Author(s):
Botas, Sandro M. S.
; Rato, Vasco M.
; Faria, Paulina
Date: 2010
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10362/11566
Origin: Repositório Institucional da UNL
Description
2nd Historic Mortars Conference - HMC 2010 and RILEM TC 203-RHM Final Workshop, Prague, September 2010 The purpose of this study is to evaluate the behaviour of lime mortars in
cold climates, namely by the effect of freeze/thaw cycles. Twelve compositions of
mortars were prepared by varying the type of binder (air lime, hydraulic lime and
air lime plus cement) and the grain size distribution of the sand and by including
an air entraining agent. Tests, including the open porosity, mechanical strength
and resistance to freeze/thaw cycles, were conducted in order to evaluate the
performance of lime mortars in cold climates. The analysis of results allowed the
determination of relevant conclusions about the influence of the grain size of
aggregate, the use of an air entraining agent and the behaviour of mortars with
different types of binder to be drawn. The open porosity depends mainly on the
granulometry of sands while the mechanical strength is correlated with the binder
type. These two characteristics have a great influence on the strength of mortar
during freeze/thaw cycles and consequently on their performance in cold climates.