Validation of a methodology for reconstituting weakly cemented sandstones

摘要

One of the limitations to the study of natural materials is the difficulty to obtain similar samples. The reconstitution of samples is a process used to solve this problem, its applicability to sandstones being discussed in this work. The reconstitution methods presented here, using material obtained exclusively by the disaggregation of a natural sandstone, seek to reproduce the geological phenomenon that led to the formation of the sandstone under study, which integrates the Silves Group. After describing the two procedures used to reconstitute the samples in the laboratory, the behaviour of natural and reconstituted sandstone specimens is compared. The results allow the evaluation of the capability to reproduce and characterize in laboratory samples of weakly cemented sandstones and contribute to improve our understanding of this important geological formation as well as others with similar characteristics.