Читать книгу Monument Future - Siegfried Siegesmund - Страница 182

Volcanic tuffs are important lithotypes of our cultural heritage. The material characteristics and the worldwide occurrence allow a widespread use from sculptural elements to massive built structures such as castles and fortresses. Despite the extensive use of tuffs, these materials are prone to weathering and show various forms of decay due to their mechanical properties, textural variability and high porosity.

The current paper provides an overview of the petrophysical, mechanical and petrographic properties of tuffs from Europe, Asia, and North-America. It presents the geological setting and utilisation of these tuffs. It outlines the decay features that are linked to external factors and discusses the differences in durability linked to textural/mineralogical characteristics and stress conditions such as freeze-thaw and salt action. The study also provides a background for the material selections for restoration.