New Insights of Historical Mortars Beyond Pompei: The Example of Villa del Pezzolo, Sorrento Peninsula

The topic of this study is the archaeometric characterization of mortars from Villa del Pezzolo, a Roman Villa located in Seiano (Napoli-Campania, Italy), dated between the 1st century B.C. and the 3rd century A.D. Mortars were analyzed by means of a multi-analytical approach (polarized optical microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersed spectrometry, thermal analyses and mercury intrusion porosimetry) according to existing recommendations. Analytical results evidenced the use of local geomaterials composed of sedimentary and volcanic aggregates in the mix design and confirmed the three distinct building phases identified by archaeologists. Volcanic tuff fragments, identified in the 1st building phase can be ascribed to Campanian Ignimbrite formation, widely cropping out in the Sorrento Peninsula, as confirmed by the presence of glassy shards, partially devitrified and replaced by authigenic feldspar, a typical feature of welded grey ignimbrite lithofacies (WGI). Volcanic aggregates in samples of the 2nd and 3rd building phases show, instead, the presence of leucite-bearing volcanic scoriae and garnet crystal fragments related to Somma-Vesuvius products. Study of these mortars allowed us to: (1) understand the production technologies; (2) highlight use of materials with hydraulic behavior, such as volcanic and fictile fragments; (3) confirm the three building phases from compositional features of mortars and (4) highlight the change over time of the volcanic aggregate for mortars mix-design

X-ray Diffractometry in Forensic Science

X-ray Diffractometry is a very useful analytical technique to achieve detailed information about the crystal structure and mineralogical composition, qualitative and quantitative, of matter. It is a technique that exploits the interaction between solid matter and X-rays that, converged on a substance, are diffracted. The outgoing X-rays, on the basis of the wavelength of the incident beam and according to the path within the analyzed sample provide information on fundamental param- eters of the crystalline state as the distance of the lattice planes and the parameters of the elementary cell. The analytical result is called diffraction pattern containing a series of peaks that show the intensity and angular position of the diffracted X-rays. Typically, a diffraction pattern represents, for individual minerals, a kind of distinct fingerprint and can be used to easily identify the material or distinguish it from others, especially with the use of modern databases. X-Ray Diffractometry can be successfully used in a variety of fields: building materials, geological sam- ples, environmental pollutants and increasingly by forensic sciences as a scientific aid for the analysis of evidence from crime scenes

Mechanical properties and microstructure of soils treated with a vinyl-based copolymer

In soil stabilisation, the use of alternative products to lime or cement has been proposed. However, the effects of these additives, of various origins, on soil behaviour and stabilizing mechanisms are not well understood. Thus, the aim of this paper is to characterize the modification of the mechanical behaviour and microstructure of two soils after treatment with one of those product, a vinyl based copolymer. After treatment, both materials were compacted up to their maximum dry density. The mechanical behaviour of the materials as a function of the curing conditions, suction and water content was first determined. In a second step, the alteration of the microstructure by the treatment product was assessed. The results showed that the treatment permitted to significantly improve the strength of the tested soils. Moreover, the efficiency of the product increases when the soil is dried. However, the Young modulus is not significantly modified by the treatment. Microstructural reorganization after co-polymer addition has been detected by SEM technique for kaolin samples, whereas no modification have been observed for silt samples

Mechanical properties and microstructure of soils treated with a vinyl-based copolymer

In soil stabilisation, the use of alternative products to lime or cement has been proposed. However, the effects of these additives, of various origins, on soil behaviour and stabilizing mechanisms are not well understood. Thus, the aim of this paper is to characterize the modification of the mechanical behaviour and microstructure of two soils after treatment with one of those product, a vinyl based copolymer. After treatment, both materials were compacted up to their maximum dry density. The mechanical behaviour of the materials as a function of the curing conditions, suction and water content was first determined. In a second step, the alteration of the microstructure by the treatment product was assessed. The results showed that the treatment permitted to significantly improve the strength of the tested soils. Moreover, the efficiency of the product increases when the soil is dried. However, the Young modulus is not significantly modified by the treatment. Microstructural reorganization after co-polymer addition has been detected by SEM technique for kaolin samples, whereas no modification have been observed for silt samples

Sinkholes threatening places of worship in the historic center of Naples

tThe historic center of Naples (southern Italy) is characterized by a variety of elements which, formingits cultural asset, have contributed to its recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Among these,cathedrals, churches and chapels are particularly relevant due to their diffusion and differentiation inage. A singular feature of these places of worship is the presence of a frequently connected networkof underground cavities. Such cavities, excavated for quarrying tuff blocks, are susceptible to suddencollapses generating sinkholes which in a number of cases have been responsible for the loss of humanlives. On this basis and considering the importance of such elements as attractors of visitors, an analysisof susceptibility to sinkholes of cathedrals, churches and chapels has been here carried out. A sinkhole,cavities and places of worship inventory was prepared using available data and was used, in associationto ongoing ground deformation data obtained by DInSAR. Results indicated that 40% of the inventoriedsinkholes are a product of cavity collapses and in 45 cases cavities lie underneath places of worship.Geodetic data obtained by Differential Interferometric SAR technique indicate that approximately 1 km2of the historic center of Naples is subject to ongoing subsiding deformation that in several cases is localizedabove cavities. The susceptibility map derived from available data indicate the presence of a zone whereno cathedral, church and chapel can be subject to sinkholes (1) and 3 zones where they can be subjectto sagging (2), potential future cavity collapses (3) and future cavity collapses anticipated by ongoingdeformation (4); in detail, 34 places of worship are in zone 2, 57 in zone 3 and 9 in zone 4. Consideringan increasing susceptibility level of the identified zones, the 9 places of worship located in zone 4 requirea quick response in terms of characterization, stability analysis and real time monitoring have beenidentified

Environmental life cycle assessment of lightweight concrete to support recycled materials selection for sustainable design

The constant increase in consumption of aggregates for concrete production represents a major environmental issue in the construction industry. Recycled wastes might be used as raw materials in the manufacturing of artificial LightWeight Aggregates (LWAs) in substitution and/or in combination with aggregates produced using natural sources for several end-uses, thus saving non-renewable resources. In this study, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is performed for different LWAs manufactured with raw materials supplied by nature or waste. Then, the LCA is conducted on different concretes made of the different LWAs

LightWeight Aggregates from industrial and c&D waste recycling: new perspectives for environment safeguard and energy saving

Lightweight aggregates from Industrial waste, perspective and energy savin