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Water and salt migration through a sandstone coping

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Abstract

A section of decayed sandstone coping was removed from the parapet of Sydney's (Australia) 90-year old Central Railway Station and subjected to a number of tests to confirm whether salts migrating through the stone from the upper surface contribute to the deterioration on the underside. Tests included the measurements of water absorption, bulk density, ultrasonic velocity through the stone and the depth and rate of water and salt migration. As well, the composition and concentration of salts within the stone were determined.

The results indicate that the porosity and water absorption capacity of the stone have increased with time of weathering and that the salts present in the stone are primarily sulfates of calcium and magnesium. The salts do readily migrate through Sydney sandstone, and they concentrate on the underside of external cornices and coping where they contribute to the deterioration of the stonework, as they crystallize.

It is suggested that lead flashing on the top surface of new (replacement) stone would alleviate this problem. It is not evident whether flashing on weathered stone would be of any benefit.

Résumé

Une section de couronnement en décrépitude a été prélevée du parapet de la gare centrale des chermins de fer de Sydney (construite il y a 90 ans) et soumise à un certain nombre d'essais pour savoir si les sels qui migrent à travers le grès depuis la surface supérieure contribuent à la détérioration de la surface inférieure. Ces essais comprenaient les mesures suivantes: absorption d'eau, densité de la masse, vélocité ultrasonique à travers le grès, profondeur et vitesse de la migration d'eau et de sel. La composition et la concentration des sels dans le grès ont également été mésurées.

Les résultats montrent que la porosité et la capacité d'absorption d'eau du grès ont augmenté avec le temps et les intempéries, et que les sels présents dans le grès sont surtout des sulfates de calcium et de magnésium. Les sels migrent donc aisément dans le grès de Sydney et se concentrent en dessous des corniches et des couronnements externes et, en se crystallisant, contribuent à la détérioration de la maçonnerie.

On suggère que le revêtement de plomb sur la surface supérieure des nouveaux grès de remplacement peut atténuer ce problème. Il n'est, toutefois, pas évident que ce procédé serait efficace dans le cas de grès exposés aux intempéries.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIRO Division of Coal and Energy Technology, PO Box 136, 2113, North Ryde, NSW, Australia

    Kenneth W. Riley

  2. CSIRO Division of Building, Construction and Engineering, PO Box 310, 2113, North Ryde, NSW, Australia

    J. L. Heiman

Authors
  1. Kenneth W. Riley
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  2. J. L. Heiman
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Editorial note Dr. Heiman is working at the CSIRO Division of Building, Construction and Engineering, Australia, which is a RILEM Titular Member.

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Riley, K.W., Heiman, J.L. Water and salt migration through a sandstone coping. Mat. Struct. 29, 436–443 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02485994

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