SCEBs - University of Colorado Boulder

previous experience, visual inspection, and soil workability. The dry material from Sand
Pit 3 was screened through a #8 sieve as per specifications for the Advanced Earthen
Construction Technologies Small Block Press (AECT).
Table 4.3 summarizes the soil-cement mixes used in this study (by mass and
volume). In the table below and throughout the study, the following labeling system is
used: „Amsden 25%‟ means that the mix contained, gravimetrically, 25% dry Amsden
soil and 75% dry sand. Similarly, „DMC 02 40%‟ means that the mix contained,
gravimetrically, 40% dry Dead Man‟s Curve Sample 02 soil and 60% dry sand. In Table
4.3, the cement and water contents are with respect to the dry soil mass, and the
combined wet clay and dry sand volume.
Mass
Clay Sample Dry Clay In-situ Clay Dry Sand Cement Added Water Total Water
Amsden 25% 25% 28% 75% 6% 4% 7%
Amsden 35% 35% 38% 65% 6% 4% 7%
DMC 01 30% 30% 34% 70% 6% 4% 8%
DMC 01 40% 40% 44% 60% 6% 2% 6%
DMC 02 25% 25% 29% 75% 6% 4% 8%
DMC 02 40% 40% 45% 60% 6% 2% 7%
Volume
Clay Sample Dry Clay In-situ Clay Dry Sand Cement Added Water Total Water
Amsden 25% N/A 32% 68% 6% 5% N/A
Amsden 35% N/A 44% 56% 6% 5% N/A
DMC 01 30% N/A 40% 60% 4% 5% N/A
DMC 01 40% N/A 51% 49% 4% 2% N/A
DMC 02 25% N/A 35% 65% 6% 5% N/A
DMC 02 40% N/A 51% 49% 4% 2% N/A
Table 4.3: Soil Mixtures Used by Mass and Volume
4.1.2.3. Test Block Production
Immediately after each SCEB specimen was ejected from the Small Block Press,
its mass and dimensions were measured. The data were recorded and used to calculate
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