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Author
Knab, L. I. | Clifton, J. R.
Title
Mechanical and Physical Properties of Coquina Stone From the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument.
Coporate
National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
Sponsor
National Park Service, Dunwoody, GE
Report
NBSIR 88-3714
January 1988
23 p.
Distribution
Available from National Technical Information Service
Keywords
monuments; rock properties; preserving; compressive strength; st. augustine (florida)
Identifiers
coquina stone
Abstract
Some important mechanical and physical properties of coquina stone, which was used to construct the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, were determined to aid in the condition assessment of the monument. Mechanical properties determined included compressive strengths under several different testing conditions, including testing wet as compared to dry, and the direction of the applied load relative to the bedding plane orientation. Physical properties determined included water absorption and dry density. The results indicated that the coquina stone has an extremely low compressive strength relative to common building stone. The low compressive strength was believed to be caused, at least in part, by the friable and very porous nature of the coquina stone.