Search results for "calcarenite"

A risk assessment proposal for underground cavities in Hard Soils-Soft Rocks

2018

Abstract Underground calcarenite quarries in Marsala (Sicily) have been involved in a number of collapses that have, seriously damaged numerous buildings. The stability conditions were therefore examined in order to assess risk conditions within the historical centre of the town and the surrounding areas, which are subject to urban expansion. Starting with an extensive collection of historical information, the research was carried out through surveys of the cavities, systematic sampling of material, petrographic analysis and geotechnical testing. The results of laboratory tests and in situ investigations provided a geotechnical characterization of both the intact material and the rock mass.…

Sinkholes risk analysis: case history of Marsala (Sicily, Italy)

2006

Given the increasing phenomenon of Sinkholes all over Italy, the Gruppo Nazionale per la Difesa dalle Catastrofi Idrogeologiche (G.N.D.C.I) and the Dipartimento della Protezione Civile (D.P.C.), during 2004, started a plan called Sinkholes dedicated to the phenomena in Italy. The plan provides the publication of the database realized by the D.P.C. by means of the census of beyond 1000 cases scattered across the nation. The city of Marsala is strongly characterized by the presence of a great number of Calcarenite cavities. The material object of extraction is the Calcarenite di Marsala of the Pleistocene, frequently used in the construction of buildings. The presence of the underground cavit…

Mechanical behaviour of Palermo and Marsala calcarenites (Sicily), Italy

2016

Abstract This paper aims at finding a framework for the Sicilian Calcarenites relating the strength and the deformability of these materials to their geological and structural features: fabric, bonding, initial and actual specific volume. In particular, this study sets out to separate the effects of fabric and of bonding on the mechanical response. The investigated lithotypes, Calcarenites from Palermo and Marsala, outcropping in many areas of southwestern Sicily, are characterized by sudden changes in their deformability, strength and permeability characteristics. The geotechnical identification, by means of computerized axial tomography and thin section petrographic analysis suggested a s…

Strontium isotopes as tracers of water-rocks interactions, mixing processes and residence time indicator of groundwater within the granite-carbonate …

2016

This study aims at identifying the water-rock interactions and mixing rates within a complex granite-carbonate coastal aquifer under high touristic pressure. Investigations have been carried out within the coastal aquifer of Bonifacio (southern Corsica, France) mainly composed of continental granitic weathering products and marine calcarenite sediments filling a granitic depression. A multi-tracer approach combining physico-chemical parameters, major ions, selected trace elements, stable isotopes of the water molecule and 87Sr/86Sr ratios measurements is undertaken for 20 groundwater samples during the low water period in November 2014. 5 rock samples of the sedimentary deposits and surroun…

Destructuration of typical Sicilian calcarenites

2010

The paper discusses some interesting features of Sicilian fine grain calcarenites. Uniaxial, triaxial, oedometer and isotropic compression tests were undertaken on intact specimens of two types of calcarenite in order to investigate their mechanical characteristics. It was found that the strength and deformability is significantly influenced by the structure (fabric and bonding) and by the destructuration processes. A better understanding of fracture development behavior is gained through a combination of acoustic emission and photographic monitoring on non-homogeneous samples with natural pre-existing heterogeneities due to cementation or to density. The results show that the destructurati…

Il miglioramento energetico nel recupero degli edifici storici. Applicazione al patrimonio architettonico palermitano

L'architettura storica può assumere un ruolo rilevante nel raggiungimento degli obiettivi europei di efficienza energetica per il settore edile, obiettivi che, tuttavia, devono essere compatibili con la conservazione del patrimonio storico e del suo valore culturale. A tal fine è necessario far riferimento ai caratteri specifici dell'architettura storica e alla sua dimensione locale. La presente tesi, sulla base di tale assunto, esamina le prestazioni energetiche degli edifici storici e il loro potenziale miglioramento, concentrandosi sul patrimonio architettonico di Palermo, caso di studio significativo per l'area mediterranea. La ricerca, condotta con riferimento sia alla scala urbana sia…

Durability of calcarenitic hypogea in the underground cultural heritage of Palermo (Sicily)

2011

The paper deals with the stability conditions of hypogea, several hundred m 2 wide, dating from the Punic period to the XIX century, dug out of the calcarenitic table that makes up the bedrock of the Plain of Palermo in the Fossa della Garofala. This work concerns the influence that the shape of the hypogea and the characteristics of the lithotypes wields on the instability and decay phenomena taking place, by mean of laboratory tests on the calcarenite and parametric numerical models. The comparison between the numerical models and the actual instability phenomena validated the use of the empirical formula of Hoeck to the mechanical characterization of complex structured rock-mass in soft …

The CRATI project: New insights on the consolidation of saltweathered stone and the case study of San Domenico Church in Cosenza (South Calabria, Ita…

2019

This paper presents the results of a laboratory experimentation carried out on stone materials in the framework of the CRATI project (Knowledge and Restoration through Advanced Integrated Technologies) aimed at testing new products with consolidating properties by means of an integrated methodological approach. After the preliminary characterization of stone materials collected in the pilot site, the second stage of the activities within the project were focused on the formulation and testing of products for the conservation of the same materials against decay, especially salt crystallization, one of the most aggressive and common degrading processes. The San Domenico Church, located in the…

Effectiveness of some protective and self-cleaning treatments: a challenge for the conservation of temple G stone in Selinunte

2021

Abstract The Temple G of the Archaeological Park of Selinunte (Italy), the largest in Europe, is one of the most impressive temples in the Magna Grecia. Today, it is completely destroyed due to a strong earthquake occurred in the Middle Ages. The used stone is a calcarenite coming from the ancient and renowned quarries of Cusa near the acropolis. This work comes from the today’s proposal of Temple G anastylosis. The goal of the work is to provide the results relating the protective effectiveness of three polymer formulations, appropriately selected, on stone samples taken from the “Capitello” quarry, part of “Cusa quarries”. The formulations functionality was deployed by adding TiO2 nanopar…

Debonding Phenomena in CFRP Strengthened Calcarenite Masonry Walls and Vaults

2009

In this paper the results of an experimental investigation on full-scale reinforced masonry elements like vaults and walls are presented. The masonry type is constituted by calcarenite ashlars and bed joint mortar and the reinforcement is constituted by Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) strips. Preliminary experimental results obtained in a previous research by the authors on the local behaviour at the interface CFRP-calcarenite are summarized. Tests with controlled displacement are carried out on out-of-plane loaded walls and cylindrical vaults loaded at a quarter of the span. Results of tests carried out before and after the application of the reinforcement made it possible to evalu…