Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Rilem TC 203-RHM: Repair mortars for historic masonry. Testing of hardened mortars, a process of questioning and interpreting

  • RILEM Technical Committee
  • Published:
Materials and Structures Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper presents an approach to the use and interpretation of tests on mortar samples when restoring historic masonry. It is largely based on the work performed by the former RILEM technical committee 167-COM, Characterisation of old mortars, closed in 2003, and the ongoing committee 203-RHM, Repair mortars for historic masonry. The focus of the present paper is on the decision process: what to test and how to interpret the test results.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

References

  1. Middendorf B, Hughes JJ, Callebaut K, Baronio G, Papayianni I (2005) Investigative methods for the characterisation of historic mortars—part 1: mineralogical characterisation. Mater Struct 38:761–769

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Middendorf B, Hughes JJ, Callebaut K, Baronio G, Papayianni I (2005) Investigative methods for the characterisation of historic mortars—part 2: chemical characterisation. J Mater Struct 38:771–780

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Lindqvist JE, Sandström M (2000) Quantitative analysis of historical mortars using optical microscopy. Mater Struct 33:612–617

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Hughes JJ, Callebaut K (2002) In-situ visual analysis and practical sampling of historic mortars. Mater Struct 35:70–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Groot CJWP, Ashall G, Hughes JJ (eds) (2004) Characterisation of old mortars with respect to their repair—final report of RILEM TC 167-COM. Published online http://www.rilem.net/reports.php

  6. Middendorf B (2003) Physio-mechanical and microstructural characteristics of historic and restoration mortars based on gypsum: current knowledge and perspective. In: Siegesmund S, Weiss T, Vollbrecht A (eds) Natural stone, weathering phenomena, conservation strategies and case studies. Geological Society, London, Special publication 205, pp 165–176

    Google Scholar 

  7. Hughes JJ, Nisbet S, Hall A, McKean C (2007) Unravelling the provenance of historic building lime using microscopy. In: Fernandes I, Guedes A, Noronha F, Teles M, Ribero MA (eds) 11th EUROSEMINAR on microscopy applied to building materials, University of Porto, Porto, 5–9 June 2007

  8. Diekamp A, Konzett J (2007) Bindemittelzusammensetzungen historischer Putze und Mörtel in Tirol/Südtirol. In: Diekamp A (ed) Naturwissenschaft und Denkmalpflege, Tagung 22, 23 März 2007. Innsbruck University Press, Innsbruck

  9. Bläuer Böhm C, Jägers E (1997) Analysis and recognition of dolomitic lime mortars. In: Béarat H, Fuchs M, Maggetti M, Paunier D (eds) Roman wall painting—materials, techniques, analysis and conservation. Proceedings of the international workshop on Roman wall paintings, Fribourg, 1996, pp 223–235

  10. Siedel H (2003) Dolomitkalkmörtel und Salzbildung an historischer Bausubstanz. Tagungsbeiträge zu Mauersalze und Architekturoberflächen, HfBK Dresden, 1–3 Feb 2002, pp 57–64

  11. Cailleux E, Marie-Victoire E, Sommain D, Brouard E (2003) Microstructure and weathering mechanisms of natural cements used in the 19th century in the French Rhone-Alpes region. RILEM Delft. Proceedings of the RILEM RHM Delft

  12. Johansson S (2006) Hydraulic lime mortars. Its production and utilisation in Sweden in buildings from the middle ages until present time. PhD thesis, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg studies in conservation, vol 20, 327 pp (in Swedish with summary in English)

  13. Weber J, Gurtner C (2005) Romanzement—roman cement, vol 1. EU-project. ROCEM, Wienna

  14. Eckel EC (1928) Cements, limes and plasters, Facsimile edition 2005. Donhead Publishing Ltd., Shaftesbury, 752 pp

  15. Lindqvist JE, Johansson S (2003) Sub-hydraulic binders in historical mortars. Proceedings of the RILEM RHM, Delft

  16. von Konow T (1998) Mörtel für die Restaurierung: Korngrössenverteilung des Zuschlagstoffes der Mörtel ist wichtiger als alte Rezepturen und Grubenkalk, Bautenschutz + Bausanierung, May 1998, pp 45–46

