ABSTRACT
Mortar, typically composed of a binder, sand and water, can be used for the restoration of natural stone elements, during a building restoration campaign. Since in restoration the original material is to be preserved, the repair material added should be very well adapted to the original material. Repair mortars are used for the restoration of natural stone. Such a mortar should be compatible with the stone, that is, the mortar properties should depend on the stone properties. Each mortar is therefore best tailored on the stone and due to the heterogeneity of natural stone; no general mortar recipe can be used. The chapter aims to improve mortar development by using a computer-aided decision process. The mortar development can be optimized using a genetic algorithm: mortar recipes are created and their color, permeability and strength are estimated. Mathematical methods based on ex-ante estimation should be used for the main compatibility properties of the hardened mortar.
