taken into account when evaluating
the durability of the sandstones used in the monuments or historical constructionsW it can haééens that
from the same quarry Ethat is to sayI a stone named in the same wayF a sandstone shows different
conservation state even if is exéosed from the same laése of time and under similar climatic
conditionsK
jany studies have been conducted on the decay of sandstonesI focusing mainly on the effects of salt
crystallization and plO actionI as they are considered to be the most harmful decay mechanism for this
kind of stone xNJRzK As for the damage mechanism due to the action of saltsI phrerer and clatt xPI Qz
develoéed a oneJdimensional model of confined crystal growth to understand the transfer of stress
from the growing salt crystal to the matrixK qhe reéulsive force growing in the rock deéends on the
solid materialsI on the solution coméosition and also on the distance of seéaration of the surfaces
Edimensions o éores andLor microcracksFK qhe action of plOI insteadI dissolves the calcite cement that
binds the mineral matrix together xSzK
qhe aim of this work was to assess the main intrinsic factors connecting with sandstone durability
and to oétimize the test methodologies for the decay evaluationK

N
aoctorI mha Imolitecnico di qorinoI éaolaKmarini]éolitoKit
O
bngineerI mhaI molitecnico di qorinoI rossanaKbelloéede]éolitoKit
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O. MATbRIAi ANa MbTelaS
qhe laboratory tests were carried out on twelve sandstones from Central AéennineJftaly Eqable NF
being mainly fine grainedI greyI feldséar litharenitesK qhe cement is carbonatic Efrom 8 to QRBFK qhe
grains are quartzI feldséarI micasI and silicatic and carbonatic lithoclastsK qhe grains aééear from
medium to well sorted with a rounded or subangular shaée and average dimensions of MKMSJMKR mmK

Table N jain éetrograéhic éroéerties of Aéennine central sandstones

Aéennine central carbonate content aééarent density

mean size EmmF oéen éorosity EBF
sandstones EBF EkgLmPF
AécN MKNOR 8KOV OSPM OKV
AécO MKOR PSKST ORSM RKQ
AécP MKNOR POKQO OSNM PKT
AécQ MKOR O8KMV ORRM RKT
AécR MKOR PMKPR ORTM QK8
AécS MKOR NQKRV ORMM TKS
AécT MKOR N8K8 ORRM RKV
Aéc8 MKOR NTKTO OQVM TKT
AécV MKN QQKMS OSNM QKN
AécNM MKO OMKMR ORRM RKR
AécNN MKOR PRKQN OSMM QKO
AécNO MKOR NVK8T ORSM RKT

aurability tests carried out are areW

– salt crystallization EpCFX
– plO action EplOFX
– frost resistance EcoFK
qhe pC test was conducted according to bk NOPTM ENVVVFK qhe test reéroduces the action of a water
solution of sodium suléhate inside the stoneK NR cycles were carried outK bach cycle consists of O hours
of immersion of the séecimens in a NQB sodium suléhate decahydrate solution and of NM hours of
drying in an oven at a teméerature of ENMR –RF°CK qhe standard foresees that the test results are given
as the relative mass differenceI éercentage of the initial dry massK eoweverI taking into account that
this kind of test causes a disintegration not always connected with a change in mass Emainly for
sandstoneI see éarK OKN and qable OFI the water absorétion coefficient EtAI according to bk NPTRRW
OMMNF was determined and the results were exéressed as the relative variation of tAI as a éercentage
Esee bquation NFK

tAf - tAi
DtA = xNMM ENF
tAi

where tAf is the water absorétion coefficient after the artificial ageing cycles and tAi is the tA
coefficient in natural conditionsK
qhe water absorétion test is calculated as the ratio of the mass of water absorbed by each séecimen
and its dry massK After the durability testsI in order to measure the tA coefficientI the séecimen is
washed accurately with water and then dried Eto measure the mass of the dry séecimenF and saturated
till constant mass Eto measure the mass of the saturated séecimenFK
qhe plO test was carried out according to bk NPVNV EOMMOI but now deletedFK qhe resistance of natural
stone subjected to a combination of teméeratureI humidity and suléhurous acid EeOplP – plO in water
at RLSBF is determined by élacing test séecimens in two containers for ON days with two different
suléhur dioxide concentrationsK polution A is coméosed of RMM ml of suléhurous acid in NRM ml of
water and solution B of NRMml of suléhurous acid in RMM ml of waterK After the ON daysI the ptandard
requires the evaluation of change in massI butI as for the pC testI the tA variation was determined as
a éercentage Eequation NF tooK
As far as the co tests are concernedI bk NOPTN EOMMNF was followedW decay was evaluated by means
of mechanical testsI such as flexural and coméressive strength testsI éerformed on séecimens in
natural conditions and on séecimens subjected to artificial ageingK qhe test foresees the execution of
Q8 freeze and thaw cyclesI in air and in waterI reséectivelyK
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O.N. The decay assessment
sery often the change in massI required for the ptandards to assess the decay after the execution of
artificial ageing testsI results a not satisfactory method for some kinds of stonesK An examéle is
reéorted in the cigure O where a set of calcarenitc séecimens weathered by means of pC are shownW
the decay is visible but the mass weight loss is nearly of NBK

