Evaluation of the long-term durability of yellow travertine using accelerated weathering tests

The study investigated the long-term performance/durability of yellow travertine against various environmental processes using several accelerated weathering tests: wet-dry, freeze-thaw and salt crystallization. Prior to the accelerated weathering tests, the specimens were separated into two groups based on their porosities. The re-crystallization pressure of Na2SO4 salt was found to be the most destructive factor in the deterioration of the yellow travertine, with a maximum of 50% loss of integrity recorded. The recurrent cycles of wetting-drying and freezing-thawing caused relatively minor damage. After the experimental studies, the disintegration rate was statistically evaluated using the alteration index-alteration velocity and the decay function approaches. Both statistical models confirmed that the rate of disintegration was higher with salt re-crystallization pressures in the less porous yellow travertines compared with that resulting from wet-dry and freeze-thaw cycles.