STONES

TESTING OF STONES

DURABILITY TEST
SMITH TEST
• This test is performed to find out the presence of
soluble matter in a sample of stone. Few chips or
pieces of stone are taken and they are placed in a
glass tube.
• The tube is then filled with clear water.
• After about an hour, the tube is vigorously stirred or
shaken.
• Presence of earthy matter will convert the clear
water into dirty water. If water remains clear, stone
will be durable and free from any soluble matter.
SMITH TEST
 BRARD’S TEST
• This test is carried out to know the behavior of stone against
frost action. That’s is why this is also known as frost test.
• Procedure: In this test few pieces of stone specimen are
immersed in boiling ( Concentrated) solution of sulfate of
soda.
• After this is kept suspended for few days and reweighed. the
loss in weight indicated the effects of frost action.
• The loss in weight indicates the effect of frost and gives the
amount detached by disintegration from them.
• The greater the loss in weight, the lesser the durability of
the stone.
 + +

BRARD’S TEST
ACID TEST
 + +

ACID TEST
 CRYSTALLIZATION TEST (IS
1126)
• Three test pieces of 50 mm diameter and 50 mm height are
dried for 24 hours and are weighed (W1).
• The specimens are suspended in 14 per cent sodium sulphate
solution (density 1.055 kg/m3) for 16 to 18 hours at room
temperature (20 ℃ to 30 ℃).
• The specimens are then taken out of the solution and kept in
air for 4 hours.
• They are then oven dried at a temperature of 105 ℃ ± 5 ℃
for 24 hours and then cooled at room temperature.
• This process is repeated for 30 cycles. The specimens are
weighed (W2) and the difference in weight is found.
 CRYSTALLIZATION TEST (IS
1126)
• This test is repeated thirty times and the loss in
weight after every five cycles is obtained. The
change in weight indicates the degree of decay of
stone. Durability should be expressed in percentage
as change in the weight. The average of three test
results should be reported as durability value.
• Change in weight =
• Where, W1 = Original weight of the specimen
• W2 = weight of the specimen after 30 cycles of test.
 + +

ACID TEST
CRUSHING TEST
• Compressive Strength Test (IS:1121(Part I))
• Transverse Strength Test (IS:1121(Part II))
• Tensile Strength Test (IS:1121(Part III))
• Shear Strength Test (IS:1121(Part IV))
Using Johnson Shear Tool
Using Dutton Punching Shear Device
• Absorption Test (IS:1124)
 COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST (IS:1121(PART I))

• Take samples of stones weighing at least 25 kg each.

• Specimen species should be in the form of cubes or
cylinders.
• The lateral dimension or diameter should be of 50
mm at least.
• The ratio of lateral dimension or ratio of height to
diameter should be 1:1.
• A minimum of three specimens should be used for
testing.
 COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST (IS:1121(PART I))

• Specimen is immersed in water at 20 to 30 °C for 72 hours.

(Test in saturated condition)
• Specimen is dried in an oven at 105 ± 5 °C for 24 hours. (Test
in dry condition)
• Then it is cooled in a desiccator to 20 to 30 °C.
• Later, it is tested in Universal Testing Machine.
• The load is gradually applied at a rate of 14 N /sq. mm /min
(14 N/mm2 per minute) until the specimen breaks down.
UNIVERSAL TESTING MACHINE
TRANSVERSE STRENGTH TEST (IS:1121(PART II))

• Test pieces should be blocks of the size of 200 mm * 50 mm *

5 mm.
• A suitable form of apparatus is required to perform the tensile
strength test on stones.
TRANSVERSE STRENGTH TEST (IS:1121(PART II))

