A Comparative Study on the Compressive Strength of Bricks from Different Historical Periods

The aim of this article is to present the results of compressive strength tests for bricks from different historical periods. The studies were conducted on hand-molded and mechanically formed bricks. The bricks that were used for the studies came from historical structures from the center of the royal city of Crakow. Compressive strength was determined on rectangular prisms and on cylinders cut out from bricks in various directions—anisotropy and shape effects were then analyzed.

?The basic aim of the conducted studies was to estimate the possibility of carrying out the strength tests on relatively small samples and re-calculating these results on normalized brick strength determined according to EN772–1. Based on the tests results, a range of correlation coefficient values for cylinder samples with diameters of 30 mm and 50 mm was given. It was indicated that for the tested historical bricks characterized by significant material non-homogeneity within the element and sensitivity to damages while cutting out the samples, correlation coefficients are higher than for bricks used contemporarily.

?The results of these studies are presented alongside the findings from existing studies on the compressive strength of bricks.     

Historical mortars dating from OSL signals of fine grain fraction enriched in quartz

In the last years the mortar dating through Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) techniques has become a viable support for chronological estimations (date of construction or restoration episodes) of historical buildings. However, the dating of mortar has still open issues mainly regarding the assessment of the bleaching degree of quartz, the analysis of the OSL processes for this type of samples and the need to do appropriate tests for the most correct evaluation of the equivalent dose. This paper discusses the results obtained by OSL dating (blue diode stimulation) on the polymineral fine grain phase, enriched in quartz, extracted from lime mortar samples collected from different sites. Thermal transfer effects, through the behaviour of Equivalent Dose (ED) and recovery tests, degree and time of bleaching were studied. For each mortar sample the adjacent brick was collected; in some cases, sampling of the bricks bracketing a mortar layer was a possibility, thus obtaining a direct comparison with the standard thermoluminescence (TL) dating on the bricks. The results obtained show, for this set of samples, the possibility of dating the mortars through the use of the fine grain fraction provided of a suitable chemical-physical preparation procedure and the verification of the bleaching conditions.     

几种有机硅材料在南京城砖防护上的应用研究

南京将建成首家六朝博物馆,因此需要原址保护当时的城墙遗址.为隔断地下水,采取了帷幕注浆等止水措施.由于长期浸泡于水中加剧了城墙表面风化现象,因此为验证化学材料保护城砖的可能性,首先取样进行实验室研究,其中选择了氟硅类(S130)、聚硅氧烷类(派力克)和短链烷基硅氧烷类(甲基三甲氧基硅烷)三种有机硅材料作为城墙保护试验对象.试验项目包括对比样品整体浸泡渗透前后外观状态、接触角、吸水、透气性能、耐久性能的变化以及样品局部浸泡渗透前后外观状态与质量的变化.结果表明,经派力克和甲基三甲氧基硅烷保护后的样品各项性能相对较好,而亲水/憎水界面对试块影响程度与试块自身特性有关.这两种材料可尝试作为城墙的化学防风化保护材料,但还必须经过现场试验进行验证.     

Paper 6: Grouting Mortars for Fragmented Bricks and Repair Mortars for Tiles in the Archaeological Site Coudenberg

Abstract

Different grouting and repair mortars were developed and evaluated for the conservation and restoration of fragmented bricks in the walls and floors of the remaining cellars underneath the Aula Magna, the palace’s main banqueting hall, and to fill the lacunae and perform edge repairs of red and blue-grey ceramic floor tiles in the remaining cellars underneath the chapel of the former Palace of Coudenberg in Brussels, Belgium.

To prevent the deposition of lime bloom at the surface of the masonry and to achieve an acceptable colour match of the grout in harmony with the bricks of the Aula Magna, the effect of brick powder added to natural hydraulic lime was studied. The pozzolanic properties and colour match of several historic and modern powdered bricks were investigated. Surprisingly, ancient bricks do not seem to possess higher pozzolanic properties than the more modern ones, although it is supposed that they were fired at lower temperatures. Additional evidence for the pozzolanic reaction of the different brick powder materials was obtained from a simple visual observation of stored samples. After eight weeks all of the samples containing brick powders, fired at low and high temperatures, added to putty lime had hardened under water and were transformed into a remarkably tough material. These results are important, as modern bricks are readily available in large quantities and different colours, which are hence in favour of being used instead of historical material from the site.

