ASSESSMENT OF THE QUALITY OF BUILDING STONES USING SIGNAL-PROCESSING PROCEDURES

A combination of spectral and velocity analysis, using an ultrasonic p ulse technique, has been performed on two lithologies of building ston e: limestone and sandstone. Measurements of compressional and shear wa ve velocities have been made and the results obtained compared with th e data provided from analyses of the frequency spectra so obtained fro m these rocks. It appears that the centre frequency and attenuation ca lculated from the frequency spectra provide useful quantitative measur es of rock quality which augments that obtained from measurements of v elocity alone, especially in saturated specimens. The potential value of using the centre frequency and attenuation as references to study t he progressive change of rock quality during weathering has yet to be assessed.