Durability of Stone Cladding in Buildings: A Case Study of Marble Slabs Affected by Bowing

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2019

Authors

Rui Sousa (Author) FEUP; Hipólito Sousa (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Buildings

Vol. 9 No. 11

Pages: 1-17

ISSN: 0007-3725

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 2 Citations

ISI Web of Science - 0 Citations

Scopus - 2 Citations

Scientific classification

CORDIS: Technological sciences > Engineering > Civil engineering

FOS: Engineering and technology > Civil engineering

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00R-EEV

DOI: 10.3390/buildings9110229

Abstract (EN): Bowing is an uncommon pathology that can affect marble stone cladding of building facades, causing a large permanent deflection and the degradation of the flexural and anchoring strength of the stone slabs, which can lead to the cladding falling from the facades. Moreover, the combination of bowing with wind pressure effects on the building facades can increase the risk of fracture and collapse of the stone slabs, especially if this combination is not properly evaluated during design. Motivated by a case study, this work describes a stability evaluation of a 15-year-old building facade coated with marble stone cladding affected by bowing and subjected to wind pressures. This evaluation was focused on the stone slabs, and was performed through finite element model (FEM) numerical simulations of these slabs submitted to wind pressures and through lab tests using samples of stone slabs removed from the building facade. The results obtained demonstrated stability problems on the stone slabs caused by wind pressure-induced stresses combined with the loss of strength due to aging and bowing effects, especially for slabs with larger dimensions.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 17