Abstract
The present paper is devoted to an experimental study on the fracture behaviour of natural stones, commonly used as elements for building cladding, under both monotonic and cyclic loading, with particular emphasis to white Carrara marble. The effect of progressive damage produced by in-service thermal fluctuations can be investigated through the application of appropriate cyclic mechanical loads. In the experimental tests conducted, some static mechanical properties of marble are characterized by means of three-point bending tests on edge-cracked prismatic specimens for the determination of Young's modulus, tensile strength and fracture energy. Moreover, cyclic three-point bending tests are conducted to determine the propagation rate of nominally Mode-I fatigue cracks. Finally, the fatigue behaviour of the marble is studied through a cohesive crack model, in which the direct tensile strength of the material is determined by a Brazilian test, and the behaviour is calibrated by means of a suitable FE model. The effect of crack path on the fracture resistance of marble is discussed.
Highlights
The Carrara marble is a widely used material in the construction field, both in historical and monumental buildings and in recent constructions, for example in the cladding elements of ventilated facades [1]
The present paper is devoted to an experimental study on the fracture behaviour of natural stones under both monotonic and cyclic loading, with particular emphasis to white Carrara marble
The effect of progressive damage produced by thermal fluctuations can be investigated through the application of appropriate cyclic mechanical loads
Summary
The Carrara marble is a widely used material in the construction field, both in historical and monumental buildings and in recent constructions, for example in the cladding elements of ventilated facades [1]. Temperature may induce stresses due to thermal expansion (restraint effects of the anchorage system, non linear temperature fields and non uniform thermal expansion) and thermal fluctuations tend to cause a progressive damage of the material, sometimes accompanied by a curvature of the surface of the slabs [2]. Such bowing phenomenon can progress up to the collapse of the element, with consequences often critical on safety for the users of the buildings where these covering slabs are installed. It is shown that different level of meandering in the intergranular cracking of marble is observed and correlated with the so-called xenoblastic or homoblastic texture of calcite grains [4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
