ABSTRACT
As a first consideration, it is interesting to analyze the mechanism of damage caused by salt crystallization and its evolution with increasing imbibition/drying cycles, as resulting from mass measurements. Considering the percent mass variation with respect to the corresponding initial value for the two elements tested (see fig. 1), it can be seen that both specimens underwent final rupture due to complete de-bonding of the external mortar layers when their mass increased by approx. 5%. Actually, in both cases visual inspection revealed that significant decay occurred even before the ultimate rupture, involving prevalently the brick
component of the specimens, with surface exfoliation and partial material disintegration.
