Natural Stone Research Articles

Automated construction of multi-leaf walls with natural stones

This paper introduces an innovative strategy for the construction of multi-leaf walls utilizing raw stones, a significant step forward in sustainable building practices. Our approach leverages advanced computational algorithms and image processing techniques to automatically build walls with irregular stones. By focusing on the physical assembly of these materials, the objective is to optimize their use in creating structurally robust walls. The core of our methodology lies in the efficient arrangement of irregular objects based on image-convolution techniques. The proposed packing algorithm is proven to be efficient and versatile in stacking stones without restriction in the shape and size of units. Evaluations of constructed walls based on geometric indices show that the stone layout meets masons’ rules-of-art. This work presents a scalable wall construction solution that could revolutionize the use of natural stones in construction.

Investigation of the mechanical properties of concrete incorporating recycled rubber particles

Quantity of waste rubber generated by automobile tires is growing, posing an environmental threat. Rubber tire recycling was studied for usage in asphalt and waterproofing systems during past few decades. Globally, concrete is the most widely used building material. About 7% of CO2 emissions come from the cement production. The purpose of this research is to assess if using waste rubber and Portland cement together in composite material for structural applications is feasible. Waste tires (shredded to 0/1 mm) were used as fine aggregate replacement (in 2.5 and 7.5 %), together with PC and natural stone. An investigation of properties in fresh (slump test, bulk density, air content) and hardened state (bulk density, compressive strength) was performed on the rubberized concrete. The compressive strength decreased by increasing the rubber content for all w/c ratios (0.55-0.4). The addition of fine-sized rubber did not cause a retardation in cement hydration mechanism. According to the obtained compressive strengths, all designed rubberized concretes belong to a group of structural concretes.

Material properties of building limes for pointing mortar for renovation and restoration of neo-Gothic churches in Sweden

During the neo-Gothic period of the 18th and 19th century, many churches in Sweden were built in brick and natural stone with a traditional lime-based mortar. Moisture- and salt related problems were common in these church buildings, already a few years after they were erected durability problems arose. Examples of these durability problems were internal salt precipitation, leaching of lime-based mortar and other moisture-related deterioration of mortar joints. When these neo-Gothic churches are repointed, this should be done with appropriate traditional lime mortars. However, since the introduction of cement as a material for mortars and renders, the knowledge on lime-based mortars has gradually decreased. Lime as a material for mortar, renders and plasters is still used, but only on a small scale and mostly for work on heritage buildings. There is a knowledge gap regarding material properties and workability of traditional limes. Therefore, the aim of this project was to determine the material properties of lime mortars used for restoration of churches built in brick or natural stone masonry.

ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ ВПЛИВУ СПОСОБУ ОБРОБКИ НА АДГЕЗІЙНУ ЗДАТНІСТЬ МОНТАЖНИХ ПОВЕРХОНЬ ВИРОБІВ З ПРИРОДНОГО КАМЕНЮ

Purpose. The purpose of the research is to establish the degree of influence of the structural-textural features and the method of processing the facing surface of natural stone products on their ability to adhere. Methodology. To achieve the goal of the research, the following steps were taken: justification and formulation of the hypothesis regarding the dependence of adhesion on the parameters of micro-relief of stone products and the structural-textural features of rock formations; determination and description of the requirements for the samples under investigation; review and brief characterization of the typology of fixing mixtures; selection and description of the main parameters of the mounting surface (base) for fixing the samples under investigation; development of a sequential plan for conducting the research part of the work; actual execution of the research; analysis of the obtained results. Results. Based on the results of the research, the influence of the method of processing the mounting surfaces of stone products on the magnitude of the provided adhesive interaction and the influence of the structural-textural features of natural stone on the adhesion magnitude of adhesive interaction have been established. Scientific novelty. The scientific novelty lies in establishing the relationship between the ability of the surface of natural stone to adhere and the method of its processing; for the first time, the value of adhesion magnitude for the sawn texture of granite from the Didkovytske deposit and gabbro from the Kamyanobridsky deposit has been determined. Practical significance. The practical significance of the obtained results lies in the possibility of using the obtained dependencies for the early prediction of the adhesion magnitude of the surface of facing products made of natural stone to the surface to which they are attached, based on the physical-mechanical properties of the stone and the method of processing its surface. Keywords: adhesion, natural stone, diamond wire sawing, disk sawing, stone product installation.