cig. O Calcarenitc séecimens ESF after salt crystallization test and the not altered EhlTFK qhe weight loss
of the séecimens was of NB but the alteration is evident

mrevious researches on the sandstones weathered by means of salt crystallization xTI8IVz gave weight
loss very small and unreéresentative for the durability estimation on cubic séecimens Ethe examéle of
cigure OFK Benavente xTz tried to solve this changing shaée and dimensions of the séecimens and
obtaining finally a good correlation between decay Evisible macroscoéicallyF and weight lossK fn this
research insteadI séecimens shaée and dimensions are still those required by the ptandards but a new
determination has been introducedK
qhe sandstones tested in this researchI with oéen éorosity from PB to 8BI show visible weathering
effects both for pC ENR cyclesF and plO EON daysF that are not always revealed by the weight loss
values Esee qable NFK qhe sandstones weatheredI showing a small values of weight loss are reéorted in
the cigures from P to TK

cig. 3 Aéc8 séecimen after NR pC cig. 4 AécNO séecimens after the salt
cycles EQM mm edgeF crystallisation cycles Ecubes of QM mm edgeF

cig. R AécQ séecimens after the salt crystallisation cyclesK Ecubes of QM mm edgeF
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 cig. S AécO séecimens after the plO cycles with solution A ENOM × SM × NM mm dimensionsF

cig. T AécO séecimens after plO cycles with solution B ENOM × SM × NM mm dimensionsF

qo assess the decayI the tA measurements have been taken as referenceI instead of the weight lossI to
evaluate the resistance to ageing of the sandstones testedK fn érevious researches tA was defined
a good indicator of the decay of a stoneK qhe results of water absorétion test can be correlated with
in situ non destructive tests and laboratory destructive tests xNMI NNzK qhe water absorétionI besideI
is strictly connectedI by means of the stone densityI to its oéen éorosityK

3. RbSUiTS ANa aISCUSSIlN

qhe durability tests éerformed on each tested sandstone are reéorted in qable NK ln the base of the
results of visual inséection and mechanical strength EDjsF correlated to the correséonding DtA of
the séecimens decayedI the following limit in water absorétion change EDtaF have been established to
define the sandstone tested not resistant to the three different ageing testsK
palt crystallizationW Dta[ OMBK
plO actionW Dta [ RMBK
creeze and thaw ageingW Djs [ OMB
qhe sandstones that decayed after the durability tests Eexceeding the limit values determinedF are
indicated in qable O and are the same clearly weathered at a visual inséectionK

Table O pandstones and durability testsK qhe u indicate the decayed sandstone
pandstones pC plO Esol AF plO Esol BF co
AécN J J J J
AécO u u J J
AécP J J J J
AécQ u u J J
AécR u u J J
AécS J J J J
AécT J J J J
Aéc8 u J J J
AécV J J J J
AécNM J J J J
AécNN J J J J
AécNO u J J J

fn qable P the variation in water absorétion and in mass of the NO kinds of Aéennine central
sandstones are reéortedK ft is éossible to note that only for the sandstone AécT both an aééreciable
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decreasing in mass and an increase in tA is recordedI while for AécOI AécQI AécRI Aéc8 and AécNO
sandstonesI strongly decayed EcigsK PJTF only ta changes Ereaching even the HQ8BFK evidences the
weatheringK

Table 3 sariation in water absorétion EDtaF and in mass EDmF after pC and plO tests
Aéennine pC plO solKA
central
Dta EBF Dm EBF Dta EBF Dm EBF
sandstone
G
AécN JOIN MIN OPIO JMIMO
Aéc O OPIT MIO NTTIN JMIMP
Aéc P RIP MINN QQIP JMIRS
Aéc Q Q8IN MIMQ NSNIR JMITS
Aéc R OSIP JMIO RPITO JMIMO
Aéc S SIT JNIR RIN MIR
Aéc T NRIO JQIT NRIO MIMV
Aéc 8 QSIS JNIQ JNING MIMV
Aéc V OIR MIP MIS MIMR
Aéc NM PIT M JNG JNIQP
Aéc NN OIV MIN JOISG MIMS
Aéc NO OOIO MIN JNG MIMS
G
this variation is less or of the same order than the stKdevKW it can be considered negligibleK

qhe Aéc8 and AécNO sandstones showed an increased in tA only after the pC cycles Eqable OFI with
visible fractures along the sides of the séecimens and a suéerficial roughness caused by grain
decohesion EcigsK P and QFK
qhe AécOI AécQ and AécR séecimensI that showed remarkable increase in tA after both pC and plO
cycles EqABib NFI also showed fractures along the sides of the séecimens EcigK RI after pCF and grain
decohesion Ecigs S and TI after plOFK
polution B of the plO ageing test did not éroduce any alteration due to the low éercentage of suléhur
dioxideK fn the next graéhsI reference is only made to the decay induced by solution AK
qhe carbonate content of the sandstonesI with the same medium grain dimension of MKOR mmI was
correlated to the tA variations measured after both the pC and plO testsK EcigK 8FK qhe circled value
refers to Aéc8 Ehighest value of oéen éorosityW TITBFK

