Mechanical Properties of Natural Building Stone: Jordanian Building Limestone as an Example

This experimental investigation is intended to study the mechanical properties of natural building stone usually used in the construction of load-bearing concrete backed stone masonry walls and columns used in the construction of the majority of buildings in jordan and some middle-eastern countries. six types of building limestone, brought from different quarries in jordan, were used in this study. the characteristics studied were the stress-strain curves, the modulus of rupture, the modulus of elasticity, the poisson ratio and the compressive strength. an experimental method is suggested to determine the modulus of elasticity of limestone; the results were compared with those obtained from stress-strain curves carried out on prisms. the results indicated that there are remarkable differences in strength and behavior of stone specimens loaded parallel to the bedding (or rift) and perpendicular to it in both dry and wet conditions. it is also indicated that the differences in results of the modulus of elasticity obtained by the suggested method and the stress-strain curves are not significant. on the basis of the test results a new formula is suggested for estimating the modulus of elasticity of limestone when compressive strength is known.