Analysis of the performance of supply chain resilience strategies using a simulation approach (case study: natural stone industry)

Analysis of the performance of supply chain resilience strategies using a simulation approach (case study: natural stone industry)

Analysis of the performance of supply chain resilience strategies using a simulation approach (case study: natural stone industry)

Analysis of the performance of supply chain resilience strategies using a simulation approach (case study: natural stone industry)

Investigation of granular natural stone materials as photothermal absorbers for sustainable and environmentally friendly energy harvesting

The development of cost-effective and environmentally friendly solar thermal technologies that deliver high performance poses several challenges, where the collector and absorber components play a pivotal role. This research addresses these issues by investigating enhanced temperature generation using a 30 cm × 30 cm Fresnel lens collector under solar illumination from a xenon lamp. Natural stone materials (andesite, coal, and pumice), characterized by granular structures with an average diameter of 1.68-2.00 mm, were selected because of their abundance and eco-friendliness. This research is focused on evaluating the effect of Fresnel lens on temperature generation performance. Two types of temperature generation tests were carried out: wet tests (where the natural stone materials were immersed in distilled water) and dry tests (where the natural stone materials were used in dry conditions). The morphologies of the natural stone materials were examined using an optical microscope and scanning electron microscope. Furthermore, the optical properties of the natural stone materials were analyzed using an ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectrophotometer. The findings revealed that there were significant improvements in the photothermal absorber performance with the use of a Fresnel lens in dry tests, where the highest temperature was achieved for coal (103.25 °C), followed by andesite (89.00 °C) and pumice (73.00 °C). The impurities varied between the materials, where the impurities were most dominant for pumice while coal was more uniform. Further examination using scanning electron microscope showed that all materials had light-trapping structures in the form of rough surfaces, pores, and crack gaps. Andesite was dominated by rough surfaces, while coal and pumice were dominated by crack gaps and pores, respectively. However, based on the UV-VIS spectrophotometric results, there were no correlations between the optical properties (absorbance, reflectance, and transmittance) and temperature achieved by the photothermal absorber materials. This research demonstrates the potential of using natural stone materials as photothermal absorbers in combination with a Fresnel lens collector for low-to-medium temperature solar thermal applications.

Using the overall variation trend and fitting of Na-feldspar crystal plane spacing after chemical corrosion to prevent rock disasters

Sulfuric acid pollution, caused by acid rain, acidic wastewater, and natural acidic wastewater from mines, poses a significant risk to the stability of natural stone slopes and human stone structures. This study aims to develop a non-mechanical testing method for assessing the degree of acid corrosion in rocks, facilitating early intervention by safety engineers. The proposed method involves using XRD to measure the crystal plane spacing of Na-feldspar corroded by different concentrations of sulfuric acid, followed by mathematical analysis to determine the overall deviation degree of the crystal plane spacing. Four Deviation indices were defined to characterize the degree of acid corrosion, and all four indices increased with increasing acidity. By comparing trend charts, an optimized number of crystal planes for analysis was identified. Selecting the 100 sets of data with the largest spacing yielded similar trend results as selecting all the data. In addition, five different fitting methods were compared, and the power function fitting of Weighted Sum of squares of cumulative errors (WSSCE) was found to provide the optimal empirical formula, with a correlation coefficient exceeding 0.98.

Sustainable supply chain control strategies for the natural stone market

The natural stone market is an important component of the modern economy, with increasing demand driven by a growing population and urbanization. However, the industry faces a range of challenges related to supply chain risk management, including sourcing raw materials, transportation, and quality control. Effective risk management is crucial for the success of any business in this sector, as it helps to minimize losses, maintain quality, and ensure timely delivery of products to customers. This paper proposes the use of a flexible decision-making approach to classify major risks and identify Effective mitigation strategies for order management in the natural stone market. The proposed method considers multiple criteria, including financial, operational, and mitigation factors, to develop a comprehensive risk assessment framework that can be used to optimize control processes. By implementing the proposed framework, stakeholders in the natural stone market can improve their risk management capabilities and enhance their competitive advantage in the global market. The framework can help to identify the most critical risks and prioritize mitigation strategies, resulting in a more efficient and Effective supply chain management system. This paper presents a real case study of a Brazilian company, which illustrates the practical application of the proposed methodological framework in the natural stone market, highlighting its Effectiveness in identifying and mitigating risks related to stone slabs transportation network. The insights gained from this case study have potential for application across various industries facing analogous challenges in managing risks within their supply chains.

