SCEBs - University of Colorado Boulder

Lower Limit: 1 part cement, 1 part water, 20 parts clay, 20 parts sand
Dead Man‟s Curve (Samples 01 & 02):
Upper Limit: 1 part cement, 1 parts water, 10 parts clay, 10 parts sand
Lower Limit: 1 part cement, 1 part water, 20 parts clay, 20 parts sand
These ratios assume that the clay used is highly disturbed and moist. Additional
water may need to be added if the clay is dry, as compared to the water contents listed in
Table 4.3. If the cement to be used is relatively loose, rather than densely packed into a
bag (i.e. as purchased at a local hardware store), it is imperative that the cement content
be either doubled or tripled from the ratios recommended above. As always, organic
material, such as roots, should be removed prior to the manufacturing of SCEBs.
4.2. Ute Mountain Ute Tribe
4.2.1. Introduction
The purpose of the tests was to evaluate the suitability and durability of the soil
materials in question for use in stabilized compressed earthen block (SCEB) production.
The New Mexico Earthen Building Materials Code and ASTM Codes were followed as
closely as possible when applicable. The results from wet sieve analysis, Atterberg limit
tests, and Hydrometer tests were used to determine the USCS soil classification for each
soil sample. Model-sized blocks were made using each soil sample and tested in
compression to determine their unconfined compressive strength (UCS). The durability
behavior of the model-sized blocks was assessed by testing under uniaxial compression
blocks subjected to a series of saturation/drying cycles. Full-scale SCEB blocks were
produced and tested to determine their physical, deformability, and strength properties.
Portland cement was used to stabilize all blocks. The addition of cement was intended to
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