Effects of fire-induced disasters on natural building stones used in historical structures

This thesis investigates the effects of fire-related disasters on natural building stones used in historical structures in a controlled laboratory environment. In historical structures, disasters fires can result in irreversible outcomes, including both physical damage and the loss of cultural heritage. By understanding the changes in the durability properties of stones exposed to fire, this study aims to address a critical gap in the literature and provide insights for selecting appropriate restoration materials for fire-damaged historical buildings, thus aiding in the post-fire preservation of these structures. For this purpose, in compliance with Eurocode 1 (2002) standards, rock samples were heated to an external fire temperature of 680 °C, and changes in their physical and mechanical properties, such as dry density, specific gravity, uniaxial compressive strength, and indirect tensile strength, were examined; microstructural alterations were observed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). After the thermal treatment, no significant changes were observed in the dry density values of the samples; however, a notable decrease was evident in both uniaxial compressive and indirect tensile strengths. In contrast to the other results, specific gravity values increased due to minerals formed by melting during the fire.