• These test pieces are used to determine the transverse strength

of the stone in each saturated(immersed in water at 20 to 30°C
for 3 days) and dry condition(dried in an oven at 105±5°C for
24 hours and cooled in a desiccator to 20 to 30°C).
• Each specimen piece is supported upon two self-aligning
bearers A and B(40 mm in diameter each) and the distance
between centres of bearers being 150 mm.
• Bearer A is supported horizontally on two bearer screws C,
which carry hardened steel balls D.
• Bearer B is supported on one such screw and ball.
TRANSVERSE STRENGTH TEST (IS:1121(PART II))
TRANSVERSE STRENGTH TEST (IS:1121(PART II))

• The load is then applied centrally on the specimen piece at a

uniform rate of 2 kN/min through a bearer E(40 m in
diameter) placed midway between the supports upon the upper
surface of the specimen S and parallel to the supports.
• The Transverse Strength (R) of the specimen is given by:
TRANSVERSE STRENGTH TEST (IS:1121(PART II))

Where,
R=Transverse Strength in N/mm2
W= Central breaking load in N
L=Length Of Span in mm
b= Average Width in mm of the test piece at the midsection
d=Average Depth in mm of the test piece at the midsection

The average of three results (separately for saturated and dry condition)
should be taken to determine the transverse strength of the stone.
If any test piece is giving result as much as 15% below the average value,
it should be examined for defects.
 TENSILE STRENGTH TEST (IS:1121(PART III))

• A testing machine of sufficient capacity for the tests and

capable of applying load at the specified rate should be
used.
• Take three cylindrical test pieces of diameter greater than or
equal to 50 mm.
• The ratio of diameter to height should be 1:2 for the test
pieces.
• The testing machine should be equipped with two steel
plates of width 25 mm, thickness 10 mm and length equal to
the length of the test piece.
 TENSILE STRENGTH TEST (IS:1121(PART III))

• These test pieces are used to determine the tensile strength of

the stone in each saturated(immersed in water at 20 to
30°C for 3 days) and dry condition(dried in an oven at
105±5°C for 24 hours and cooled in a desiccator to 20 to
30°C room temperature).
• Each test piece to be tested is sandwiched between two steel
plates of the dimensions mentioned above. Now, the load is
applied without shock and increased continuously at a uniform
rate until the specimen splits and no greater load is sustained
by it.
 TENSILE STRENGTH TEST (IS:1121(PART III))

• Then, the maximum load applied to the specimen is

recorded.
 TENSILE STRENGTH TEST (IS:1121(PART III))

• Finally, the Split Tensile Strength(S) of the stone under

observation is calculated by using the formula specified
below:

Where,
• S=split tensile strength (N/mm2)
• W=applied load(N)
• d=diameter of specimen(mm)
• L=length of specimen(mm)
The average of three results separately for each condition should
be recorded as the split tensile strength of the sample.
 ABSORPTION TEST (IS:1124)

• The test pieces of stone which are crushed or broken and

which are passed through 20 mm IS sieve and retained on 10
mm IS Sieve.
• Apparatus such as a glass vessel, weighing balance,
thermostatically controlled oven, desiccator, 1000 ml capacity
measuring cylinder, 100 ml measuring cylinder, distilled water
and two dry clothes must be available to perform the test.
 ABSORPTION TEST (IS:1124)

• The test piece weighing about 1 kg is washed to remove the

dust particles.
• Then, it is immersed in distilled water in a glass vessel at room
temperature(20 to 30°C)for 24 hours.
• The entrapped air is removed by gentle agitation(achieved by
rapid clock-wise and anti-clockwise rotation of the vessel)
soon after immersion and again at the end of the soaking
period.
• The vessel is then emptied and the test piece is allowed to
drain.
 ABSORPTION TEST (IS:1124)

• The test piece is then placed on a dry cloth and the surface is
dried with the cloth gently.
• When the first cloth removes no further moisture, it is
transferred to a second dry cloth.
• The test piece is spread out not more than once on the second
cloth and it is left exposed to the atmosphere away from
sunlight or any other source of heat for not less than 10
minutes until it appears to be completely surface dry.
• The sample is then weighed (B).
 ABSORPTION TEST (IS:1124)

