Title: Rheology of Stabilized Earth-Based Paste

Author(s): Mojtaba Kohandelnia and Ammar Yahia

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 362

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 108-126

Keywords: sustainable building; self-consolidating earth concrete; clay; rheology; supplementary cementitious materials

DOI: 10.14359/51740878

Date: 6/5/2024

Abstract:
Earthen construction techniques in sustainable building can offer numerous advantages. However, it comes with certain limitations, with the most notable one being the labor-intensive and time-consuming nature of the construction process. To address this challenge, self-consolidating earth concrete (SCEC) emerges as a promising solution, particularly when dealing with the presence of fine clay and silt particles, as it can help attain the desired rheological properties more efficiently. In this study, supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) such as cement, metakaolin, and limestone filler have been used as stabilizers to evaluate their impact on the workability and rheology of earth-based mixtures. A high-range water-reducing polycarboxylate ether (PCE), either with or without the initial incorporation of sodium hexametaphosphate, was applied to various clay compositions. The presence of finer clay particles required a higher dosage of admixture to achieve the desired workability, resulting in elevated yield stress and plastic viscosity values.