After sending the corresponding specimens to Portugal, the company Frontwave begins performing the notches with radii of 4 mm, 2 mm, 1 mm, 0.5 mm and 0.15 mm. The larger notches are made by abrasive discs, while the smaller ones require a diamond wire for the cuttings.

A group of initial tests are performed to assess the suitability of the cuts and the loading process. Samples of Moleano Limestone with 4 mm radius notches have been tested for this purpose, all of them prepared by Chausal Company. The tests consist of four-point bending tests.

Part of the specimens prepared by Chausal Company are sent to Portugal. There,  the Frontwave company is responsible for making notches with a radius less than 4 mm.

Chausal Company begins with the preparation of the first prismatic specimens (180x30x30mm) of each of the four selected materials: Carrara Marble, Macael Marble, Moleano Limestone and Floresta Sandstone. The main problem is associated to the need of the opposite faces being totally parallel. In this way we would avoid asymmetric loads due to the poor Read more about Specimen preparation begins[…]