Most Important Stone Properties

Most important stone properties are to be discussed here. Stones are naturally occurring rocks of igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic origin. Most of the rocks are sufficiently consolidated to enable them to be cut or made into various shapes and blocks or slabs to be used walling, paving or roofing materials. Rocks are mostly used in the construction of buildings and hundreds of structures. Stones are categorized into building stones, ornamental stones and dimension stones.

 

Most Important Stone Properties

The following properties of the stones should be looked into before selecting them for engineering works:

(i) Density.

(ii) Structure.

(iii) Texture.

(iv) Appearance.

(v) Strength.

(vi) Hardness.

(vii) Percentage Wear.

(viii) Porosity and Absorption.

(ix) Weathering.

(x) Toughness.

(xi) Resistance to Fire.

(xii) Ease in Dressing.

(xiii) Seasoning.

 

Density

Denser stones are stronger. Light-weight stones are weak. Hence stones with a specific gravity less than 2.4 are considered unsuitable for buildings.

 

Structure

The structure of the stone may be stratified (layered) or unstratified. Structured stones should be easily dressed and suitable for super-structure. Unstratified stones are hard and difficult to dress. They are preferred for the foundation works.

 

Texture

Fine grained stones with homogeneous distribution look attractive and hence they are used for carving. Such stones are usually strong and durable.

 

Appearance

A stone with uniform and attractive color is durable if grains are compact. Marble and granite get a very good appearance, when polished. Hence they are used for face works in buildings.

 

Strength

Strength is an important property to be looked into before selecting stone as a building block.

 

Hardness

It is an important property to be considered when a stone is used for flooring and pavement. Generally speaking, for road works coefficient of hardness should be at least 17. For building works stones with a coefficient of hardness less than 14 should not be used.

 

 

 

Percentage Wear

It is measured by the attrition test. It is an important property to be considered in selecting aggregate for road works and railway ballast. A good stone should not show the wear of more than 2%.

 

Porosity and Absorption

All stones have pores and hence absorb water. The reaction of water with a material of stone cause disintegration. The absorption test is specified as the percentage of water absorbed by the stone when it is immersed underwater for 24 hours. For a good stone it should be as small as possible and in no case more than 5.

 

Weathering

Rain and wind cause loss of the good appearance of stones. Hence stones with good weather resistance should be used for face works.

 

Toughness

The resistance to impact is called toughness. It is determined by the impact test. Stones with toughness index more than 19 are preferred for road works. Toughness index 13 to 19 are considered medium tough and stones with toughness index less than 13 are poor stones.

 

Resistance to Fire

Sand-stones resist fire better. Argillaceous materials, though poor in strength, are good in resisting fire.

 

Ease in Dressing

The cost of dressing contributes to cost of stone masonry to a great extent. The dressing is easy in stones with lesser strength. Hence an engineer should look into sufficient strength rather than high strength while selecting stones for building works.

 

Seasoning

The stones obtained from the quarry contain moisture in the pores. Strength of the stone improves if this moisture is removed before using the stone. The process of removing moisture from pores is called seasoning. The best way of seasoning is to allow it to the action of nature for 6 to 12 months. This is very much required in the case of laterite stones.

Since the development of the first organized societies the need to build houses and other structures such as theatres, divinations, temples, walls etc., to protect against natural phenomena and to conservation of high slope terraces, which are easily effected by erosion phenomena, lead us to find building materials suitable for the construction of such structures. The structural material, which has and continues to have a dominant position in these constructions, was the stone, and the stone with binder of natural materials.

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Sources

civiljungle.com/properties-of-stones/

www.researchgate.net/publication/319306760_PROPERTIES_OF_BUILDING_STONES

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