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RC Experiments - First batch with Mt. St. Helens ash

August 28, 2004
See notes below


01_First_batch

02_First_batch

03_First_batch

04_First_cylinder
First batch  1
First batch  2
First batch  3
First cylinder  4

05_Compaction

06_Second_batch

07_Second_batch

08_Finished_cylinders
Compaction  5
Second batch  6
Second batch  7
Finished cylinders  8

09_Finished_cylinders

10_Extra_mix_in_cubes

11_Water_test_of_cured_cube

12_Edge_view_of_broken_cube
Finished cylinders  9
Extra mix in cubes  10
Water test of cured cube  11
Edge view of broken cube  12

13_Top_view_of_cube
Top view of cube  13

Notes
This was the first attempt to recreate Roman concrete using Mt. St. Helen's ash. This should be considered a pilot experiment to become familiar with the materials and how they should be mixed, etc.

Slides 1 - 8
The mortar was mixed in a plastic tray with very low water content so it is very stiff. The mortar was pounded into the cylindrical molds using pea gravel as the aggregate.

Slide 10
Extra material was placed in ice cube trays so it could be used for other testing and examination.

Slide 11
After the cubes had cured, one was placed in water to see how well its hydraulic properties held up. As can be seen, the cube did not stand up very well to being placed in water and it fell apart.

Slides 12 - 13
One cube was broken to examine its internal structure. This cube was scratched with a fingernail to see how strong the surface is.