  17. Elsen J (2006) Microscopy of historic mortars—a review. Cem Concr Res 36:1416–1424. In: 10th EUROSEMINAR on microscopy applied to building materials, University of Paisley, June 21–25, 2005

    Google Scholar 

  18. Lindqvist JE, Johansson S (2007) Aggregate shape and orientation in historic mortars. In: Fernandes (ed) Proceedings of the 11th Euroseminar applied to Building materials, 7 pp

  19. Mertens G, Elsen J (2006) Use of computer assisted image analysis for the determination of the grain-size distribution of sands used in mortars. Cem Concr Res 36:1453–1459

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Technical Information Note 208, Pointing of masonry, BBRI, 1998

  21. Lindqvist JE, Schouenborg BE, Sandström M, Sandström H, Sandin K, Sidmar E (1994) Comprehensive studies of old mortars from three medieval churches in southern Sweden. In: Gouda GR, Nisperos A, Bayles J (eds) Proceedings of the sixteenth international conference on cement microscopy, pp 306–322

  22. Heginbotham A, Millay V, Quick M (2004) The use of immunofluorescence microscopy (IFM) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as complementary techniques for protein identification in artists’ materials. J Am Inst Conserv 45(2):89–105

    Google Scholar 

  23. Larbi JA, van Hees RPJ (2000) A microscopical analytical method for characterisation of original composition and constituents of (historical) mortars. TNO Report 2000-BT-MK-R0081

  24. COM-C1 Assessment of mix proportions in historical mortars using quantitative optical microscopy. RILEM TC-COM: Characterization of old mortars. Mater Struct 34:387–388, 2001

    Google Scholar 

  25. Knöfel D, Schubert P (1993) Handbuch: Mörtel und Steingänzungsstoffe in der Denkmalpflege. Verlag Ernst & Sohn, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  26. Binda L, Papayianni I, Toumbakari E, van Hees RPJ (2004) Testing of bond strength of repointing using the bond wrench method. In: Groot CJWP, Ashall G, Hughes JJ (eds) Characterisation of old mortars with respect to their repair—final report of RILEM TC 167-COM. Published online http://www.rilem.net/reports.php

  27. Valek J, Veiga MR (2005) Characterisation of mechanical properties of historic mortars. Proceedings of STREMAH 2005—ninth international conference on structural studies, repairs and maintenance of heritage architecture, Malta, 22–24 June 2005

  28. Magelhaes A, Veiga MR (2008) Physical and mechanical characterisation of ancient mortars. Application to the evaluation of the state of conservation. Mater Constr (accepted for publication on June 2008)

  29. Henriques FMA, Charola AE (1996) Comparative study of standard test procedures for mortars. In: Rieder (ed) Proceedings of the 8th international congress on deterioration and conservation of stone. Moeller Druck und Verlag Berlin, pp 1521–1528

  30. van Balen K (2005) Weaker can be better: learning from the past contributes to sustainable construction technology with lime. International building lime symposium 2005. National Lime Association, USA

  31. Binda L, Papayianni I, Toumbakari E, van Hees RPJ (2004) Mechanical tests on mortars and assemblages. In: Groot CJWP, Ashall G, Hughes JJ (eds) Characterisation of old mortars with respect to their repair—final report of RILEM TC 167-COM. Published online http://www.rilem.net/reports.php

  32. Thomson M, Lindqvist JE, Elsen J, Groot CJWP (2004) Porosity of mortars. In: Groot CJWP, Ashall G, Hughes JJ (eds) Characterisation of old mortars with respect to their repair—final report of RILEM TC 167-COM. Published online http://www.rilem.net/reports.php