МОДЕРНИЗАЦИЯ СТРОИТЕЛЬНО-МОНТАЖНОГО ПИСТОЛЕТА ДЛЯ ДОБЫЧИ ПРИРОДНОГО КАМНЯ

The possibility of mechanizing the operation of wedging for the extraction of natural stone was reviewed. The goal is to reduce the weight of the wedges to several kg and reduce the diameter of the holes in the stone where the wedges are installed. The weight of one hydraulic wedge used is 26 kg, not counting the weight of the hydraulic pump with pressure hoses. Among the options for mechanizing stone mining with wedges, the following approaches are considered – the use of the electro-hydraulic effect; application of liquid nitrogen evaporation in a closed volume; use of electromechanical wedge drive. The fourth option was chosen – modernization of the powder actuated fastening tool for the new task. A calculation has been made for a modernized fastening tool. Several fastening tools chambered for a 7,62 × 54,00 mm rifle cartridge with a charge of moderated propagation gunpowder can split a large stone block. Shallow holes are drilled into the stone block into which wedges are inserted. Measures have been taken to compensate for the recoil of a shot. A shot is fired and the wedges, much larger than a concrete anchor, split the stone. The wedges are reusable. The synchronized operation of several tools is ensured by electric firing from one circuit. A modernized tool with an electric triggering for stone mining can weigh below 3,5 kg. The technical details of the proposal are discussed.

Subbase stabilization with fly ash

Due to increased activities in civil engineering, and especially in the transport infrastructure, and thus an increase in the use of additional construction materials, innovative solutions are needed in finding alternative materials for the preservation of natural resources. One of the solutions for preserving natural building materials is the application of recycled material, which will also meet the required standards in civil engineering. In the transport infrastructure, there is a great opportunity for the use of recycled material, starting from the subbase, through the embankment and all the way to the superstructure and the concrete structures. One of the recycled materials that can be used in construction is fly ash. Fly ash is the most promising waste material when it comes to the wide range of applications in construction. Fly ash is obtained by burning coal in thermal power plants to produce electricity. Due to variations in the composition and characteristics of fly ash, several divisions and classifications have been created. One of the main classifications is according to the American standard ASTM C 618-05 where it is divided into class C and class F fly ash. This research aims to investigate the application of fly ash for subgrade stabilization and to determine the difference from a financial and environmental perspective for the application of fly ash compared to natural stone aggregate. The main research was carried out in connection with the increased use of natural stone aggregate, which appeared as a need during the rehabilitation of state road R1206, section Karpalak - Zelino. Apart from the use of large quantities of stone aggregate for the stabilization of the subgrade, it also had an impact on the financial framework for the realization of the road project. In Macedonia, an analysis of the chemical composition of 4 samples of fly ash obtained in REC Bitola was carried out. From the obtained results, it can be concluded that it belongs to the classification of F-class fly ash and with the use of an activator (lime or cement) it can be used in the stabilization of the subgrade.

Feasibility Analysis of a Roof Tile Factory Business Using a Capital Budgeting Approach

Natural content that supports the need for raw materials and materials needed is provided by the nature around us, such as various plants, soil, water, natural stones, and others. Most of them can be further processed into raw materials for construction products, such as roof tiles and other infrastructure facilities. The financial feasibility aspect is important considering that the business can be categorized as a project, which requires a long payback period based on the accounting period. During this time period there are various things that are full of uncertainty which are influenced by the rate of inflation and bank interest rates, so that the value of investments issued and the income or money obtained now will be different from the value of money in the future, which is called with the value of time rather than money. It is hoped that the analytical tool will be able to provide consideration, input and anticipation for the future of the roof tile manufacturing unit project by paying attention to capital budgeting, which can then be analyzed from a financial aspect through payback period (PP), net present value (NPV), profitability index ( PI) and internal rate of return (IRR). In the roof tile manufacturing business, the PBP is 1 year, 8 months, 6 days faster than the maximum period of 8 years of the project value, positive NPV of IDR 536,821,468, PI of 2,841 greater than number 1 and IRR of 14,835 greater than the cost value of capital 12%. As a basis for decision making through a capital budgeting approach through financial analysis.

Damage Types and Repair Techniques in Seljuk Period Stone Architectural Monuments: Konya Alaaddin Mosque

In order to determine the correct conservation and repair techniques for stone architectural monuments, it is necessary to determine the types of damage that occur in the stone. The determination of damage types is directly related to the factors that cause damage. In this study, the factors that cause deterioration in natural stones and the types of weathering were classified through literature research. Through the literature review, different repair techniques depending on the type of deterioration were examined. A field study was carried out based on the data obtained from the research conducted within the scope of the study. Alaaddin Mosque, one of the Seljuk period stone architectural monumental buildings located in Konya city centre and whose restoration works have been completed in recent years, was selected to be examined. In order to obtain information about the conservation and repair activities applied in the building, the archive of Konya Regional Directorate of Foundations, which carried out the restoration works, was utilized. The repairs applied to the building were documented by on-site inspection, observation and photography techniques. The observations made during the fieldwork draw attention to the deterioration of the stone materials after the repair activities. In this direction, the deterioration was photographed and classified using the data obtained from the literature. The factors causing the deterioration were analysed and discussed in the results section.

