Understanding of Building materials, its behaviour and uses are extremely important for the students of Architecture and Interior Designing. Hence, I tried to introduce the 1st year students with the 1st building material they are going to learn in college, stone as a building material. The presentation covers almost all the factors related to this material class with a focus on the capability of 1st year students.

1. As
a
building
material
Earth Crust
Rock
Hrishiraj Sarma, APIED/2013
Stone
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2. 1. Geological Classification
a)
b)
c)
Igneous rocks
Sedimentary rocks
Metamorphic rocks
2. Physical Classification
a)
b)
c)
Stratified rocks
Non-stratified rocks
Foliated rocks
Hrishiraj Sarma, APIED/2013
3. Chemical Classification
a)
b)
c)
Siliceous rocks
Argillaceous rocks
Calcareous rocks
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3. Sources of stone:
Monomineralic rock
Polymineralic rock
Rock forming minerals: ( Found in igneous rocks)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Augite.
Chlorite.
Felspar.
Hornblende.
Mica
Olivine.
Plagioclase.
Quartz.
9. Serpentine.
10. Calcite.
Hrishiraj Sarma, APIED/2013
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4. Rock forming minerals: (Found in sedimentary rocks)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Calcite.
Magnesite.
Dolomite.
Glauconite.
Limonite.
Gypsum.
Anhydrate.
Texture or structure of a rock
The arrangement of minerals forming a rock is known as its texture or structure.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Compact crystalline.
Conglomerate.
Foliated.
Glassy.
Granular crystalline.
Hrishiraj Sarma, APIED/2013
6. Pisolitic.
7. Porous granular.
8. Porphyritic.
9. Vesicular.
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5. Fracture of a rock
The type of surface obtained, when a rock is broken, indicates its fracture.
1.
Conchoidal.
2.
Earthy.
3.
Even.
4.
Fibrous.
5.
Hackly.
6.
Uneven.
Uses of stones:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Structure.
Face work.
Paving.
Basic mineral.
Miscellaneous
ballast for railways, blocks in construction of bridges, piers,
retaining walls, light house, damns, etc,
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6. 1.
2.
3.
4.
Dressing of stones is tedious, laborious and time
consuming.
Desired strength and quality not available at moderate
rates especially in plain areas.
RCC, Steel are alternatives to stones and gives more
strength and flexibility.
Stone structure design can’t give freeness and flexibility to
the designer.
Hrishiraj Sarma, APIED/2013
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7. Definition and Importance
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8. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Acid test.
Attrition test.
Crushing test.
Crystallization test.
Freezing and thawing test.
Hardness test.
Impact test.
Microscopic test.
Smith’s test.
Water absorption test.
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9. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Crushing strength.
Appearance.
Durability.
Facility of dressing.
Fracture.
Hardness.
Percentage wear.
Resistance to fire.
Seasoning.
Specific gravity.
Hrishiraj Sarma, APIED/2013
11. Texture.
12. Toughness index
(between 13 and 19
13. Water absorption must be
Less than 0.60
14. Weathering.
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10. Quarrying with hand tools.
Quarrying with channeling machine.
3. Quarrying by blasting.
1.
2.
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11. Purpose:
Classification
1.
1. To get desired
appearance.
2.
2. To make the transport
from quarry easy and
economical.
3. To suit the requirements
of stone masonry.
4. To take the advantage of
local people who are
trained to such type of
work.
Quarry dressing
Site dressing.
Finishes used
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
Hrishiraj Sarma, APIED/2013
18.
Axed finish.
Boasted or drove
finish.
Chisel finish.
Dragged or
combed finish.
Furrowed finish.
Moulded finish.
Hammer dressed
finish.
Plain finish.
Polished finished.
Punched machine.
Reticulated finish.
Rubbed finish.
Scabbling finish.
Tooled finish.
Self-faced or rockfaced or quarryfaced finish.
Sunk finish.
Vermiculated
finish.
Circular finish.
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12. Alternate wetness and
drying.
2. Frost.
3. Impurities in atmosphere.
4. Living organisms.
5. Movement of chemicals.
6. Nature of mortar.
7. Rain water.
8. Temperature variations.
9. Vegetable growth.
10. Wind.
1.
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13. Following precautions to be taken to retard the decaying action of weathering
agencies on stones:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Compact siliceous stones.
External renderings.
Joints.
Natural beds.
Qualities of stones.
Seasoned stones.
Size of stones.
Washing with water.
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14. Why?
Coal tar.
Linseed oil.
3. Paint.
4. Paraffin.
5. Solution of alum and soap.
6. Solution of baryta.
1.
2.
What is an artificial stone?
1.
2.
3.
Cement concrete.
Mosaic tiles.
Terrazzo.
Advantages of artificial stones
Assignment: Make a list on common building stones in India describing
stone name, classification, qualities, uses and localities where they
are available ( in A-1 sheet )
Hrishiraj Sarma, APIED/2013
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