• Then, the sample is carefully introduced in a 1000 ml capacity

measuring cylinder and distilled water is poured by means of 100 ml
capacity measuring cylinder until the level of water in the larger
cylinder reaches 1000 ml mark(while taking care to remove the
entrapped air).
• The quantity of water added to the sample is recorded in ml or
expressed in gram weight (C).
• The water in the larger cylinder is then drained and the sample is
carefully taken out and dried in an oven at 100 to 110°C for not less
than 24 hours.
• It is then cooled in a desiccator to room temperature and weighed (A).
• The room temperature during the test is recorded.
 ABSORPTION TEST (IS:1124)

• Finally, the Apparent Specific Gravity is calculated by using the formula

specified below

Where, A = the weight of oven-dry test piece (g)

C = the quantity of water added in 1000 ml jar containing the test piece
(g)
• The Apparent Specific Gravity shall be expressed as a numerical value for
the saturated surface-dry sample at the recorded temperature and it shall be
the average of three determinations.
 ABSORPTION TEST (IS:1124)

• Similarly, Water Absorption is calculated by using the formula

specified below

Where A = the weight of oven-dry test piece (g)

B = the weight of saturated surface-dry test piece (g)

C = the quantity of water added in 1000 ml jar
containing the test piece (g)
 ABSORPTION TEST (IS:1124)

• The Apparent Porosity shall be expressed as a percentage and

shall be the average of three determinations.
• Similarly, the True Porosity is calculated by using the formula
specified below:

True Porosity =
 SHEAR STRENGTH TEST (IS:1124)

• The test is carried out either in Johnson shear tool or

Dutton punching shear device. Three test pieces are
used for conducting the test in each of the saturated
and dry condition.
• Test piece for use in Johnson shear tool should be
bars 50 x 50 mm in section and not less than 100 mm
in length and that for use with the Dutton punching
shear device should be slabs 30 mm in thickness, 100
mm in width and not less than 100 mm in length.
SHEAR STRENGTH TEST (IS:1124)
 SHEAR STRENGTH TEST (IS:1124)

• USING JOHNSON SHEAR TOOL

• The test piece is carefully centred in the shear tool
and the bolts drawn up tightly. The tool is then
centred in the testing machine with the centre of the
spherical block in contact with the centre of the top
portion of the plunger of the shear tool. The speed
of the moving head of the testing machine during
load application should not be more than 1 mm/min.
During the test, the beam of the testing machine
should be kept constantly in floating position.
 SHEAR STRENGTH TEST (IS:1124)

• The shear strength of test piece is calculated by:

S=W/2A
Where,
S = Shear strength (N/mm2) W = total maximum load (N)
A = area of the centre cross-section of test piece (mm2)
The average of all the three results separately for each condition
is calculated and taken as the shear strength of the test piece.
SHEAR STRENGTH TEST (IS:1124)
SHEAR STRENGTH TEST (IS:1124)
 SHEAR STRENGTH TEST (IS:1124)

USING DUTTON PUNCHING SHEAR DEVICE

• Centre lines are laid over one surface of the slab. Thickness of the
slab is measured at three points approximately equidistant around
the circumference of a 50 mm circle centred on the intersection of
the two center lines.
• The test piece is centred in the punching device keeping it under
the plunger. The punching device is then centred in the testing
machine with the centre of the spherical bearing block in contact
with the centre of the top portion of the plunger of the shear device.
• The speed of the moving head of the testing machine during load
application should not be more than 1 mm/min. During the test, the
beam of the testing machine should be kept constantly in floating
position.
 SHEAR STRENGTH TEST (IS:1124)

• The shear strength of the test piece is calculated by

S
Where,
S = Shear strength (N/mm2)
Wt = total maximum load (N)
Wi = initial load (N) required to bring the plunger in contact with
the surface of specimen
D = diameter (mm) of the plunger
T= thickness (mm) of the specimen

• The average of all the three results separately for each condition is
calculated and taken as shear strength of the test piece.