Património Cultural em Pedra e Riscos Ambientais

Objectives

At the end of this course unit the student will have acquired the knowledge, skills and competences that allow him / her to: (i) Recognize the stone materials applied in a construction or in a heritage object and also to identify main decay patterns (ii) identify the problems that affect them and the causes that originated them, based on information gathered from different analytical techniques, either laboratorial, either in-loco, as well as (iii) propose solutions for their resolution/minimization and thus support decision- making in stone cultural heritage interventions.

Syllabus

• Mineral-chemical and physical-mechanical properties, and specificities of stone materials • Environmental risk factors, mechanisms and implications on stone decay phenomena • Macroscopic recognition of major decay patterns affecting stone materials • In-situ and laboratory diagnostic methods: fields of application, potentialities and limitations • Intervention in stone materials: treatment methodologies, products, potentialities and limitations • Application of concepts to real cases of works or research studies.

Laboratorial Component

Laboratory practice sessions will be held during the semester and the evaluation will be based on the reports, to be delivered by the students. Students will describe, identify and characterize stone decay products, based on in-situ and laboratorial techniques. Students will also evaluate efficiency, harmulness and durability of some stone products (consolidants, hydrofobes and biocides). Study will be done in groups of 2 or 3 students, to stimulate the “discussion” of the materials. In addition study visits to emblematic case-studies will also be promoted, either for identification of decay patterns, either in current cases of stone heritage interventions.