Understanding the high variability of clays: a rheological approach
摘要
The broader adoption of raw earth in construction requires overcoming its heterogeneities and high variability, arising from differences in clay mineralogy and texture. These variations control water absorption and, consequently, rheological properties, drying behavior, shrinkage, and mechanical properties, making earth less predictable than cement-based concrete. This unpredictability limits standardization and its use in modern construction. To enable pourable earth, a rapid and robust characterization of fresh properties is essential. This study demonstrates the use of small amplitude oscillatory shear (SAOS) rheology and mini-slump flow tests to characterize clay–water dense suspensions (e.g., pastes) across a wide range of solid volume fractions (