Mechanical Properties

Strength tests are the first item on materials compliance specifications. Our materials scientists take it further to make mechanical properties an indispensable part of building preservation, architectural design, or engineering modeling.

  • Elastic Properties

    Elastic modulus is one of the least emphasized properties of existing masonry systems and perhaps one of the more important controls of behavior. Dynamic elastic modulus is performed nondestructively as an interim monitoring test of some durability experiments. Where our engineering clients require data for their structural models, we can provide static elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio. We have even adapted these methods to measure the bulk properties of composite systems such as Guastavino domes.

  • Strength Testing

    Strength testing is often thought to be necessary only when the structural capacity of a material is in question. However, mechanical strength is directly correlated with other critical properties that may be more involved to measure . Where testing budgets are tight, we often measure more complex material properties on a more targeted sample set. These may include permeability, microcrack density, or salt resistance. We follow this with compressive strength tests on a greater number of samples to identify correlations and predict variation in the other properties.

  • Comparative Studies

    Perhaps you are considering dimension stone sourced from several different quarries, or trying to select a masonry mortar that is most compatible with a particular masonry unit. When specifying building materials of any type, success cannot be guaranteed without an understanding of the materials’ mechanical properties. Highbridge can develop a carefully controlled laboratory testing protocol so that all candidate materials can be evaluated fairly and accurately.

Mechanical Properties Test Methods

ASTM C20 Standard Test Methods for Apparent Porosity, Water Absorption, Apparent Specific Gravity, and Bulk Density of Burned Refractory Brick and Shapes by Boiling Water

ASTM C39  Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens

ASTM C42  Standard Test Method for Obtaining and Testing Drilled Cores and Sawed Beams of Concrete

ASTM C67  Standard Test Methods for Sampling and Testing Brick and Structural Clay Tile

ASTM C97  Standard Test Methods for Absorption and Bulk Specific Gravity of Dimension Stone

ASTM C99  Standard Test Method for Modulus of Rupture of Dimension Stone

ASTM C120  Standard Test Methods for Flexure Testing of Structural and Roofing Slate

ASTM C121  Standard Test Method for Water Absorption of Slate

ASTM C170  Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Dimension StoneASTM C109 Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortars

ASTM C215 Standard Test Method for Fundamental Transverse, Longitudinal, and Torsional Frequencies of Concrete Specimens

ASTM C217 Standard Test Methods for Weather Resistance of Slate

ASTM C469  Standard Test Method for Static Modulus of Elasticity and Poisson's Ratio of Concrete in Compression

ASTM C642  Standard Test Method for Density, Absorption, and Voids in Hardened Concrete

ASTM C880 Standard Test Method for Flexural Strength of Dimension Stone

ASTM C1194 Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Architectural Cast Stone

ASTM C1195 Standard Test Method for Absorption of Architectural Cast Stone

ASTM C1353 Standard Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Dimension Stone Subjected to Foot Traffic Using a Rotary Platform Abraser

ASTM C1437 Standard Test Method for Flow of Hydraulic Cement Mortar

ASTM C1922 Standard Test Method for Water Retention of Hydraulic Cement-Based Mortars and Plasters by Way of Water Loss