Simulation of temperature and chemical weathering effect on marble rocks

Physical and mechanical properties of building stones can vary due to different degradation mechanisms caused by temperature and chemical agents. The problem of chemical and thermal weathering on marble rocks is an important issue to consider for designing building façades since it may cause sugaring, bowing, cracking and spalling. Moreover, an accurate comprehension of induced damages is required for restoration and conservation of heritage monument purposes. While thermal weathering has been widely studied in the last years, the combined effect of thermal and chemical weathering (that here is intended as the combined action of rainwater and atmospheric pollutants) is still poorly understood. In this study, no- destructive (ultrasonic pulse velocities) and destructive tests (bending tests) were performed on Carrara marble slabs in natural and after thermal (with target temperatures respectively of 50 and 90°C) and thermo-chemical treatment. Thermo-chemical treatments were performed by soaking the specimens in a 5x10-6 mol/l solution of sulphuric acid at pH=5 to simulate the acid rain behavior, at constant target temperatures, for one week. In general, for each weathering mechanism, progressive degradation of the physical and mechanical properties of marble specimens was observed. In particular, a marked drop in flexural strength, mirrored by a wide variation in P- and S-wave velocity, was found in specimens chemically treated at target temperature equal to 90 °C.