A New Diagnostic Tool for the Evaluation of the Hardness of Natural and Artificial Stones / Ein neues Verfahren zur Bestimmung der Härte von Naturstein und Kunststein

The EC funded project "Hardrock" has developed and validated a new portable system (DFMS) for directly determining stone mechanical features such as the "hardness" by measuring its drilling resistance. The test is essentially non-destructive, since stones can be tested, with only minor patching of holes ( Ø 5 mm) on exposed faces. With this system it resulted possible to obtain affordable and sensible data of the mechanical and abrasive properties of stone specimens and monuments and to evaluate the consolidating performance of applied conservative treatments. The DFMS has no competitors for its application in comparative tests "in situ", while further data are necessary to apply it to assess the cohesional properties of rocks in relation to their cube strength