Brittle fracture in low porosity-high compressive strenght sandstone. A case study

Deals with the deterioration problems of a prehistoric stone construction in Sardinia. The material is a Miocene local sandstone, for the most part highly compacted, and with good mechanical properties. However, this stone has become susceptible to brittle fracture because of extensive jointing. The disintegration of the deeply weathered layer of material on which the structure rest has subjected the hewn stones to bending and shear stresses. Fracturing, breaking off, and detachment of pieces of masonry have resulted.