Abstract
Recent instances of the destruction of cultural assets in conflict zones have demonstrated the need to develop methods which will allow for the assessment of damage to heritage stone in the field. In particular, non-destructive methods would be invaluable when working on sites damaged by contemporary ballistics. Permeability (TinyPerm 3) and surface hardness (Equotip) surveys of stone damaged by 7.62 × 39 mm (AK-47) projectiles were undertaken to determine the ability of these methods to identify the spatial distribution of damage patterns such as shear faces and surface fractures. Results demonstrate the ability of surface hardness surveys to distinguish between non-impacted surfaces of the target stone and surfaces which shattered/sheared upon impact. Whilst spatial distribution analysis (“heat mapping”) of Equotip data did not correlate directly with surface fractures, permeability data heat maps were found to be indicative of surface fracture distribution. The data suggests that compaction of the stone matrix at the impact crater results in a lesser reduction of hardness in this area relative to the wider damaged surface. Surveys of impacted stone using the methods outlined here can identify damage patterns that are not visible to the naked eye, thus aiding in damage identification on fragile sites.
Highlights
Damage to heritage monuments, both deliberate and inadvertent, has been a frequent aspect of armed conflict throughout history [1]
The increased permeability seen across side 1 and the shattered surface are due to the fact that the projectile impacted side 1 directly, leading to greater damage in this area and across the adjacent shattered surface
IDW heat maps show that permeability surveys of impacted stone can help in identifying and visualising the spatial distribution of surface fractures, which in turn could inform conservation strategies by identifying likely points of ingress for weathering agents. Permeability readings and their standard deviations indicate that the technique is effective at highlighting the sides of a sample block which are most and least damaged. Given that both the instruments used in this work (TinyPerm 3 and Equotip) are portable, these findings demonstrate a potential new method for conservation professionals to assess ballistic damage to heritage stone in the field
Summary
Both deliberate and inadvertent, has been a frequent aspect of armed conflict throughout history [1]. Constant improvement in firearms technology means that infantry small arms present a significant threat to built heritage. Despite the growing potential for the destruction of these small arms, the damage that ballistic impact and subsequent weathering can cause to buildings is often overlooked in conversations around cultural destruction [4]. The increased capacity for damage that has resulted from the evolution of firearms technology has been explored in a number of studies. Kalaus and Hall demonstrated through test-firing early small arms that modern assault rifles have significantly increased accuracy, range and kinetic energy at impact when compared with muskets available in the 16th century [5]
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