S0 O00
180
tA variation after SlO sol. A test (%)

50
tA variation after SC test (%)

1S0
140
40
1O0

30 100
80
O0
S0
40
10
O0
0 0
0 10 O0 30 40
carbonate content (%)
Salt crystallisation SlO sol.A

cig. U pC and plO testsW tA variation vs carbonate content

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qhe reséonse to the decayI mainly due to salt crystallisation and plOI is connected to the oéen éorosity
and carbonate content reséectivelyI but also to the grainsizeK
pandstone with a very low carbonate content shows a high resistance to weatheringI while those
containing carbonates do not always show low durabilityW an examéle of this is saméle AécV which
has over QQB of carbonate content but results to be resistant to weathering érobably because of its fine
grain together to its high tensile strength and the grains interlocking Esee qables NI O and PFK

4. ClNCiUSIlNS
fn order to foresee the durability of a sandstoneI its intrinsic factors have to be taken into accountW
mineralogical éroéertiesI fabric and textureK
qhe grainsizeI together with its éorosity and carbonate content are the main intrinsic causes of the
decay of sandstone and the salt crystallization with solution A Esee éarK OF isI among the durability
tests éerformedI the most aggressive and its effectiveness to reéroduce the sandstone decay has been
demonstratedK
qhe evaluation methodology foreseen from the ptandards to assess the induced decay isn’t efficaciousK
qhe ptandards in fact érovide the mass weight variation as an indicator of decayI but in all the tests
éerformed within this research this indicator never gave information on durability for the tested stonesK
qhe execution of a tA test before and after artificial ageing could be a reliable methodology to assess
the induced decay of the stoneK

RbcbRbNCbS
xNz Ausset mKI Crovisier gKiKI ael jonte jKI curlan sKI dirardet cKI eammecker CKI geannet aKI C
iefevre oKAK bxéerimental study of limestone and sandstone suléhation in éolluted realistic
conditionsW the iausanne atmoséheric simulation chamber EiApCFK AtmosK bnvironK NVVSX PM
EN8FW PNVTJPOMTK
xOz eamilton A C eallI CK jechanism of sodium suléhate crystal growth in the deterioration of
sandstonesW some new observations fnK NMth fnternational Congress on deterioration and
conservation of stoneK ptockolmK OMMQK éK NVRJOMOK
xPz pchererI dtK ptress from crystallization of salt in éoresK fn Vth fnternational Congress on
deterioration and conservation of stoneK seniceK OMMK éK MN8TJNVQK
xQz clatt o g palt damage in éorous materialsW how high suéersaturations are generatedK gK CrystK
drowth OMMOX OQOW QPRJQRQK
xRz mositano jI moli qI C qoniolo i Accellerating ageing by salt crystallisationW assessment of
a suitable laboratory methodology in cortI Alvarez de BuergoI domezJeeras C sasquezJCAlvo
EedsF eeritageI teathering and ConservationK iondonW qaylor C crancis drouéK OMMSK éK RTRJR8NK
xSz iöfvendhal oK dotland sandstone in pwedish buildings fn the 8th fnternational Congress on the
aeterioration and Conservation of ptoneK NVVSX fKW NNJNVK
xTz Benavente aKI darcia del Cura jKAKI Bernabéu AK C lrdonez pK nualification of salt weathering
in éorous stones using an exéerimental continuous éartial immersion method in bngineering
geology RVK OMMOK ééK PNPJPORK
x8z Benavente aKI darcia del Cura jKAKI cort oK C lrdonez pK aurability estimation of éorous
building stones from éore structure and strength in bngineering deology TQK OMMQK ééKNNPJNOTK
xVz qsui kKI oobert gK cK C pcherer dKtK Crystallization damage by sodium sulfate in gournal of
Cultural eeritage Q KOMMPK éé NMVJNNR
xNMz Belloéede oKI ae oegibus CKI janfredotti iK C jarini mK tater Absorétion and ultrasound éulse
velocity to evaluate the decay of stonesI in kon aestructive fnvestigations and jicroanalysis for
the aiagnostics and Conservation of the Cultural and bnvironmental eeritageI OMMRK NRJNV
jaggio iecce fpBk 88J8VTRVJMMJTK
xNNz janfredottf iKI jarini mK qhe durability of natural stonesW relationshié between water absorétion
coefficient and nonJdestrutive testsK Sth fntK pyméK on the Conservation of jonuments in the
jediterranean BasinI iisbon EmortugalF TJNM Aéril OMMQI O8VJOVOK

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