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Comparative experimental study of the mechanical and fracture properties of Portland limestone and Corsehill sandstone

Marinelli, Aikaterini; Stewart, Matthew R.

Authors

Matthew R. Stewart



Abstract

An experimental investigation of the mechanical and fracture characteristics of Portland limestone and Corsehill sandstone is undertaken, aiming at enhancing understanding of the structural behaviour of these natural building stones commonly used in both new and restoration projects in Edinburgh, Scotland. A series of three-point bending and four-point bending tests on appropriately cut prismatic samples, in the presence of U-shape notches, were performed and results were interpreted following the concepts of crack mouth opening displacement and fracture energy. The critical crack opening displacement could be further investigated as a fracture criterion, independently of the method used for its determination. At a second stage, the effect of specimen shape and size on flexural strength, deflection at mid-span, crack mouth opening displacement and fracture energy was studied for Portland limestone. Despite the scattering of results, trends observed comprise (a) the negative correlation between the flexural strength of Portland limestone and the specimen span length and (b) the positive correlation between fracture energy and specimen size. Conclusions drawn are in good agreement with similar ones for other quasi-brittle materials and contribute to the assessment of the fracture behaviour of full size structural members that are often beyond the range of possible failure testing.

Citation

Marinelli, A., & Stewart, M. R. (2019). Comparative experimental study of the mechanical and fracture properties of Portland limestone and Corsehill sandstone. Frattura ed Integrità Strutturale (Fracture and Structural Integrity), 13(50), 438-450. https://doi.org/10.3221/IGF-ESIS.50.37

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 9, 2019
Online Publication Date Sep 2, 2019
Publication Date Oct 1, 2019
Deposit Date May 17, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Frattura ed Integrità Strutturale (Fracture and Structural Integrity)
Print ISSN 1971-8993
Publisher Gruppo Italiano Frattura
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 13
Issue 50
Pages 438-450
DOI https://doi.org/10.3221/IGF-ESIS.50.37
Keywords Corsehill sandstone; Portland limestone; Mechanical properties; Size effect; Shape effect; Fracture energy
Public URL http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/1810655

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Publisher Licence URL
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Copyright Statement
Copyright: © 2019 This is an open access article under the terms of the CC-BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.




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