METHOD OF DETERMINING FROST RESISTANCE OF STONE Russian patent published in 2010 - IPC G01N3/60 G01N33/38 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: stone sample saturated with water is frozen to a specified temperature. The sample is unfrozen and deformation is measured. Before freezing, the threshold load which accounts for long-term compression strength of the sample is measured using a nondestructive method. After several thermal cycles, residual deformation of the unfrozen sample is measured in the direction perpendicular the previous compression. A least residual deformation is achieved through periodical compression of the sample in the current direction from zero to a load which exceeds the threshold by not more than a third. The number of thermal cycles required for reducing long-term strength to the required value is determined by repeating these operations.

EFFECT: reduced labour input and increased efficiency.

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