The effect of composite thickness as thermal insulation roof coating on room temperature reduction

The increasingly widespread use of galvanized roofs certainly has an effect on the occupants in the room below. Among them is a hot room temperature. For that reason, it is necessary to make new discoveries in the field of composites of natural materials to overcome them because most natural materials, especially natural stone, have low thermal conductivity, which means they can inhibit heat propagation. This study sought to ascertain how much andesite natural stone powder, combined with epoxy, can lower the room temperature when it is layered on a galvanized roof. Different amounts of natural stone powder applied to a galvanized roof results in different thermal conductivities. The temperature readings were taken at a height of 20 cm above the roof, right at the bottom galvanic, as well as the temperature in the room below. Our results showed that adding andesite natural stone powder to the roof was able to lower the room temperature, and the thicker the composite layer in coating the galvanized roof, the lower the room temperature under the roof.

KİMYASAL BİLEŞİMLERİ YARDIMIYLA GERÇEK MERMERLERİN AŞINMA DİRENCİ KESTİRİMİ: YENİ BİR YAKLAŞIM

Natural stones are the widely used building materials in civil engineering and architectural projects. Surface abrasion resistance determination of natural stones is one of the important issues considered in flooring projects. This mechanical property is determined by performing standardized laboratory tests. In recent years, however, there has been considerable interest in its determination by means of indirect methods using the physical, mechanical, and mineralogical properties of stone materials. As a new approach, the present work was undertaken to investigate the potential usability of chemical compositions of true marbles as a guide to predict their Wide Wheel Abrasion (WWA) and Böhme Abrasion (BA) test values. By performing multiple linear regression analyses, statistically significant regression models with high prediction accuracies were derived (p-values < 0.05; R2 ═ 0.98­0.99). In the established prediction models MgO, SiO2, CaO, and (CaO/SiO2) ratio were determined as the most significant predictor variables. These models may be updated by inclusion of data from further studies on other types of marbles.

Characteristics of airborne particles in stone quarrying areas: Human exposure assessment and mitigation

This investigation aims to assess the levels of human exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM) in various locations of a natural stone quarry for the first time based on simultaneous measurements of both PM mass and number concentrations (PMC and PNC). A quarry located in Danang city, Vietnam, considered to be a “hotspot” of air pollution in the city, was selected for detailed investigations. Both PMC and PNC were found to be significantly higher (1.2–6.0 times) within the quarry compared to surrounding areas. Mechanical activities during mining, notably crushing, screening, hauling, and loading stones, contributed to increased emissions of PM in the coarser mode (1–10 μm) compared to the accumulation mode (0.1–1 μm) and thus increased deposition of PM1-10 in the human upper respiratory tract. In contrast, combustion activities, especially the diesel engine exhaust from various machines and vehicles used in the quarry, resulted in increased emissions of small particles in the accumulation mode that dominated the PNC and in their deposition in the lower respiratory tract. Simultaneous measurements of PNC and PMC revealed that the PM counts were strongly associated with PM deposition in the alveolar region (accounting for ≈ 76% of total PNC of particles less than 10 μm, N10), while the PM mass concentration was a better indicator of the deposition of PM in the head airway region (≈92% of total PMC of PM10). Overall, this study demonstrates the significance of measuring both PNC and PMC to assess PM exposure levels, regional respiratory doses, and potential health effects associated with human exposure to PM generated from stone quarrying activities. The novelty of this work is the integration of real-time mass and number concentrations of PM over the size range from 20 nm to 10 μm to provide insights into respiratory deposited doses of size-fractionated PM among quarry workers.

Su bazlı kopolimer uygulaması ile tüflerin suda dağılmaya karşı duraylılık indeksi değerlerinin iyileştirilmesi

Tuff has been used as a natural building stone in the construction industry since the earliest times. Tuff is slight, simple to manufacture, and has good isolation qualities, which is why it is used so frequently despite its low strength characteristics and high porosity. In this study, samples of white and pink tuff from the regions of Derbent and Gümele districts of Eskisehir province were treated with a water-based (water-soluble) copolymer bath to evaluate their endurance to atmospheric conditions. Spherical samples were subjected to 30-minute slake durability index testing in a water-based copolymer bath. The index values of the initial spherical samples were contrasted with the index values from the fourth cycle of the spherical samples that had received the copolymer bath treatment. Although the index values of the original spherical samples were determined to be 92.22% and 95.32%, respectively, the index values of the spherical sample sets treated with a water-based copolymer bath were determined to be 98.29% and 98.83%, respectively. The study results indicate that spherical samples with a water-based copolymer bath treatment had a greater impact on improving the slake durability index values compared to spherical samples without treatment.

