An assessment of capillary water absorption changes related to the different salt solutions and their concentrations ratios in the Döğer tuff (Afyonkarahisar-Turkey) used as building stone of cultural heritages

Abstract

Water absorption and salt crystallization are among the most common and critical problems when it comes to deterioration of both cultural heritages and modern buildings. The Döğer tuff has been used to build temples and monuments in Afyonkarahisar region (Turkey) since ancient times. The present paper aimed to point out the water absorption with salt attack on the durability of the Döğer tuff (Afyonkarahisar- Turkey) used as building stones of cultural heritages. For this purpose, it was investigated regarding their chemical, mineralogical-petrographical (polarizing microscope, XRD, SEM analyses, and pore size distribution) and physico-mechanical properties as well as their deterioration behavior in the capillary water absorption test with different salt (Na2SO4 10H2O, MgSO4 7H2O, NaCl, and KCI) solutions, and their (2, 5, 10 and 14%) concentration ratios. The capillary absorption values of the Döğer tuff were greater than 3 kg/m2 for all salt and concentration ratios, and therefore it has strong capillary water absorption. According to the experimental study results, it was observed that some physical and mechanical values were decreased in the samples. The ultrasound pulse velocity (UPV) and uniaxial compression strength (UCS) values of the Döğer tuff samples in all salt solutions and concentrations decreased after the capillary water absorption test.