For the repair of the ceramic floor tiles different mortars were investigated with mixtures containing talcum, stone or brick powder, pigments, and chalk added to an epoxy binder. The mortars were tested in the laboratory and in situ for their workability and resemblance with the historic floor tiles. The finished mortars showed excellent aesthetic properties with the tiles in situ and good properties to prevent further loss due to human interaction.     

明城墙微生物调查及微型藻类腐蚀城墙效应探究

本研究采用扫描电镜观察与生物培养相结合的方法,考察了南京明城墙表面的微生物种群。本研究发现地衣、大型真菌、丝状真菌、蓝细菌、绿藻和硅藻在城墙上大量存在。此外,在无地衣及藓类覆盖的城砖上,核心自养生物以石生硅藻(Achnanthes lauenburgiana Hustedt)和北方羽纹藻(Pinnularia borealis Ehrenberg)为主,并伴生丝状真菌。对城砖生物风化实验结果表明,藻类对城砖具有一定的侵蚀作用(53.65mg/m2·yr)。本研究的结果补充了明城墙微生物种群,及硅藻在陆生环境下风化硅酸岩矿物研究上的空缺,并为明城墙对藻类微生物腐蚀的防治提供了理论依据。     

Characterization of ancient building lime mortars of Anhui province,China: A multi-analytical approach

The characterization of lime mortars has become of primary importance in order to obtain information about the raw ingredients and building technology of ancient masonry structures. Five different samples from Anhui province, China, representing two types of lime mortar-based materials: joint mortars between the bricks of the city wall and lime mortar sealing a tomb coffin, were collected for analysis. Archaeological information about the samples was reported and studies into the microtextural features and mineralogical compositions of those mortars were performed via a multi-analytical approach. The joint lime mortars between the bricks of city walls, including Mingzhongdu city wall, Mingzhongdu Xihua gate foundation, Zhengyangguan city wall and She county city wall, were found to be aerial lime mortars. The lime mortar from Nanling Tieguai Song dynasty tomb was analysed and found to be a pozzolanic mortar consisting of lime, clay, sand and cocciopesto-like materials. The analytical results serve as a critical reference for the maintenance and restoration of ancient city walls in Anhui province, and as a starting point for searching for ancient Chinese pozzolanic mortars and technology for making those mortars.     

Multi‐analytical Studies of the Lime Mortars from the Yanxi Hall in the Yangxin Palace of the Palace Museum (Beijing)

For centuries, the architecture of the Palace Museum represented the highest standard of Chinese architecture. The Yangxin Palace of the Palace Museum consisted of 18 masonry buildings built using bricks, wood, roof tiles and various mortars. In 2016, a five‐year project was initiated to work on the maintenance and restoration of the Yangxin Palace buildings. The characterization of the construction materials has become of primary importance, in order to obtain information about the raw ingredients and building technology of the mortars, and the history of possible previous restorations. In this paper, 12 different samples representing three types of mortar‐based materials—namely, jointing mortars between the bricks on the wall, and surface plasters as well as mortars used on the roof—were collected for analysis from the Yanxi Hall of the Yangxin Palace. Analysis into the composition, grain‐size distribution, organic and fibre additives and testing of the mortar density and water absorption were performed. Starch, protein and plant fibres were identified in some of the samples. Brucite, mullite and ettringite were detected within most mortars on the roof, possibly originating from the furnace slag added into the raw materials for restoration purposes. The analytical results will serve as a critical reference for the maintenance and restoration of the buildings in the Yangxin Palace.     

Different approaches to date bricks from historical buildings

The application of Thermally (TL) and Optically (OSL) Stimulated Luminescence on bricks used as building material has allowed solving an chronological issue in the field of historical building dating. The possibility to use one or more methodologies of dating is closely related to the luminescent and granulometric characteristics of the sample. Using some brick samples collected in the church of Sain Seurin in Bordeaux (France), this paper discusses the implications and the possibility to use different approaches and techniques for dating. With this aim luminescence measurements were performed on both polymineral fine grain and quartz inclusion phases extracted from each brick. For Equivalent Dose (ED) and consequently age determination, TL on mixed fine grain fraction (FG), OSL on quartz inclusions (QI) and on mixed fine grain (FG*) fraction, were used. The results obtained suggest the advantage of using OSL technique on fine grain fraction cleaned up by IR stimulation (FG*), but the use of quartz inclusion represents indeed a good alternative.     

