Swelling behaviour of stones and its interest in conservation. An appraisal

Swelling can be defined as the volume increase experienced by any solid body when wetted. Many lithotypes (carbonate rocks, sandstones, igneous rocks) have expansive components in their composition; anhydrite and clay minerals are the two best-known expansive components in stone materials. Swelling...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: J. Delgado Rodrigues
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas 2001-12-01
Series:Materiales de Construccion
Online Access:http://materconstrucc.revistas.csic.es/index.php/materconstrucc/article/view/363
Description
Summary:Swelling can be defined as the volume increase experienced by any solid body when wetted. Many lithotypes (carbonate rocks, sandstones, igneous rocks) have expansive components in their composition; anhydrite and clay minerals are the two best-known expansive components in stone materials. Swelling strain can be easily quantified and swelling pressure determination is accessible in many geotechnical laboratories. This paper deals with the decay of stone due to swelling of clays and discusses the ways to take the swelling behaviour into account when the assessment of stone durability is concerned. It analyses the role of swelling in stone conservation and reviews some cases where this decay mechanism has a relevant role, explicit or implicitly.
ISSN:0465-2746
1988-3226