Experimental and Numerical Analyses on Sandstone Elements Obtained by 3D Printing

Abstract

The international cultural and historical heritage is often subject to degradation and damage. The main causes contributing to these phenomena are the chemical and mechanical actions due to acid rain, environmental pollution, and earthquakes. Other causes are the cycles of freezing and thawing that induce the manifestation of internal stresses leading to the deterioration of the material and the collapse of structural parts.In the field of architectural restoration, this problem has been addressed by two main solutions. The first involves cleaning processes that leave the missing parts visible; the second consists of introducing reproductions of the missing parts, creating a clear distinction between pre-existing and new elements. In both cases, the seismic behavior of the structure is modified; in the second solution, the added elements do not contribute to the structural strength since they are made of plaster or stucco.This work aims at presenting a preliminary study on the creation of replacements of missing elements within damaged heritage buildings. The work is structured in two distinct phases. In the first phase, specific cubic specimens, created with a 3D printer, are produced and subjected to uniaxial compression tests. The experimental campaign is carried out in order to provide useful information regarding the 3D material engineering constants that are currently absent in the literature. In the second phase, the experimental results are used in a numerical model to calibrate the mechanical properties of an equivalent homogeneous material.