Fracture Properties of Marble. The Case Study of Carrara Bianco and Proconnesio

In the realm of fracture mechanics, natural stone is frequently overlooked, as often considered the material of the past. This oversight poses a significant challenge to the preservation of historical structures, which commonly rely on such materials. Presented paper addresses fracture parameters of two selected marble types through composite methodology combining experimental, analytical and numerical methods. Specifically, three initial crack geometries, often encountered in historic structural elements, were analysed. In correspondence, three different fracture modes were studied respectively – opening mode I and mixed-modes I/II and I/II/III. In addition to assessment of qualitative and quantitative fracture parameters, the important objective of this research was evaluating the influence of crack geometry on different mechanical properties and offering insights into the complex brittle behaviour often exhibited by marble. The underlying aim of this study was the contribution to the expertise regarding marble under load within the context of cultural heritage, as many of these structural elements suffer substantial structural deterioration phenomena.