ABSTRACT
Experimental analyses of lime mortar were conducted with the aim of enhancing its mechanical properties through the addition of components commonly used in historical building practices prior to the introduction of Portland cement. Specimens of different lime mortars were prepared using additives described in ancient architectural treatises and nineteenth-century technical handbooks. In particular, the study focused on recipes based on the addition of cocciopesto, tuff powder, iron slag, and fossil flour. The mechanical properties achieved through addition of the different components was evaluated experimentally and then compared against simple lime mortar. Such comparison reveals that addition of the materials under study significantly enhances the mechanical behavior of lime mortar.
