Determination of anisotropy to enhance the durability of natural stone

Anisotropy is a petrophysical property of natural stone and other construction materials that determines their quality and resistance to decay due to a variety of agents, such as water. A study was conducted on nine types of stone widely used in Spain's built heritage, using six previously defined anisotropy indices. These indices can be used to determine the degree of anisotropy, which helps explain the differential decay observed in stone materials quarried in the same bed and used to build the same structure. The conclusion reached is that anisotropy should be determined in the natural stone used both to restore the architectural heritage and in new construction, since the appropriate choice of material quality ensures greater resistance to decay and, therefore, increased durability. Materials with the lowest possible anisotropy should be selected, as this property governs their hydraulic behaviour: the lower the anisotropy in a material, the better its behaviour in relation to water and the longer its durability.