Article
Construction & Building Technology
Mustafa Yavuz Celik, Alican Ibrahimoglu
Summary: Travertine, commonly used for decorative purposes in construction, is susceptible to deterioration over time due to salt crystallization. After undergoing salt crystallization tests, all travertine samples experienced weight loss and reduced compressive strength. Furthermore, different types of travertine exhibited decreased compressive strength and ultrasonic velocity after undergoing the salt crystallization tests.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Massimo Coli, Anna Livia Ciuffreda, Tessa Donigaglia, Marco Tanganelli
Summary: This paper studies the building stones and mechanical parameters of the external cladding of Prato's Cathedral and Bell Tower. By using a drone to develop a 3D model and GIS of the facades, the study provides valuable information for conservation purposes and can be applied to other historical buildings.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Stephanie Eyssautier-Chuine, Nathalie Vaillant-Gaveau, Emilie Charpentier, Fany Reffuveille
Summary: This study compared the bioreceptivity of two Lutetian limestones and their restoration stone, finding that Savonnieres stone had a weaker bioreceptivity for bacteria than Lutetian stones, but was more susceptible to colonization by other microorganisms. The results suggest that Savonnieres stone may experience more severe bioweathering compared to Lutetian stones.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Abdelaali Rahmouni, Abderrahim Boulanouar, Younes El Rhaffari, Mohammed Hraita, Aziz Zaroual, Yves Geraud, Jamal Sebbani, Abdellah Rezzouk, Bassem S. Nabawyh
Summary: It is important to study the properties of calcarenites, such as porosity, thermal conductivity, and P-wave velocity, as well as the anisotropy coefficients for civil engineering and conservation of historical monuments. This study used the thermal conductivity scanning technique and portable equipment to measure thermal conductivity and P-wave velocity of dry and saturated calcarenite samples in horizontal and vertical directions. Excellent linear relationships were observed between porosity and thermal conductivity and porosity. The internal structure and pore fabric of the samples were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, while their chemical and mineral compositions were studied using energy dispersive X-ray analysis and X-ray diffraction techniques.
JOURNAL OF ROCK MECHANICS AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Emilia Vasanelli, Giovanni Quarta, Francesco Micelli, Angela Calia
Summary: The study focused on the effects of a historical fire on porous calcarenite from a historic building in Southern Italy. Changes in material properties were analyzed between the masonry blocks affected by fire and those that were not, as well as under controlled heating in laboratory conditions. The stone suffered aesthetical damage, including gray and red discoloration, caused by mineralogical-chemical phase transitions.
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Farah Anjum, Muhammad Yasin Naz, Abdul Ghaffar, Kashif Kamran, Shazia Shukrullah, Sami Ullah
Summary: This article examines the role of thermophysical properties of building materials in energy transfer and mitigation of environmental risks, reviewing factors such as rocks, salt weathering, and sintering time, while also exploring issues related to energy saving and mechanical strength in the construction of eco-friendly and thermally insulated bricks using waste materials.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
M. Chentout, P. Vazquez, C. Thomachot-Schneider, A. Guillaneuf, B. Alloul, D. Belhai
Summary: The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential weathering of three different varieties of Algerian limestones by comparing standard durability tests with adapted tests. Non-destructive measurements and strain gauges were used to assess the effects of thermal shock, salt crystallization, and freeze-thaw tests on the stones. The results showed that limestones with the same porosity but different microstructure behaved differently, and the residual strain was considered the main parameter affecting the stone's deterioration.
ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
S. Pietruszczak, P. Przecherski, T. Stryszewska
Summary: This study examines the impact of salt crystallization on the mechanical properties of primary constituents of structural masonry. The research reveals that while early stages of salt crystallization can enhance mechanical performance, further concentration of salt leads to progressive degradation of mechanical properties.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mateusz Radwanski, Michal Leski, Adam K. Puszkarz, Jerzy Sokolowski, Louis Hardan, Rim Bourgi, Salvatore Sauro, Monika Lukomska-Szymanska
Summary: The evaluation of porosities within the interface of root canals obturated with bioactive endodontic sealers is important for long-term success. This study compared the volume and porosity of three sealers after initial and long-term storage. The results showed that the porosity of some sealers increased significantly after long-term storage, which could compromise the success of endodontic treatments.
