ABSTRACT
This study concerns the behaviour of laboratory specimens composed of disks of different rocks in uniaxial compressive tests. The aim of the research has been to understand the behaviour of structures, such as stratified rock pillars in underground excavations or masonries in ancient monuments made up of different stonework materials. The tests showed a reduction of the disk specimens’ strength, compared to the continuous specimens’ strength, for two different reasons: the same disk structure and the contact between the materials with different mechanical characteristics. Finally, in such cases the failure mechanism of the disk specimens is different from that of each single rock component.
