P-wave velocity and quality of building materials

The investigation of the physical and mechanical properties of stones in monuments needs non-destructive methods and small quantity of testing material. In this framework, P & S waves ultrasonic velocities can be used for both in situ and laboratory measurements. These methods are used for studying properties such as the mechanical anisotropy, and the modulus of elasticity of the materials. In this paper, the P-wave velocities were used for the estimation of the depth of weathered or artificially consolidated layers as well as the depth of cracks at the surface of the building stone. This estimation was performed in relation to the lithology and texture of the materials, given that in many cases different lithological data create similar diagrams. All tests were performed on representative monuments in Greece.