Author
L. ANANIA, A. BADALA and M. CUOMO University of Catania.

Abstract
The results of mechanical tests on some types of mortars of Eastern Sicily are presented. The samples differ in the sand used according to historic recipes whose composition has been determined experimentally by the chemical decomposition of samples taken from historic buildings. The aim is to determine the influence of the type of sand on the mechanical properties of lime mortars, in order to predict the performance of historic materials. For this purpose comparisons with cement mortars have also been carried out.