Experimental studies on the mechanical behavior of Mayan archeological rocks

Abstract

Mayan buildings have been the subject of significant archaeological and architectural research; however, so far there have been no relevant references concerning structural or mechanical behavior. Ancient Mayan constructors used calcareous rocks to build temples and housing that were placed systematically to withstand mechanical loads in the structures. This paper studies the mineralogical and mechanical characteristics of calcareous stony material that formed part of Mayan archeological vestiges in Yucatan area. The orientation of the rocks’ geological strata was taken into account to study mechanical behavior from cylindrical cores in compressing test. On the other hand, bars were also manufactured to simulate lintel or architrave structural performance. Compression and bending tests confirmed a high influence of the geological layer orientation, since the mechanical properties of such rocks were found to vary with direction. Acoustic emission was used to provide information referring to onset and propagation of damage in cylinder and bar samples.