Innovative Experimental Techniques in the Service of Restoration of Stone Monuments - Part II: Marble Epistyles under Shear

The experimental set-up described in Part I of the present short two-papers series is used for the implementation of non-standardized structural tests with specimens simulating interconnected epistyles of the Parthenon Temple on the Acropolis of Athens. The aim of the study is two folded: To quantify the response of the connections when they are subjected to shear forces and also to assess comparatively the experimental data pumped with the aid of the Acoustic Emission and Pressure Stimulated Currents techniques from the interior of the specimens. It is concluded that the experimental set-up restricts in a satisfactory manner parasitic bending and torsional moments although they are not completely eliminated due to the inherent asymmetries of the specimens’ geometry. It is also proven that the data of these innovative techniques are in good qualitative and quantitative agreement with the respective ones recorded with the aid of both traditional and modern sensing techniques pumping data from the outer surface of the specimens. Moreover it is concluded that the Pressure Stimulated Currents technique could be a safe fracture predictor.