Recording of the thermal evolution of limestones undergoing experimental accelerated ageing tests

Sodium sulfates are widely regarded as the most destructive salts for porous stone, concrete and brick. Thenardite (Na2SO4), mirabilite (Na2SO4, 10H2O) and heptahydrate (Na2SO4, 7H2O) are the common phases that occur under surface conditions. The heptahydrate phase has been largely neglected in most modern work about salt weathering. However, several recent publications suggest that it could play an important role in geochemical and planetary processes. Therefore its role in the Na2SO4- H2O system should be clarified. We present here results of accelerated ageing experiments performed on samples of a micritic limestone under two different ambient temperatures: 20 C (i.e. below the upper limit of metastability of the heptahydrate), and 30 C (i.e. above this limit and also below the upper limit of stability of mirabilite). Thermocouples were placed into the samples in order to follow the evolution of the temperature of the stones during the weathering tests. This method allows the recording of exo and endo-thermic reactions that are linked to physicochemical processes, such as crystallization, wetting, evaporative cooling, etc. The experiments show significant differences in the pattern and degree of damage. In the experiment at 20 C, the loss of material is noticeable, and occurs as crumbling and scaling. In the experiment at 30 C, we observe just efflorescence with no visible loss of material. The recorded thermal evolution is also different for the two experiments, which provides some clues as to the different physicochemical processes occurring in each situation, depending on the "ambient" temperature

Multi-scale analysis of water alteration on the rockslope stability framework

International audienceWater is an important weathering factor on rock discontinuities and in rock mass mechanical behavior. The increase of rainfall in frequency or in intensity highlights some problems on the rock slope stability analysis. The aim of this paper is the multi scale analysis of the chemical impact of water on rock (surface roughness and matrix). In this study we show how water induces degradation and thus may decreases the stability of the discontinuous rock mass. Water is known to have significant erosion and dissolution effects on rock surface or rock matrix. The chemical features of water such as temperature, pH or salinity make it a 'good' candidate to rock degradation. This study has two main components. The first one is the study of water-solid chemical mechanisms and the other is the analysis of the mechanical response of the discontinuity modified by the water alteration. The stability of the rock mass is naturally a function of the type and the space distribution of discontinuities. The study aims also to evaluate the effect of water flow on the rock slope stability and it is performed at two space scales: laboratory (micro scale and macro scale) and in situ scales. The last one is still under investigation and will be presented

Water weathering in rocks discontinuities

The behavior of rock discontinuities at different spatial scales remains a major challenge for scientists who want to understand the rock alteration, both in the triggering of rock-fall and in the evolution of the cliffs. Our research aim to take into account the geomorphological features related to the slopes and rock discontinuities subject to weathering conditions. Several studies show the physical effect of water in the alteration of rock through cracks and micro cracks. In Cultural Heritage point of view, a rock discontinuity could be described or analyzed as the interface between stone and joint in buildings. The mechanical and physical discontinuity behavior and its time evolution have a strong influence on the onset of instability of the blocks and on their strength. The effects of climate change (increase of rainfall, temperature fluctuation...), may significantly increase the inception of phenomena such rock falls, stone degradation and damages on monuments. The aim of this study is to characterize the chemical influence of water flowing inside the discontinuity and also through the porous stone matrix. This paper focus on experiments performed in order to analyze the effects of physical and chemical alteration on the mechanical behavior of porous limestone. Limestone is a both commonly stone used in construction of cultural heritage buildings and found on French territory. These experiments could have some interesting results in restoration or conservation of building. We'll present the results of the first two experiments performed in quasi-static and dynamic of the flowing process. The observation and the monitoring of the alteration process are performed in order to determine the physical and chemical reactions involved in this phenomenon. This one we'll be linked to the mechanical aspect of the massif and or the building