  33. Veiga MR, Magalhães A, Bosilikov V (2004) Capillarity tests on Historic mortar samples extracted from site. Methodology and compared results. In: Proceedings of 13th international masonry conference, Amsterdam, July 2004

  34. Lindqvist JE (ed) (1999) Historic lime mortars—analysis and assessment. The Swedish National Heritage Board Publishing House, Stockholm in Swedish

    Google Scholar 

  35. Groot CJWP, van Hees RPJ, Lubelli BA, Wijffels T, de Rooij M, Petkovic J (2005) Aspects of salt and moisture transport in restoration renders (plasters). In: International building lime symposium, Orlando, 11 pp

  36. Groot CJWP, van Hees RPJ, Lubelli BA, Wijffels T, de Rooij M, Petkovic (2004) Aspects of salt and moisture transport in restoration plasters and renders. Int J Restor 10(6):593–608

    Google Scholar 

  37. Arnold A (1985) Moderne alkalische Baustoffe und die Probleme bei der Konservierung von Denkmälern. Natursteinkonservierung, Arbeitshefte des Bayerischen Landesamtes für Denkmalpflege 31:152–162

    Google Scholar 

  38. van Balen K, Toumbakari E, Blanco-Varela MT, Aguilera J, Puertas F, Palomo A, Sabbioni C Riontino C, Zappia G (2003) Environmental deterioration of ancient and modern hydraulic mortar (EDAMM). Protection and conservation of European cultural heritage, Research Report European Commission, No. 15, EUR 19863. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxemburg

  39. Steiger M (2005) Crystal growth in porous materials—I: the crystallization pressure of large crystals. J Cryst Growth 282:455–469

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Steiger M (2005) Crystal growth in porous materials—II: influence of crystal size on the crystallization pressure. J Cryst Growth 282:470–481

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Binda L, Squarcina T, van Hees RPJ (1996) Determination of moisture content in masonry materials: calibration of some direct methods. Proceedings of the 8th international congress on deterioration and conservation of stone, Berlin, pp 423–435

  42. Bläuer Böhm C (2005) Quantitative salt analysis in conservation of buildings. Restoration of buildings and monuments. Bauinstandsetzen und Baudenkmalpflege 11(6):1–10

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Jan Erik Lindqvist, from the Swedish Cement and Concrete Research Institute and Paul Maurenbrecher, from the Institute for Research in Construction of the National Research Counsel Canada, took the lead in preparing this paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

    Consortia

    TC 203-RHM (Jan Erik Lindqvist)

    Additional information

    TC Membership:

    Chairman: Caspar Groot, The Netherlands.

    Secretary: John Hughes, Scotland.

    Members: Koen van Balen, Belgium; Beril Bicer-Simsir, USA; Luigia Binda, Italy; Christine Bläuer, Switzerland; Jan Elsen, Belgium; Eric Hansen, USA; Rob van Hees, The Netherlands; Fernando Henriques; Portugal; Eleni-Eva Toumbakari, Greece; Thorborg von Konow, Finland; Jan Erik Lindqvist, Sweden; Paul Maurenbrecher, Canada; Bernhard Middendorf, Germany; Ioanna Papayanni, Greece; Stefan Simon, Germany; Maria Subercaseaux, Canada; Cristina Tedeschi; Margaret Thompson, USA; Jan Valek, Czech Republic; Maria Rosa Valluzi, Italy; Yves Vanhellemont, Belgium; Rosario Veiga, Portugal; Alf Waldum, Norway.

    Rights and permissions

    Reprints and permissions

    About this article

    Cite this article

    TC 203-RHM (Jan Erik Lindqvist). Rilem TC 203-RHM: Repair mortars for historic masonry. Testing of hardened mortars, a process of questioning and interpreting . Mater Struct 42, 853–865 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-008-9455-x

    Download citation

    • Received:

    • Published:

    • Issue Date:

    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-008-9455-x

    Keywords

    Search

    Navigation