Scanning through multidisciplinary techniques and recreation of historic mortar: Case study of Rohtas Fort

A study on Rohtas Fort reveals that the fort's historic mortar, composed of hydrated lime, broken bricks, sand, and clay, exhibits pozzolanic activity due to the presence of Calcium-Silicate-Hydrate (C-S-H) gel. The research analyzed the old mortar using multidisciplinary techniques, including density, porosity, compressive strength, microscopic examination, XRD, XRF, and TGA, finding a hydrated lime: aggregates ratio of 1.156. Based on these findings, a modern mortar was designed with similar ingredients, achieving improved properties such as higher density (1.9 g/cm³) and compressive strength (3.5 MPa at 28 days). The study suggests that the pozzolanic character of brick particles and carbonation of hydrated lime contribute to the enhanced performance of the new mortar, offering a compatible repair material for the fort's deteriorating stone masonry walls.

Talib, H., Khan, R. B. N., Khitab, A., Benjeddou, O., & Khan, R. A. (2023). Scanning through multidisciplinary techniques and recreation of historic mortar: Case study of Rohtas Fort. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 18, e02052. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2023.e02052