Strain changes during the progress of water infiltration in tuffeau stone

Author(s): Mohamed Ahmed Hassine, Kevin Beck, Xavier Brunetaud,
Muzahim Al-Mukhtar
Paper category: Proceedings
Book title: Proceedings of the International RILEM Conference
Materials, Systems and Structures in Civil Engineering 2016 segment on
Historical Masonry
Editor(s): Inge Rörig-Dalgaard and Ioannis Ioannou
ISBN: 978-2-35158-178-0
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-179-7
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2016
Pages: 64-73
Total Pages: 10
Language : English

Abstract: Calcareous stones such as Tuffeau, which is used for the construction of French castles in the
Loire valley, are highly affected by environmental conditions, in particular humidity and
temperature changes and rain. The main degradation of this soft and porous limestone is a
progressive spalling of thick plates (1 to 3 cm) from the surface of the stone. Our experimental
program aims to assess the mechanism of spalling decay activated due to the coupling of
mechanical, hydric and thermal stresses.
Concerning hydric action and in order to follow the behavior of the stone during water
infiltration mainly near the surface, strain gauge rosettes were used. Four rosettes were placed
on a sample of Tuffeau stone at different distances from the surface (1, 2, 4, 7 cm) to measure
locally the strain during water infiltration. These rosettes determine the strain in three directions
0°/45°/90°.
In this communication, results concerning differential strains between the surface and the core
of the stone due to water infiltration will be presented. They demonstrate the local contraction
zone and expansion zone in each direction separately and show clearly the thicknesses of the
surface which can be highly stressed due to the progress of water infiltration in the stone.

Online publication : 2016
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros) : 0.00