Comparative study of building materials in the Patio de las Doncellas in Seville's Reales Alcázares (Spain)

Abstract

The study carried out in the Patio de las Doncellas in Seville's Reales Alcázares (Spain) has consisted of characterizing six samples: two lime concrete-based foundations, two mortars and two solid bricks. Different techniques used for this research work were as follows: chemical analyses by XRF and carbonate content, mineralogical composition by XRD, optical microscopy (OM); porosity accessible to water and compressive strength measures were taken as well. Experimental results enable us to come out with the following conclusions: lime concrete-based foundations can be characterized as having different carbonate content, compressive strength and porosity. Regarding the mortars, both of them have high carbonate content, but presence of tobermorites - most likely to be the cause for its compressive strength increase - has only proven in one of the mortars. It must be stated that both solid bricks have similar firing temperature and slight differences in regards to compressive strength and porosity. © 2006 Taylor & Francis Group.