Simulation of Shake Table Tests on Out-of-Plane Masonry Buildings. Part (I): Displacement-based Approach Using Simple Failure Mechanisms

ABSTRACT

A displacement-based (DB) assessment procedure was used to predict the results of shake table testing of two unreinforced masonry buildings, one made of clay bricks and the other of stone masonry. The simple buildings were subject to an acceleration history, with the maximum acceleration incrementally increased until a collapse mechanism formed. Using the test data, the accuracy and limitations of a displacement-based procedure to predict the maximum building displacements are studied. In particular, the displacement demand was calculated using the displacement response spectrum corresponding to the actual shake table earthquake motion that caused wall collapse (or near collapse). This approach was found to give displacements in reasonable agreement with the wall’s displacement capacity.     

Building materials from Thamusida (Rabat,Morocco): a diachronic local production from the Roman to the Islamic period

A total of 67 bricks and tiles found in different archaeological contexts during excavations at Thamusida have been investigated here. The first analysed set consists of 27 bricks found in the area of an Islamic ceramic workshop, which was active at Thamusida from the 8th century onwards. The second set of 40 bricks and tiles was found mostly in situ. They date to the Roman occupation of the site (1st-3rd century AD). Thirteen of them bear different types of stamps. In addition, two types of clay (7 samples) from the surrounding area were analysed as reference for the materials used in the local ceramic production. The samples were investigated by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence. The results allowed reconstructing two local productions of building materials: one during Roman and one during Islamic times, both using local grey tirs (without any manipulation or temper additions) as raw materials. Imports were further identified, tracing both short- and medium-range trade connections. Banasa could be addressed as a likely production site of bricks stamped QAP and APP, while the bay of Tangiers should be indicated as a likely provenance of bricks stamped C∞ and HADRIAVG.     

精确定年的祁连圆柏碳十四年代的加速器质谱测定

前言 1949年,碳十四断代的创始人利比(W.F.Libby)公布了第一批碳十四年代数据,宣告碳十四测年方法取得成功,轰动了整个考古界和地质学界。碳十四     

中国海南省中和镇古城墙砖的热释光测年研究

采用热释光前剂量饱和指数法对海南省中和镇的8件古城门墙砖样品进行了年代测定研究。由于该地区离海近,粘土中的含沙量非常高,古人在烧制砖时,采用这种粘土作为制砖的原料。烧造时的温度相对高于其它地方烧制的砖。其中4件砖样内部呈灰色,3件砖样内部呈红色,其中1件砖样断面为外围灰色,内部红色。在应用高温细颗粒方法测定这批砖样的年代时,发现样品的高温热释光灵敏度非常差,且不规则,没有"坪曲线",因而无法得出这些古代城门墙砖的具体年代。后采用热释光前剂量饱和指数方法对古砖样品进行了古剂量测定,发现这些样品具有较好的热释光前剂量效应,且样品的热释光灵敏度较高,得到的古剂量具有很好的重复性。热释光测年结果表明,No.2、No.3、No.6、No.8样品的热释光年代分别为:距今590年、575年、530年和580年,为明代早期烧制;No.1、No.4、No.7样品的热释光年代分别为:距今410年、345年和375年,为明代中晚期烧制;No.5样品的年代为距今140年,为清代晚期。经考古人员现场考证,认为No.5样品所处位置存在火烧痕迹。这个火烧时间应该在中国清代晚期,即热释光测定年代。     

SIMPLIFIED MODELLING STRATEGIES TO SIMULATE THE DYNAMIC BEHAVIOUR OF R/C WALLS

A continuous damage model and different simplified numerical strategies are proposed to simulate the behaviour of reinforced concrete (R/C) walls subjected to earthquake ground motions. For 2D modelling of R/C walls controlled primarily by bending, an Euler multilayered beam element is adopted. For 3D problems, a multifibre Timoshenko beam element having higher order interpolation functions has been developed. Finally, for walls with a small slenderness ratio we use the Equivalent Reinforced Concrete model. For each case, comparison with experimental results of R/C walls tested on shaking table or reaction wall shows the advantages but also the limitations of the approach.     

