Study of the correlation of the mechanical resistance properties of Macael white marble using destructive and non-destructive techniques

Abstract

The current research explores the influence of thermal gradients on the mechanical strength of Macael marble using both Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) and Destructive Testing (DT). The material undergoes various temperature gradients (−20 and 300ºC) in sets of daily accelerated aging cycles (100 cycles). The results illustrate the impact of thermal gradients and reveal a decrease in the material's mechanical properties of up to 24%. Moreover, the reduction observed in the initial cycles at lower gradients (50 cycles, −20/50ºC) continues to progress with the increasing intensity and number of cycles. Changes induced in the microstructure manifest as microcracks between calcite grains. The correlation coefficient R2 > 0.9 confirms the effectiveness of non-destructive tests as reliable techniques for assessing the material's strength capacity and potential deterioration.