STONE engineering hub for architecture students

STONE engineering hub for architecture students

1. STONE
as a Building Material
Ar. Vedvati Datar, Ar. Pranali Ohale
Asst.Professor
SKLTCOA, Mumbai

2. Definitions
▪Rock –Portion of the earth’s crust having no definite
shape and structure.
▪Stone -Natural, hard substance formed from minerals
and earth material which are present in rocks.
▪Types of rocks from which building stones are usually derived -
Granite, Basalt, Trap, Marble, Slate, Sandstone and Limestone

3. ▪Formed through the cooling & solidification of magma or lava
▪Examples –Basalt, Trap, Granite
Igneous rocks

4. Sedimentary rocks
▪Formed by the deposition of products of weathering on the pre-existing rocks
▪All the products of weathering are ultimately carried away from their place of origin by the agents of
transport like rain, wind, flowing water, etc.
▪Example –Limestone, Sandstone, Kankar, etc.

5. Metamorphic rocks
▪Arise from the transformation of existing rock to a new types of rock
▪The Igneous and sedimentary rocks are changed in character when they are subject to great heat &
pressure, the process of change is known as metamorphism
▪Earth movements, temperature changes, liquid pressure, etc.
▪Example –Laterite, Marble, Murum, Quartzite, Slate, etc.

6. ▪Quarry –Exposed surface of natural rocks.
▪Quarrying -The process of taking out stones from natural rock beds is known as Quarrying.
Quarrying
▪Methods of quarrying -Excavating, wedging, heating or blasting.
▪Excavating –Stones buried in earth are excavated with pick axes
Crow bars, chisels, hammers, etc.
▪Wedging –If rock surface contains cracks or fissures, steel
wedges or points are driven through such cracks by means of
hammers. If natural cracks are absent, artificial cracks are to be
formed.
It is adopted for rocks which are comparatively soft such as –
laterite, marble, limestone, sandstone, etc.
▪Heating –In this method, top surface of rock is heated. Due to
unequal expansion, upper layer of rock separates out.

7. Dressing of stones
▪After being quarried, stones are to be cut into suitable sizes and with suitable surfaces.
This process is known as dressing of stones.
▪A quarried stone has rough surfaces, which are dressed to obtain a definite and regular shape.
▪It is done immediately after quarrying and before seasoning to achieve less weight for transportation.
▪It provides pleasing appearance, proper bedding with good mortar joints, special shapes for arches,
copings, pillars, etc.

8. Dressed stone surfaces
Tools for dressing

9. ▪Appearance –should be decent in appearance & capable of preserving their color uniformly
for a long time.
▪Texture -For face work, it should have fine, compact texture.
▪Durability -Various factors contributing to durability of a stone are its chemical composition,
texture, resistance to atmospheric and other influences, location in structure, etc.
▪Structure -free from cavities, cracks, and patches of loose or soft material.
▪Resistance to fire, water absorption
Qualities of a good building stone

10. Uses of stones

11. ▪Face-work -to give massive appearance to the structure
For ex. –composite masonry.
▪Paving –to cover floor of buildings, paving of roads, footpaths
▪Basic material –for cement concrete, murum of roads, artificial stones, hollow blocks, etc.
▪Miscellaneous –
Ballast for railways, flux in blast furnaces, blocks in the construction of bridges, piers,
abutments, retaining walls, light houses, dams, etc.
Uses of stones

12. Common building stones of India

13. Common building stones of India

14. References books -
▪Engineering materials by S.C.Rangwala
▪Building materials by S.K.Duggal