Title: Reliability assessment of the NDT results for the internal damage of marble specimens

Authors: S.K. Kourkoulis, I. Prassianakis, Z. Agioutantis, G.E. Exadaktylos

Addresses: National Technical University of Athens, School of Applied Sciences, Department of Mechanics, Laboratory of Testing and Materials, 5 Heroes of Polytechnion Ave., Theocaris bld., Zografou Campus, 157 73 Athens, Greece. ' National Technical University of Athens, School of Applied Sciences, Department of Mechanics, Laboratory of Testing and Materials, 5 Heroes of Polytechnion Ave., Theocaris bld., Zografou Campus, 157 73 Athens, Greece. ' Technical University of Crete, Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, Laboratory of Rock Mechanics, 731 00 Chania, Crete, Greece. ' Technical University of Crete, Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, Laboratory of Rock Mechanics, 731 00 Chania, Crete, Greece

Abstract: The damage of either intact or notched marble beams under bending is studied with both destructive and non-destructive techniques, in an effort to assess the reliability of the non-destructive methods in the case of rock-type materials. The specimens are made from Dionysos marble, the material used for the restoration of the Parthenon Temple of the Acropolis of Athens. The experimental results for the intact specimens are compared with the predictions of a damage model, while for the notched specimens the comparison is realised using the predictions of a numerical analysis employing the finite element method. The comparison is satisfactory indicating that the non-destructive technique of ultrasounds employed can be safely used for the description of the damage of rock-type materials. This conclusion is of vital importance since non-destructive techniques constitute the only experimental methods which are permitted to be used in the case of monuments which are |unique|.

Keywords: damage; destructive testing; finite elements; marble; monuments; non-destructive testing; notches; ultrasound.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2006.008979

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 2006 Vol.26 No.1/2, pp.35 - 56

Published online: 10 Feb 2006 *

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