Mode I fracture toughness of the thermally pretreated red Verona marble by means of the two‐parameter model

Thermal pretreatment, such as freeze/thaw cycles, significantly impacts the mechanical and fracture properties of red Verona marble, a sedimentary stone. The study reveals that these cycles, simulating atmospheric ageing, alter the material's resistance to cracking. A key insight is the application of a two-parameter model—originally used for plain concrete—to accurately assess mode I fracture toughness in rocks. This method, derived from three-point bending tests on single edge-notched specimens, captures slow nonlinear crack growth before peak load, offering advantages like simple specimen preparation and straightforward testing. The findings provide critical insights into the durability of red Verona marble under environmental stress, relevant for its preservation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Carpinteri, A., Ferretti, D., Fortese, G., Ronchei, C., Scorza, D., & Vantadori, S. (2015). Mode I fracture toughness of the thermally pretreated red Verona marble by means of the two‐parameter model. Fatigue & Fracture of Engineering Materials & Structures, 38(12), 1529–1538. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/ffe.12355