Comparison Between the Mechanical Properties Obtained from Constructed Masonry Prisms and Masonry Prisms Extracted Directly from Structures

The comparison of the values of mechanical properties of stone masonry obtained through experimental tests of two types of the masonry prisms with aspect ratio 1:2 is presented. The first ones were built using materials similar to those used in the construction of a 1:8 scale model of a typical colonial temple, trying to reproduce the same stone-mortar ratio used; while the second ones were directly extracted from this model with a diamond chain saw keeping the same aspect ratio. The specimens were tested following the same test methods. According to the results, the values of the masonry density were similar in both cases, but the compressive strength of the extracted masonry prism was two times greater than the values obtained from built masonry prism. The variation of the Young´s module of the built masonry prism was between 9 to 33% of the value obtained from the extracted masonry prism.