Impact of capillary rise orientation on sodium chloride-induced alteration of Rabat calcarenite stone

The present work aims to investigate, through an experimental approach, the impacts of bedding plane orientation and salt concentration on the deterioration of calcarenite due to salt precipitation.This study concerns two sets of unaltered samples extracted parallel and perpendicular to the stratification plane.Imbibition-drying cycles were performed using sodium chloride saline solutions with concentrations of 15 g/L and 45 g/L.At the end of the test, various measurement and characterization techniques were used to analyze any changes in the samples.The results of capillary imbibition kinetics show that the stone's orientation with respect to the stratification plane, the salt concentration, and the material's porosity are critical factors influencing its weathering.Mercury porosimetry analysis further indicates that halite predominantly precipitates on the sample's surface, leading to efflorescence, while only a minimal or negligible amount of salt crystals forms within the porous media (subflorescence).