SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1996
STP15438S

Repair of Marble Columns and Beams by Epoxy Pressure Injection

Source

During an exterior condition survey of the Massachusetts State House, cracks were discovered in marble columns, capitals, pedestals, and architrave beams of several portico structures. The Commonwealth required a short-term emergency repair to enable shoring to be removed and allow on-going balcony roofing work to continue. The design and installation of permanent repairs was beyond the scope of our work. Several repair methods were considered, and epoxy injection of the cracks was chosen to stabilize the structure in situ. Two types of epoxy were evaluated before general repairs were implemented; a high viscosity epoxy gel, and a low viscosity epoxy, sometimes filled with sand. The low viscosity epoxy was chosen for general repairs because of better “wetting” characteristics and better bond strength. The effectiveness of repairs was verified by coring samples of the repair area and by testing using a modified version of the split cylinder test for concrete. The repairs always failed at the bond line between the marble and epoxy, and generally occurred in the crystalline structure of the marble.

Author Information

Cash, KB
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc., Arlington, MA
Shipley, SF
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc., Arlington, MA
Price: $25.00
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Details
Developed by Committee: E06
Pages: 216–234
DOI: 10.1520/STP15438S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5321-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-2006-8