Compressive Behavior of Granite: Experimental Approach

Abstract

Masonry is the oldest building material that survived until today, being used all over the world, and is present in the most impressive historical structures. There is a considerable amount of existing masonry buildings using granite as a masonry unit. Conservation, rehabilitation, and strengthening of the built heritage and protection of human lives are clear demands of modern societies and the evaluation of the stability conditions of damaged ancient constructions involves frequently the usage of more advanced numerical tools than linear elastic analysis, where the knowledge of the mechanical properties of the stone masonry is required. This work aims at obtaining the compressive mechanical properties and at improving the understanding of the fracture process of granites. Based on an enlarged experimental program of uniaxial compressive tests in different granite lithotypes, it was possible to obtain complete stress-strain diagrams through an appropriate circumferential displacement control, from which the elastic and fracture properties were derived. A comprehensive discussion on the parameters influencing the compressive behavior of granite such as planar anisotropy, weathering state, and physical properties are also provided.