Middle Stone Age pièces esquillées from Sibudu Cave,South Africa: an initial micro-residue study

In this paper I present the results of a micro-residue study conducted on ten pièces esquillées (scaled pieces) from Sibudu Cave, South Africa. These artefacts are associated with the Howiesons Poort Industry (∼61.7 and ∼64.7 ka years ago at Sibudu), representing part of the later phase of the Middle Stone Age. Until now, it was unclear on what these pieces were used, and whether they were functional. Previous experimental use-wear work tentatively pointed towards bone processing. However, replication work on stone tool production technology suggests that pièces esquillées are merely the by/end-product of bipolar knapping. I used residue analysis on the Sibudu artefacts because this alternative method has the potential to identify if they were used, and if so, illuminate the specific materials the pieces were used on. Although the sample is small, all the pièces esquillées reveal a clear animal processing signal. There are some bone deposits on the utilised edges that may substantiate bone processing, or perhaps a bone hammer was used with them, but additional study, including Later Stone Age artefacts, is needed to assess the feasibility of these observations. It remains possible that the artefacts are core reduced pieces that were subsequently used as tools or simply knapped with a bone hammer.     

结合热力学对古建筑墙体砖(雕)风化侵蚀机理探究

为了揭示古砖的风化侵蚀机理,采用X射线衍射法(XRD)、X射线荧光光谱法(XRF)、扫描电子显微镜观察(SEM)进行微观结构分析,结合压汞仪测试孔的性质,并使用热力学软件(HSC)对砖内的化学反应进行验证。研究结果表明:对于靠近地面一定高度内的古建筑墙体砖,地下水及离子通过砖内的毛细管网络不断向上部和表面进行迁移,在砖内可溶性盐类的结晶以及水结冰时产生的压力是造成墙体砖风化破坏的主要因素;对于NO X、SO 2浓度较高、酸雨较多的地区,酸性物质进入砖体并与钾长石,钠长石等发生反应形成新的盐类,盐的结晶、溶解、流失也是导致古砖破坏的一个不可忽略的因素,尤其是对于地下水无法渗透到的墙体砖,这些可能成为主要的物理化学损毁因素。本研究为古砖以后的保护提供了一种新的研究思路以及科学的理论基础。     

长城:漂泊不定的历史

走上长城,再走下来,总是会有种说不出的感觉荡漾心头。你看见了什么?是起伏的城墙,坚毅的烽燧,抑或是冰冷的砖石?轻抚沧桑的墙体,历史的铁灰从岁月浸透的砖缝中一层层剥落。似乎在向后来的人们诉说着无数生命的激情与悲壮。     

荆州古城勒名砖与"物勒工名"

本在对多年来搜集的26l例散见于荆州现存古城墙上的勒名砖整理、分类的基础上,对其中有代表性的勒名砖进行考证说明,并附有列表及典型砖例的实物拓片,还根据实物材料对荆州有砖城以来的筑城史及城砖的“物勒工名”制度的发展轨迹进行了初步探讨以期有助于加深对荆州古城的认识。     

南京明城墙砖文中的基层组织研究

南京明城墙砖文中保存的信息有助于对明初役制组织的研究.从已发现的"均工夫"纪年砖可知,明初筑造城墙所需工役人员主要以均工夫役的方式获得,早期组织形式并不完备:约洪武十年后发展为推行以"甲"为建制的基层组织,从官吏到基层的组织形式巳基本完备;至洪武十七年停止.与凤阳中都明初砖文比较可知,这一基层组织形式可能借鉴明中都军工...     

冻融作用对古青砖宏观性能及微观结构劣化的影响

砖质文物建筑多数处于室外工作环境,其损伤呈现出冻融循环条件下的物理风化和材料水解条件下的化学风化联合作用破坏形态,致使古青砖文物面临着严重的环境侵蚀风化问题。为此,以古建筑青砖为研究对象,通过对6组试样分别进行0,15,30,45,60和75次冻融循环试验,分析冻融循环次数对古青砖的孔洞率、质量、抗压强度的影响规律。在此基础上,通过TEM(透射电子显微镜)扫描探讨了冻融作用对古青砖微观结构的损伤过程及劣化机理。结果表明:随着冻融循环次数的增加,古青砖的孔洞率、质量损失率以及强度损失率均增大;TEM扫描发现冻融对古青砖造成了明显的微观孔隙结构损伤,特别是75次冻融循环后该损伤明显激增。同时,利用XPS(X射线光电子能谱仪)测试古青砖化学成分的组成,说明青砖体内碳酸盐等可溶性盐类的晶体水解造成青砖的微观孔隙结构损伤,是其遭受化学风化作用的主要原因。