Sub-critical crack growth in adhesive/marble interfaces

This article presents an experimental study of the interfacial creep crack growth behavior along the interfaces of different adhesives and marble. This study is part of the restoration of the ‘Adam’ statue restoration at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. Brazil nut tests were used to obtain interfacial creep crack growth data. The effect of adhesives produced from thermoplastics and a combination of thermosetting and thermoplastics are also investigated. The implications for the results are discussed for the estimation of sub-critical crack growth in historical restorations.