Monitoring frost susceptibility of limestone facies

Limestones are among the most frequently used building stones worldwide. Their frost susceptibility has been assessed in many ways, but due to the large amount of existing limestone types and the natural stone heterogeneity, laboratory testing of the freeze-thaw resistance remains a necessary testing method to predict their behavior when used as a building stone. In this research, the frost susceptibility of some frequently used French building stones from the Oolithe Blanche Formation is assessed indirectly and directly in several ways by laboratory testing. The selected stones have similar components (ooids and bioclasts) but differ in dolomite content and thus porosity distribution, resulting in dissimilar water transport properties. The results of experimental freeze-thaw cycles are coupled to the water absorption by capillarity and the saturation coefficient through water imbibition. Mechanical properties as flexural strength provide additional information. Experiments with neutron radiography and X-ray microtomography allow to visualize the water absorption pathways inside the stones. X-ray allows to visualize and quantify the changes in pore structure and the damage propagation.

Jaar van publicatie:2012