Damage of Historical Stone Masonry Buildings: Combined Effects of Spatial Variability of Stone Properties and Environmental Conditions

Abstract

The everyday fluctuations of temperature and humidity lead to fluctuation of stress on the stones constituting many constructions and produce in long term some kinds of fatigue damage. This paper investigates the combined role of stone properties variability and environmental conditions on the generation and the amplification of stress variation and fatigue. Thus, the randomness and spatial variability of the mechanical, thermal and hydraulic properties are taken into account in a finite elements model of typical stone wall masonry of Chambord Castle. The quantification of the impact of this spatial variability on the variability of generated stress is performed.

The Stone Bleeding Phenomenon Affecting Some Sandstone Inscriptions in the Karnak Temples

“…(2-d). *) Temperature fluctuations cause changes from dry to wet conditions, causing severe damage, disintegrating granules [16], and stone bleeding. Moreover, the color of the mineral affects the deterioration operations because dark minerals absorb more heat than the light minerals, causing granular disintegration [17], fig.…”