Thermal degradation of marble: indications from finite-element modelling

Microstructure-based finite-element simulations were used to study the thermo-mechanical behaviour of calcite marbles. Given the same nucrostructure, a strongly textured marble had smaller thermal stresses, smaller elastic strain energy and a distinct directional dependence of thermal degradation compared to a weakly textured marble. This result of modelling coincides with observations from thermal expansion experiments. Different boundary conditions assumed in the model calculations have an important influence on the magnitude and pattern of thermally induced microcracks. Microstructure-based finite element simulations are considered an excellent tool for elucidating influences of the rock's fabric on the thermal degradation of marbles. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.