SPECIAL ISSUE Marble decay induced by thermal strains: simulations and experiments

Abstract Thermoelastic behavior of different marble types was analyzed using computational modeling and experimental measurements. Eight marble samples with different composition, grain size, grain boundary geometry, and texture were investigated. Calcitic and dolomitic marbles were considered. The average grain size varies from 75 lm to 1.75 mm; grain boundary geometry differs from nearly equigranular straight grain boundaries to inequigranular-interlobate grain boundaries. Four typical marble texture types were observed by EBSD measure-ments: weak texture; strong texture; girdle texture and high-temperature texture. These crystallographic orienta-tions were used in conjunction with microstructure-based finite element analysis to compute the thermoelastic responses of marble upon heating. Microstructura