Summary

12" wide x 16" tall x 2" thick cinders aggregate panels at 90 pounds per cubic foot concrete weight begin to fail at 30,000 pounds compressive force

12" wide x 16" tall x 2" thick expanded pumice aggregate panels at 86 pounds per cubic foot concrete weight begin to fail at 60,000 pounds compressive force

I believe the disparity comes from the expanded pumice being kiln heated to the point whereby the surface area melts. This smooths out the surface terrain givng a more even surface. This allows a smaller surface area for the cement paste to coat, enhancing the available amount of paste per unit surface area.

The pumice aggregate is more than 3 times more expensive and 280 miles away from the proposed first building site.

There's a third source of aggregate in Espanola, NM. It's used by cast stone companies in the Denver area and only moderately more expensive than the cinders. Espanola is 226 miles from Capulin so trucking would substantially inflate the cost.

Weighing the pros and cons of these options will be determined by the applications potential as judged by the structural engineer.

Equipment

10 ton portable hydraulic ram
Piston circumfrence = 4.73"
Piston diameter = 1.505"
1/16" seal around piston
Cylinder diameter = 1.625"
Cylinder area = 2.07 sq in
0 - 1,000 psi pressure gauge
Applied pressure = pressure gauge reading x 2

50 ton hydraulic jack
Piston circumfrence = 10-9/16"
Piston diameter = 3.362" 1/16" seal around piston
Cylinder diameter = 3.49"
Cylinder area = 9.55 sq in
Pressure gauge 0 - 10,000 psi
Applied pressure = pressure gauge reading x 9.55

Test One - Wall Lateral Displacement Test (10 ton ram)

Purpose: Measure pounds of applied lateral force to hollow wall and observe behavior up to the point of resistance to that force decreases, identifying point of maximum resistance.

Force is supplied at the midpoint of a 7 panel high wall, in a four foot wide hallway, in the middle of the fourth panel row. The wall is anchored at the bottom by first row panel strips embedded in the panel and slab, 3/8" into each one using 3/4" wide polycarbonate strips, 1/16" thick.

The top of the seventh row panels are sandwiched between adjacent 8" thick suspended concrete slabs.

Result: Pressure drop off at 550 psi pressure gauge reading = 1,100 pounds force. Physical displacement was a total of 1/4" or 1/8" per side. Upon release of pressure, wall returned to original position indicating an elastic deformation.

Test Two - Strip Support Strength (10 ton ram)

Purpose: Isolate and test strength of polycarbonate strips placed in panel perimeter slot

Result: Maximum pressure 1,600 psi = 3,200 pounds force on strips at breakage.

Test Three - Panel Compression (50 ton jack)

Purpose: Test panel made from TXI aggregate for load capacity until destruction.

Result: Failed at 6,000 psi = 57,000 pounds. Bearing area was 1.5" by 12", panel thickness of 2". Panel sheared in vertical slab at failure through center vertical plane.

Test Four - Crush of Cinders Aggregate Panel (50 ton jack)

Purpose a: Check strength of panel support from strips placed in perimeter slots.

Result a: Panel breaks in shear failure at 560 psi = 1,120 pounds of force applied through 5.25" diameter plywood circle of 1-1/8" plywood. Panel still seems intact not noticing fracture cracks on back side. Place back in frame and test again just for the heck of it.

Result b: Panel splits along slot line around 480 psi = 960 pounds of pressure. Fibers in concrete still holding panel together.

Purpose c: Crush panel until failure to determine strength.

Result c: