[Cob] straw in cob or concrete?

[Alfred Allen]

Hi

I became a construction worker in San Francisco in 1969.  I've worked on reinforcing 100+ yr old buildings and the construction of new ones (the Science Academy, GGP among them).  I've seen the result of construction projects that weren't well thought out (injury and death included).  Poor communications and personality conflicts were often at fault.

I suggest that content and not style be commented on.

AC Allen

NEW PHOTOS

http://homepage.mac.com/alfallen/PhotoAlbum5.html

A monk was being chased by a tiger.  His escape was blocked by several tigers.  At that moment the monk saw a beautiful strawberry.  He stopped to admire the strawberry’s perfect color and shape.  Finis.



 
On Saturday, August 16, 2008, at 04:34AM, "jim olear" <jimolear at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>hey ocean,
>   i am sure you are a very intelligent man.  its obvious in your replies to some folks on this list to ensure them they realize how stupid they are.  many folks have asked serious questions, only to have your reply and remind them how smart you are and how ignorant they are. 
>   thank you for sharing your intellect with all of us.  i'm sure lance will be glad to know that concrete folks will also "laugh their ass off" at his stupidity.  
>    since you are a part of ahimsa, i thought a peaceful reminder might save some people some hurt feelings. take care and God bless. have a wonderful day, jim
>
>> From: ocean at woodfiredeatery.com
>> Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:51:21 -0700
>> To: coblist at deatech.com
>> Subject: Re: [Cob] straw in cob or concrete?
>> 
>> Hey down there Lance,
>> 
>> Bridge failures during the Santa Cruz earthquakes were determined to  
>> be due to rebar failure - especially in the maritime environment of  
>> the Bay area.  Many lives were lost.  I saw them rebuilding the Bay  
>> Bridge several years back, making huge cages of epoxy coated rebar to  
>> for the pillars.
>> 
>> Her in Oregon ODOT just electroplated the entire concrete Newport Bay  
>> bridge, placing a negative electrical charge to draw the salt ions  
>> away from the rebar - trying to save a beautiful architectural  
>> landmark from the elements.  Waldport Bridge was demolished and  
>> replaced with a new, epoxy coated rebar bridge.
>> 
>> Sure, epoxy is only needed where exposure to salt is likely.  My  
>> concern about straw is in the actual mixing process, where the  
>> concrete is strongly caustic.  Have you left concrete on your hands  
>> without washing it off immediately?So you found a chunk of wood in  
>> old concrete - was it structural?  Give the caustic effect I wouldn't  
>> want to depend on thin fibers of straw for structural reinforcement.
>> 
>> I never said concrete didn't work well for all the wonderful  
>> industrial applications.
>> 
>> But mixing straw in as an experiment seems ill-advised.  Instead of  
>> asking the coblist, why not float the idea to the concrete people -  
>> builders, contractors, cement delivery people - they'd probably laugh  
>> their asses off...
>> 
>> Cheers,
>> Ocean Liff-Anderson
>> FireWorks Restaurant
>> Corvallis Oregon
>> http://www.FireWorksVenue.com
>> 
>> 
>> On Aug 14, 2008, at 2:06 PM, Lance Collins wrote:
>> 
>> >
>> >> Have you ever gotten concrete on your hands?  It is highly caustic,
>> >> dissolving all carbon life-forms...so straw doesn't have a chance!
>> >
>> > I've found wood pieces in old concrete still in excellent condition.
>> >
>> >>
>> >> Concrete guys will throw in bags of loose poly-fibers (plastic) which
>> >> are supposed to prevent cracking in slabs...
>> >
>> > It does work.  The people on the ferro-cement list are very positive
>> > about PVA fibres.
>> >
>> >
>> >> But rebar even doesn't hold out forever, because concrete acts as a
>> >> wick, drawing whatever moisture hits it straight in - rusting the
>> >> rebar and causing collapses of bridges, etc...
>> >
>> > This only happens to poorly built structures or those attacked by
>> > de-icing chemicals.
>> >
>> > I've broken old weather-exposed concrete where the rebar was as shiny
>> > as the day the concrete was poured.
>> >
>> >> Now they coat the rebar
>> >> with epoxy or plastic, then pour the concrete over it.
>> >
>> > Thst's safer but unnecessary if you get the concrete mix right.
>> >
>> > The above comments on concrete are analogous to saying that cob
>> > building can't work because the cob will turn to mud when it rains.
>> >
>> > Lance
>> > (in Aus)
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> > Coblist at deatech.com
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>> 
>> 
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