A Two-Step Surface Modification Methodology for the Advanced Protection of a Stone Surface.

The biodeterioration of the natural surface on monuments, historical buildings, and even public claddings brings to the attention of researchers and historians the issues of conservation and protection. Natural stones undergo changes in their appearance, being subjected to deterioration due to climatic variations and the destructive action of biological systems interfering with and living on them, leading to ongoing challenges in the protection of the exposed surfaces. Nanotechnology, through silver nanoparticles with strong antimicrobial effects, can provide solutions for protecting natural surfaces using specific coupling agents tailored to each substrate. In this work, surfaces of two common types of natural stone, frequently encountered in landscaping and finishing works, were modified using siloxane coupling agents with thiol groups. Through these agents, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were fixed, exhibiting distinct characteristics, and subjected to antimicrobial analysis. This study presents a comparative analysis of the efficiency of coupling agents that can be applied to a natural surface with porous structures, when combined with laboratory-obtained silver nanoparticles, in reducing the formation of microbial biofilms, which are a main trigger for stone biodeterioration.

Correlation Of Noise Levels With Work Stress For Natural Stone Factory Workers In An Occupational Health Law Perspective

Introduction: Permenkes No. 70 of 2016 concerning Standards and Requirements for Industrial Work Environment Health states that the NAB or Threshold Limit Value is the average intensity of exposure to physical or chemical hazards that can be accepted by all workers without causing health problems or illness at work in a day that does not exceed 8 hours. per day or 40 hours per week. The aim of this research is to determine the relationship between noise levels and work stress in natural stone factory workers in terms of health law. Method: The type of research used in this research is quantitative research with an observational analytical research design and a cross-sectional approach. The population of this study were workers at a natural stone factory in Kepuh village, Cirebon district. The sampling technique used was total sampling. The samples used were all 59 natural stone factory workers in Kepuh village, Cirebon district. Results: The research results show that most factory production areas are noisy (79.7%), factory workers experience as much stress as 76,5% Discussion: The conclusion of the research shows that there is a significant relationship between noise levels and work stress among natural stone factory workers in Kepuh Village, Cirebon Regency with p value = 0.000. The results of the juridical analysis of the relationship between noise levels and work stress among natural stone factory workers from a health law perspective are linked with Industrial Work Environment Health Standards and Requirements (Permenkes No. 70 of 2016) which states that every industry is obliged to meet standards and implement industrial work environment health requirements. The lack of socialization regarding legal regulations has resulted in the non-fulfillment of the noise threshold standards that should exist in the natural stone industry.

Study of the characteristics of pavement elements made of reinforced soil with the use of secondary resources

The importance of using secondary resources on the basis of industrial waste is understood by both governments of developed countries and business (production of Portland cement using ground metallurgical slag as a mineral additive at Novotroitsk, Magnitogorsk, Sterlitamak, KatavIvanovsk and other plants in the South Urals). The use of secondary raw materials requires the creation of technological infrastructure for processing of secondary raw materials, the costs of which can be quickly recouped due to the cheapness and availability of industrial secondary raw materials and freeing the territory from environmental pollution. In order to recoup the costs of the infrastructure, it is necessary to guarantee full compliance of the quality of pavement elements with the requirements of GOST R 59120-2021. Secondary raw materials have a great variety and laboratory analysis of the quality of pavement elements is required in order to design compositions with the best quality, satisfying all regulatory requirements. In our work the authors present the results of laboratory research and evaluation of the possibility of using clinker-free lime-slag binder based on the mineral product of soda production and metallurgical slags to strengthen and stabilize soils for their use in pavement structures in the construction of roads for various purposes and climatic zones. It is experimentally shown that the addition of lime-slag binder in the amount of 8-10% of the dry weight of both cohesive (loamy soil, loamy sand) and non-cohesive (fine sand) soil allows to obtain reinforced soil with improved strength and elastic-deformative characteristics, which can be used instead of scarce natural crushed stone and gravel in the construction of underlying layers of pavements in the construction and reconstruction of highways. This technology can be used not only in the Russian Federation, but also in a number of other countries, including those with hot dry climates (e.g., the Republic of Egypt).