Wednesday 23rd May 2018
Today and yesterday I started doing pervious concrete test; this will be used in the panel to allow for roots and water retention.
I did some research and found out the rounded stones are supposed to be stronger when making this kind of concrete.
I also spoke with one of my supervisors (Sree) and he suggested that angular stones like the ones in the lab could also be the answer.
So I went and got a variety of each large aggregates in the angular and rounded variety and did research into different mix designs that have been previously used.
I came up with 8 different mix design and this is the matrix doodle (it really helps me to visualise the experiments), all 32 of them.
The mixing was more difficult as the majority of the mixes had to be done by hand as the machine just couldn't take the size of the aggregates(and this would break the blade).
So some of the mixes were very dry and crumbled slightly when demoulding but the real test will be when they are cut through to look at how the structure inside meets, the samples will be left for a week to dry.
These are the large rounded stones, it is hoped they will interlock to create an open celled structure.
The smaller aggregates of the same rounded variety.
What we found about each mix?
Some of the mixes work better for larger or smaller aggregates
Mix one
Movable and workable mix works for both size aggregates
Mix two
Drier mix more like a cornflake cakes when the chocolate has begun to dry, works for both aggregates.
Mix three
Even workable mix,works for both aggregates.
Mix four
Dry mix but still workable, works for both aggregates.
Mix Five
Wet mix and works for both aggregates.
Mix Six
Very very dry mix, doesn't seem to work for smaller aggregate works better with larger.
Mix Seven
Sticky mix works works for both aggregates.
Mix Eight
Very dry mis but works for both aggregates.
The carrageenan jelly;
The samples was cut up and then put into a paste with small aggregates.
I demoulded that today and it was too wet it should have been left another few days.
When its dry its time to dissolve ....................................
Also I set up Growth fun.......
I decided that I should start to see if the SAP(super absorbent polymer) could grow seeds on the surface.
I put fertiliser into the water of the SAP and added the seeds to the surface; I will check the growth and document the process.
The propagator will be used to see if this increases the growth rate and how long the seeds can last on the SAP.
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