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Sandra A. Nascimento, Eupidio Scopel, Camila A. Rezende
Summary: The study evaluated the crystallization pressure of sodium and magnesium sulphates to break down plant cell walls and obtain micro and nanofibrilated cellulose. Na2SO4 crystallization was found to be more effective than MgSO4, especially in previously delignified samples. Nanofibrillated cellulose was obtained through Na2SO4 action and shearing fibres treated with aqueous MgSO4 solution, glycerol, and NaOH.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Moorthy Padmini, T. Balaganapathi, Periyasamy Thilakan
Summary: Pure rutile phase of TiO2 nanocrystals were synthesized by tuning the chemical process, resulting in stabilized growth with high surface area and mesoporosity upon an increase in calcination temperatures. Photoluminescence and XPS studies revealed interesting findings such as intra-band levels and presence of Ti3+ ions on the highly porous R-TiO2.
MATERIALS RESEARCH BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Jiabin Liang, Maxim Lebedev, Boris Gurevich, Christoph Hermann Arns, Stephanie Vialle, Stanislav Glubokovskikh
Summary: The study investigates the pressure dependency of intact sandstone samples using X-ray micro-Computed Tomography imaging and novel deformation detection methods. The results show a high level of accuracy in detecting pressure-induced changes in the elastic properties of the samples. Image segmentation and porosity analysis further confirm the findings, contributing to a better understanding of the mechanical behavior of sandstones under varying pressures.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Silvia Salvini, Chiara Coletti, Lara Maritan, Matteo Massironi, Alberto Pieropan, Richard Spiess, Claudio Mazzoli
Summary: This paper characterizes the petrographic and textural features of ornamental limestones commonly used in UNESCO World Heritage Sites in northeastern Italy, and evaluates the main factors causing their decay in the employed environment. Eleven carbonate building materials were studied, and their durability was measured through accelerated aging tests. The petrographic and textural features, as well as the porosity of these carbonate rocks, strongly influenced their deterioration rate, and understanding these features is essential for predicting stone decay.
ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
G. Castellazzi, A. M. D'Altri, S. de Miranda, H. Emami, L. Molari, F. Ubertini
Summary: In this paper, a staggered multiphysics framework is proposed for the numerical simulation of salt crystallization-induced damage in porous building materials. The framework combines a multiphase model and a plastic-damage model to simulate the complex interactions among salt transport, salt crystallization, and damage within the porous material.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mustafa Yavuz Celik, M. Resit Korucu
Summary: Three types of carbonate building stones from Turkey were tested for their physical and mechanical properties after freeze-thaw cycles with salt solutions. Material characterization, including chemical and mineralogical-petrographic tests, pore size distribution, and physico-mechanical tests, was performed. The results showed that water absorption, uniaxial compressive strength, and ultrasonic wave measurement values of all samples increased after multiple freeze-thaw cycles. However, the water absorption of silver travertine and Burdur limestone decreased due to the presence of small pores. The ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) values of travertine samples decreased gradually with more freeze-thaw cycles, and the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) values of all samples decreased in all solutions.
BULLETIN OF ENGINEERING GEOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
B. Lubelli, I. Rorig-Daalgard, A. M. Aguilar, M. Askrabic, K. Beck, C. Blauer, V. Cnudde, A. M. D'Altri, H. Derluyn, J. Desarnaud, T. Diaz Goncalves, R. Flatt, E. Franzoni, S. Godts, D. Gulotta, R. van Hees, I. Ioannou, A. Kamat, T. De Kock, B. Menendez, S. de Miranda, C. Nunes, E. Sassoni, N. Shahidzadeh, H. Siedel, Z. Slizkova, M. Stefanidou, M. Theodoridou, R. Veiga, V. Verges-Belmin
Summary: This recommendation presents a laboratory method to test the durability of natural stone and fired-clay brick units against salt crystallization. The method replicates salt damage caused by capillary transport and evaporation and considers two stages in the test: accumulation and propagation. Two types of salt, sodium chloride and sodium sulphate, were tested separately. The procedure includes visual observations, photography, and measurement of material loss, and has been preliminarily validated in round robin tests.
MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES
(2023)
Article
Geology
Flor Vermassen, Maarten Van Daele, Nore Praet, Veerle Cnudde, Catherine Kissel, Flavio S. S. Anselmetti
Summary: This study investigates the sediment deposition after the 1601 earthquake in Lake Lucerne, Switzerland. It reveals that slope failures triggered mass flows and turbidity currents, forming mass-transport deposits and a megaturbidite. The research findings are important for the recognition and interpretation of earthquake-induced megaturbidites in other lake records or isolated basins.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Valeriya Brovchenko, Margarita Merkulova, Jonathan Sittner, Vladimir Shilovskih, Camelia Borca, Thomas Huthwelker, Sergey F. Sluzhenikin, Veerle Cnudde
Summary: This study provides the first evidence for the incorporation of palladium into the structure of pentlandite from Norilsk ores through the use of various analytical techniques. The presence of divalent palladium in the lattice of pentlandite suggests a substitution of nickel by palladium. The combination of methods used in this study demonstrates the potential of these techniques for understanding noble metal incorporation into ore minerals.
AMERICAN MINERALOGIST
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Manu K. Mohan, A. V. Rahul, Jeroen F. Van Stappen, Veerle Cnudde, Geert De Schutter, Kim Van Tittelboom
Summary: This study investigates the porosity and pore structure of 3D printed concrete elements using mercury intrusion porosimetry and X-ray micro-computed tomography. The results show that the interlayer region contains larger and interconnected pores with low tortuosity, which can enhance ion transport. The study compares two different cement systems and finds that the calcium sulfoaluminate-limestone blend has higher pore complexity and tortuosity. X-ray micro-computed tomography is able to characterize both open and closed pores in the printed sample at high resolution. This study provides insights into ion transport and durability performance of printed concrete elements.
CEMENT & CONCRETE COMPOSITES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Roberta Occhipinti, Maria Cristina Caggiani, Lavinia de Ferri, Zhuo Xu, Calin Constantin Steindal, Nima Razavi, Fabrizio Andriulo, Paolo Mazzoleni, Germana Barone
Summary: This study investigates the structural properties of geopolymers made from locally available volcanic feedstocks for the development of sustainable non-structural building materials. Geopolymer binders and mortars based on volcanic pyroclastic residues from Mt. Etna were examined to assess their response to natural weathering. The results show that volcanic ash-based geopolymers have a better resistance to weathering in the hot summer Mediterranean climate zone compared to ghiara-based products.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Xiaolin Chen, Tim De Kock, Veerle Cnudde, Nathan Van Den Bossche
Summary: Water repellents are commonly used on the outer surfaces of buildings to make them more hydrophobic. However, there is limited research on their efficiency under practical conditions. This study examines the hydrophobic efficiency of a siloxane-based water repellent on different materials and investigates the effects of material characteristics and application conditions on its performance. The results show that spray-treated samples have comparable hydrophobic efficiency to capillary absorbed samples, and temperature and humidity have little impact on the repellent's efficiency.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Katrin Wilhelm, Jack Longman, Christopher D. D. Standish, Tim De Kock
Summary: This study introduces a new methodology for utilizing historic built environments as geochemical archives to reconstruct past pollution levels in urban settings. The researchers used laser ablation mass spectrometry to analyze black crust stratigraphies on historic structures, revealing changes in lead sources over time. The results provide insights into localized pollution levels and enhance our understanding of air pollution dynamics and trends in urban environments.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Spectroscopy
Maria Cristina Caggiani, Marco Cavarra, Germana Barone, Alessia Coccato, Angela Maria Manenti, Paolo Mazzoleni
Summary: The viability of portable Raman spectroscopy as a nondestructive and noninvasive method for identifying gemstones on Hellenistic-Roman glyptics was assessed in situ at the Regional Archaeological Museum Paolo Orsi in Syracuse, Italy. The study confirmed most of the identifications and found that the glyptics were mainly made of chalcedony, with other materials including garnet, glass, and amber. The noninvasive investigation allowed for both quick identifications and more detailed studies on chalcedonies and garnets with minimal interference with the museum's activities.
JOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Jose Roberto Tenorio Filho, Jasper Goethals, Reza Aminzadeh, Yawar Abbas, Dulce Elizabeth Valdez Madrid, Veerle Cnudde, Gunter Vermeeren, David Plets, Stijn Matthys
Summary: This paper introduces an innovative automated and wireless system for continuous monitoring of concrete structures. By using embedded electrical resistivity sensors and wireless data transmission, real-time data collection becomes possible. The dielectric properties of concrete and the effects of hardware devices on concrete properties and data transmission were investigated through experiments.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sebastiaan Godts, Scott Allan Orr, Michael Steiger, Amelie Stahlbuhk, Tim De Kock, Julie Desarnaud, Hilde De Clercq, Veerle Cnudde
Summary: This study analyzed several thousand realistic salt mixtures found in weathered stone using thermodynamic calculations and identified two common mixture types and their behavior. The critical relative humidity points of the most frequently occurring 14 salts were discussed. These findings have implications for understanding salt weathering processes and designing experimental stone weathering research.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Eda Kale, Marie De Groeve, Lena Pinnel, Yonca Erkan, Piraye Haciguezeller, Scott Allan Orr, Tim De Kock
Summary: Urbanisation intensifies environmental stressors and limits green spaces, but vertical greening (VG) can mitigate these stressors and enhance well-being in densely built areas. However, heritage buildings are often excluded from VG initiatives due to concerns about potential damage. This study in Antwerp, Belgium investigates the presence of VG on heritage buildings, finding that it is implemented on a significant proportion of buildings in neighbourhoods lacking green space. This reveals the potential for VG on heritage buildings and the need for guidance and integration strategies.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Marie De Groeve, Eda Kale, Scott Allan Orr, Tim De Kock
Summary: Ground-based vertical greening is widely used in city centres for its small footprint and large vegetation surface. However, there is limited understanding of its impact on historic building fabrics. Through laboratory simulations, the insulation capacity and temperature response of vertical greening can be assessed. These findings are important for understanding the environmental performance of vertical greening across different seasons and climatic regions.
Article
Spectroscopy
Maria Cristina Caggiani, Germana Barone, Paolo Mazzoleni
Summary: Raman spectroscopy is commonly used for studying glassy materials in cultural heritage, but it is more difficult to interpret the spectra and apply the technique with portable instruments. In contrast, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) can be used in archaeometric investigations as it is portable and non-invasive. However, there is limited application of this technique to historical glasses. This exploratory work demonstrates the potential of DRIFTS, in combination with portable X-ray Fluorescence (pXRF) and EDS microanalyses, for studying the composition and alteration of glass samples in cultural heritage.
SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A-MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY
(2024)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Asim Siddique, Peter Boelens, Fangchao Long, Shengqiang Zhou, Veerle Cnudde, Thomas Leissner
Summary: Magnetic separation plays a crucial role in mineral processing and recycling industries. This study proposes a methodology to comprehensively characterize and classify Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) slag, aiming to establish the connection between slag properties and the separation process. The methodology involves sieving, classification based on magnetic susceptibility, and mineral liberation analysis. This in-depth analysis provides insights into the separation behavior of different slag phases, contributing to the development of predictive separation models.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Roberta Occhipinti, Gabriele Lanzafame, Anna Lluveras Tenorio, Claudio Finocchiaro, Lara Gigli, Maria Rosaria Tine, Paolo Mazzoleni, Germana Barone
Summary: In this study, porous inorganic polymers were synthesized using alkaline activation of volcanic ash and 'ghiara' paleosoil with Al swarf and Al commercial powder as pore inducing agent. The results showed that the porosity of volcanic-based porous materials can be efficiently tailored by regulating the amount and type of Al.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
