# Life Cycle Cost Analysis and Deterioration Patterns of Limestone Paving
## 4 Materials and Methods
### Lab Experiments  
In the present research, the following stones were laboratory tested:  
* Reference paving hard limestone (RPHL)--Ramon Grey Limestone from Mitzpe Ramon, Negev Desert of southern Israel ([[https://www.stoncontact.com/ramon-grey-limestone/s7784](https://www.stoncontact.com/ramon-grey-limestone/s7784)]([https://www.stoncontact.com/ramon-grey-limestone/s7784](https://www.stoncontact.com/ramon-grey-limestone/s7784)), accessed on 30 October 2024).
* New (unweathered) paving limestone from Jordan (NUPL).
* Used (one-year in-use weathered) paving limestone from Jordan (UWPL).  
The experiments included tests of the stones' chemical composition, the main physical properties used to characterize their pore structure, and the abrasion behavior of the stones used to estimate the performance properties of the pedestrian zone under discussion.  
* The laser ablation ICP-MS method determined the chemical impurities' content in the unaged RPHL and NUPL [60]. The chemical impurities in limestone (the minerals containing chemical compounds of aluminum (Al), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and halite and sulfate salts) are the leading cause of color changes in limestone and may even cause the crumbling of limestone subjected to the impact of environmental agents [61].  
Physical Properties:  
The following physical properties were tested:  
1. Density and total water absorption;
2. - Tested following ASTM C97 [62].
3. Surface water absorption;
4. - Checked according to the procedure described in [45].
5. Water evaporation capacity;
6. - Tested according to the procedure described in [61].
7. According to this procedure, the stones previously subjected to the surface water absorption test were then exposed to the lab environment (21 \(\pm\) 3 \({}^{\circ}\)C/55% RH), and their weight loss was monitored during the next seven days.
8. Water evaporation capacity was calculated as the ratio between the quantity of water evaporated by the stone in 24 h and the quantity previously absorbed in 168 h.  
These properties were tested before and after the accelerated short-term ageing of the limestone (new (unweathered) stones, RPHL and NUPL, and in-use weathered stone, UWPL) using the QUV test for 1000 h [36; 61].  
_Abrasion Behavior:_  
The Amsler abrasion wear of new (unweathered) and in situ weathered limestone was tested before and after the accelerated short-term ageing of limestone via the QUV test using the procedure described in ASTM C241/C241M-21 [37].  
This structured presentation, including all the relevant references and explanations, provides a comprehensive overview of the experimental approach used in this study to evaluate the performance of the different limestone samples under various weathering conditions. The chemical composition tests focused on identifying the impurities that could lead to discoloration and deterioration. The physical property tests characterized the stones' pore structure and water absorption/evaporation behavior, which are critical factors in weathering resistance. Finally, the abrasion tests provided insights into the stones' performance under the wear conditions expected in a pedestrian zone.