Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

International Workshop on Bifurcation and Degradation in Geomaterials

IWBDG 2017: Bifurcation and Degradation of Geomaterials with Engineering Applications pp 259–266Cite as

Tracing the Salt Crystallization Front in Limestone Using the DRMS

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Geomechanics and Geoengineering ((SSGG))

Abstract

Salt crystallization is widely recognised as one of the most damaging factors affecting stone monuments and buildings. The conservation of stone heritage suffering from weathering due to the presence of salts can be very expensive and laborious. Furthermore, the assessment of salt-laden buildings alone is often challenging and costly in its own right. This paper focuses on the use of a micro-destructive technique, the Drilling Resistance Measurement System (DRMS), to trace the salt crystallization front in natural building stone subjected to continuous partial immersion in a salt solution. The results provide strong evidence of the efficacy of micro-drilling to “map” the crystallization front. This is facilitated by increased resistances recorded during drilling in areas where pore clogging due to salt crystallization occurs. The experimental results are important for future research aiming to validate models relating rising damp to salt crystallization. The combination of DRMS and continuous partial immersion in salt solution laboratory tests may also be used to investigate the effect of water repellents and coatings/finishes on salt transport and crystallization in porous materials. Last but not least, the potential of the portable DRMS to trace the salt crystallization front in limestone may be used to detect cryptoflorescence in situ, on stone monuments, before it becomes damaging.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Amoroso, G., Fassina, V.: Stone Decay and Conservation—Atmospheric Pollution, Cleaning, Consolidation and Protection. Elsevier, Amsterdam (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Benavente, D., García del Cura, M.A., Bernabéu, A., Ordóñez, S.: Quantification of salt weathering in porous stones using an experimental continuous partial immersion method. Eng. Geol. 59, 313–325 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Benavente, D., García del Cura, M.A., García-Guinea, J., Sánchez-Moral, S., Ordóñez, S.: Role of pore structure in salt crystallization in unsaturated porous stone. J. Cryst. Growth 260, 532–544 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Delgado, R.J., Ferreira, P.A., Rodrigues da Costa, D.: Tracing of decay profiles and evaluation of stone treatments by means of microdrilling techniques. J. Cult. Heritage 3, 117–125 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Desarnaud, J., Bonn, D., Shahidzadeh, N.: The pressure induced by salt crystallization in confinement. Sci. Rep. 6, 30856 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Doehne, E.: Salt weathering: a selective review. In: Siegesmund et al. (ed.) Natural stone, weathering phenomena, conservation strategies and case studies, vol. 205, pp. 51–6. Geological Society, London (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Espinosa-Marzal, R.M., Scherer, G.W.: Mechanisms of damage by salt. In: Smith, B.J. et al. (eds) Limestone in the Built Environment: Present-Day Challenges for the Preservation of the Past, vol. 331, pp. 61–77. Geological Society, London (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Exadaktylos, G., Tiano, P., Filareto, C.: Validation of a model of rotary drilling of rocks with the drilling force measurement. Int. J. Restor. Build. Monuments 3, 307–340 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Gonçalves, T.D., Pel, L., Rodrigues, J.D.: Influence of paints on drying and salt distribution processes in porous building materials. Constr. Build. Mater. 23, 1751–1759 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Goudie, A.S.: Further experimental investigation of rock weathering by salt and other mechanical processes. Zeitschift fur Geomorphologie, Supplementband 21, 1–12 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hall, C., Hoff, W.D.: Rising damp: capillary rise dynamics in walls. Proc. R. Soc. A 463, 1871–1884 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Ioannou, I., Hoff, W.D.: Water repellent influence on salt crystallisation in masonry. Proc. ICE Constr. Mater. 161, 17–23 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. La Iglesia, A., Gonzalez, V., López-Acevedo, V., Viedma, C.: Salt crystallization in porous construction materials I. Estimation of crystallization pressure. J. Cryst. Growth 177, 111–118 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. López-Acevedo, V., Viedma, C., Gonzalez, V., La Iglesia, A.: Salt crystallization in porous construction materials II: mass transport and crystallization processes. J. Cryst. Growth 182, 103–110 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Modestou, S., Theodoridou, M., Fournari, R., Ioannou, I.: Physico-mechanical properties and durability performance of building and decorative carbonate stones from Cyprus. In: Přikryl et al. (eds.) Sustainable Use of Traditional Geomaterials in Construction Practice, 416, pp. 145–162. Geological Society, London (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Modestou, S., Theodoridou, M., Ioannou, I.: Micro-destructive mapping of the salt crystallization front in limestone. Eng. Geol. 193, 337–347 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Rivas, T., Alvarez, E., Mosquera, M.J., Alejano, L., Taboada, J.: Crystallization modifiers applied in granite desalination: the role of the stone pore structure. Constr. Build. Mater. 24, 766–776 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Ruiz-Agudo, E., Mees, F., Jacobs, P., Rodriguez-Navarro, C.: The role of saline solution properties on porous limestone salt weathering by magnesium and sodium sulfates. Environ. Geol. 52, 269–281 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Scherer, G.W.: Stress from crystallization of salt. Cem. Concr. Res. 34, 1613–1624 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Scherer, G.W.: Crystallization in pores. Cem. Concr. Res. 29, 1347–1358 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Sperling, C.H.B., Cooke, R.U.: Laboratory Simulation of rock weathering by salt crystallization and hydration processes in hot, arid environments. Earth Surf. Proc. Land. 10, 541–555 (1985)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Theodoridou, M., Dagrain, F., Ioannou, I.: Micro-destructive cutting techniques for the characterization of natural limestone. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 76, 98–103 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Tiano, P.: The use of microdrilling techniques for the characterisation of stone materials. In: PRO 26: International RILEM Workshop on On-Site Control and Non-Destructive Evaluation of Masonry Structures, 12–14 November 2001, Mantova, Italy (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  24. van Hees, R.P.J., Brocken, H.J.P.: Damage development to treated brick masonry in a long-term salt crystallisation test. Constr. Build. Mater. 18, 331–338 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Sevasti Modestou & Ioannis Ioannou

  2. Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

    Sevasti Modestou

Authors
  1. Sevasti Modestou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ioannis Ioannou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ioannis Ioannou .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Aristotle Univ of Thessaloniki Department of Civil Engineering, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Euripides Papamichos

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental En, University of Cyprus Department of Civil and Environmental En, Nicos, Cyprus

    Panos Papanastasiou

  3. School of Mechanical & Chemical Engg, University of Western Australia School of Mechanical & Chemical Engg, Crawley, West Australia, Australia

    Elena Pasternak

  4. Sch Civil, Envtl & Mining Engg, University of Western Australia Sch Civil, Envtl & Mining Engg, Crawley, West Australia, Australia

    Arcady Dyskin

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this paper

Cite this paper

Modestou, S., Ioannou, I. (2017). Tracing the Salt Crystallization Front in Limestone Using the DRMS. In: Papamichos, E., Papanastasiou, P., Pasternak, E., Dyskin, A. (eds) Bifurcation and Degradation of Geomaterials with Engineering Applications. IWBDG 2017. Springer Series in Geomechanics and Geoengineering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56397-8_33

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56397-8_33

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-56396-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-56397-8

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation