Radiographical investigation of fluid penetration processes in natural stones used in historical buildings

Abstract

In order to ensure sustainability if historic buildings their technical state has to be inspected on regular basis. Damage assessment has to be preferably carried out using non-destructive methods otherwise damage accumulation may occur during life-cycle of the constructions. According to character of detected damage appropriate intervention measures (i.e. strengthening, consolidation, etc.) have to be then efficiently applied. Among other factors significantly influencing life span of constructions weathering agents (rain, erosion, dissolution, etc.) may cause rapid degradation of mechanical properties.In this paper X-ray radiograhical imaging was used to describe fluid penetration process in porous Maastricht limestone that is commonly used for restoration purposes. The imaging was performed in custom radiography device simulating practical in-situ measurements using microtube device. This device is a modified Karsten tube capable of determining absorbed volume and its speed even on inclined surfaces. However actual fluid penetration process in terms of saturation depth/volume ratio and shape of fluid wave propagating through microstructure is indeterminable using microtube. For this purpose real-time radiography imaging of fluid saturation process was performed to investigate behaviour of fluid in the material. Furthermore X-ray computed microtomography was performed to develop finite element model for simulation of fluid flow in the porous microstructure.Using the real-time imaging relations between penetration speed, penetration depth and penetrated volume were assessed. These results can be used to validate results from microtube measurements including nonlinear regions present when semi-spherical wave propagates through the material. Using a set of finite element simulations of the microtube experiment fluid velocity distribution in the material together with effective Darcy's flux were calculated and results were compared to those from real-time imaging.